Good Fruit Grower

April 15

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24 APRIL 15, 2016 Good Fruit Grower www.goodfruit.com C onsumers want variety, and wine consum- ers are growing increasingly sophisticated. The trend is driving winemakers to seek new ways to differentiate their wines in a crowded marketplace. Some are aiming to stand out by returning to their roots. Clonal selection is key to viral resistance and yield. The clone also can impart different characteristics to the grapes and wine, whether it's fruit size, acidity or toler- ance to heat or cold. As some wineries turn to naming the clone as part of their marketing plans, grape growers are examining the benefi ts and detriments of different clones in the vineyard. A panel of growers from four Washington wine grape growing regions shared their experiences with different Cabernet clones at the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers conference in Kennewick, Washington, in February. Their overall takeaway: Clone 8 produces the most consistent yields and fruit. And, despite the differences between clones, perhaps the bigger factor is soil and climate. Red Mountain Marshall Edwards, vineyard operations manager of Quintessence Vineyards in West Richland, Washington, oversees more than 300 acres of Cabernet, most of them planted on Clone 8 in Warden silt loam, Hezel loamy fi ne sand and Starbuck loam. The vines have medium to good vigor and good production with good berry and cluster size, he said. The vines are color thinned. Edwards leaves more buds and spurs to reach desired crop levels on Clone 21, planted in Warden silt loam, which produces small to average berry clusters and also has a color-thinning pass. He also leaves more buds and spurs due to different soil types in a block of Clone 4, which sits in Warden silt loam and Hezel loamy fi ne sand. The vines have medium vigor and good set, producing good berries and cluster size. More average production comes from Clone 191/33 in Warden silt loam and Hezel loamy fi ne sand, with good set but small berry and cluster size, he said. Clone 2, too, produces small berry and cluster size compared to all other clones, but has good set when compared to Clone 169. That's the clone Edwards said poses the most struggles in the vineyard. It seems hard to set and produces small berries and loose clusters. It has the shortest growing period from veraison to harvest, he said, but it's always the fi rst Cabernet picked. "All of these clones, they make the vineyard more interesting and they also make the wine more interest- ing," he said. "I think these clones have their place." Wine grape growers weigh in on Cabernet Sauvignon clones. by Shannon Dininny Grapes Clonal CHOICES TJ Mullinax/Good FruiT Grower Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are ready for harvest at Cold Creek Vineyard in 2015. The vineyard has 132 acres in Cabernet clones. "We know clones bring different attributes that can contribute to different wines," says vineyard manager Joe Cotta.

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