Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/67288
Newer plantings Colin Morrell of Lonesome Spring Ranch, Benton City, planted Orange Mus- cat in 2001 and Muscadella du Bordelais in 2006—way before the Moscato craze started. He has 5.5 acres total. Morrell chose the Muscadella because of its value in blending with Bordeaux whites like Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. The Orchard-Rite® Todd Newhouse uses grapes from the oldest Muscat block in Washington to make ice wines for his Upland Winery, but most of his Muscat grapes are used in blending with white wines like Riesling. Newhouse uses grapes from their near- centenarian Muscat vines to make ice wines for his Upland Winery. He describes Muscat wines as being very aromatic and great to drink cold on a hot day. "Muscat wines are more forgiving when it comes to quality and ripeness," he said, noting that the variety is one of the earliest ripening grapes in the state and growers can produce quality even at higher tonnage. Most of their winery con- tracts allow yields of seven tons per acre, a target he says is easy to hit. Some vari- eties, like Hamburg, are winter hardy, but he says that Canelli and Muscat Blanc might be less winter hardy. "I'd be really hesitant to put more in the ground than what we've got planted," Newhouse said. "Who knows how long the trend will last? We just can't compete with California growers who can produce 15 tons." Newhouse hasn't heard of wineries aggressively seeking new Muscat con- tracts. "We did a planting for one of the big in-state wineries last year and have an option to plant more, but the winery seems to be backing off and losing interest in additional Muscat acreage." Another old block of Muscat Canelli, planted in the late 1970s and still in pro- duction, is located at Phil Church Vine- yards in the Yakima Valley. The block of about ten acres of Muscat is sold to Precept Wines, according to Brian Weinmann, vineyard manager. A lengthy contract for the grapes was first held with Covey Run, which made Muscat Canelli wine with the grapes, then with Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, and now with Precept. "The fruit has always had a home," Weinmann said. "It's a niche variety, and we have no plans to add more, nor have we had requests to plant more. It was on the chopping block in the late 1990s to get pulled, but it's still there." The older Muscat block has been dam- aged from several winter events and now averages only four to five tons annually. The variety, with its large clusters and berries, can be prone to bunch rot, but Weinmann said that typically a hand crew can thin out the rot before harvest. "Rot is usually pretty easy to clean up unless it's a high pressure year." www.goodfruit.com "We think in terms of quality…" Orange Muscat is used by a Prosser winery for dessert wines. Morrell admits he faced a steep learn- ing curve with the Muscadella variety the first few years, dealing with shatter and low yields. He almost pulled the vines out. "But I learned to leave kicker canes, which have helped me achieve more sustainable yields." The kicker canes help divert excess vigor from the vine, with shoots from the canes cut off around bloom time. Bunch rot has been an issue with the Orange Muscat, and he's had to do a lot of thinning to battle significant rot in the last two vintages. "It's not like growing Riesling," he said. • Wind Machines • www.orchard-rite.com W e are developing a 5-acre vineyard on Red Mountain. Last year, we had an October freeze and a hard winter right behind it, causing a fair amount of winter damage. Looking back, we realized a wind machine would have helped us harden off the wood before winter and also give us the protection we need in the spring. We think in terms of quality and this was just one more thing to get us there. We ended up purchasing an Orchard-Rite Machine because the growers that we have the most confidence in recommended Orchard-Rite. We like the Auto Start Preset, and are looking forward to a wireless connection to a weather station, or computer. Orchard-Rite has given us great service even though we only have one wind machine. They are like working with a good neighbor that you trust. John and Peggy Thurtle • Red Mountain, Washington 1611 W. Ahtanum Sales: Virgil Anders, ext 114 Yakima, WA 98903 509-457-9196 Wind Machine Service For your nearest representative: www.orchard-rite.com Cascade 3766 Iroquois Lane Sales: Dana Morgan, ext 215 Dave Harmening, ext 214 Wenatchee, WA 98801 509-662-2753 GOOD FRUIT GROWER JUNE 2012 35