Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/705606
w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m J u l y - A u g 2 016 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 6 1 loss saves around $10 million annu- ally in grower returns, based on an average crop of four tons per acre valued at $1,000 per ton grown on 50,000 acres. More than a decade ago, Wash- ington State University's Dr. Markus Keller initiated research to bring new understanding to berry water movement. He'd heard so often from grape growers complaining about winemakers not wanting grapes to be irrigated before har- vest that he decided to look at the science behind the dilution concept. Keller is author of "The Science of Grapevines: Anatomy and Physiol- ogy" and recently took on the role of directing the American Society for Enology and Viticulture's peer- reviewed publications. "The tacit assumption is that irri- gation during ripening boosts berry size and dilutes the quality compo- nents of the grapes," he stated. Moreover, European laws, like those in a technical bulletin pub- lished by the International Organi- zation of Biological and Integrated Control, prohibit or highly restrict irrigation after veraison under the guise of guaranteeing good quality of the wine. "So pervasive is this Old World irrigation tradition that, even in the New World, many wineries encour- age growers to withhold irrigation water during fruit ripening because of perceived adverse effects," he said during an interview in his office at WSU's Irrigated Agricul- ture Research and Extension Cen- ter in Prosser. "But the concept has little scientific evidence. Even the textbooks have had the berry water movement theory wrong." DRIP YES, SPRINKLER NO Keller isn't suggesting grow- ers use overhead sprinklers for post-veraison irrigation. His experi- Washington State University viticulturist Dr. Markus Keller initiated research to better understand berry water movement. Prospero Equipment proudly presents the new GAI electro-pnuematic filling system. This is a state of the art machine that can fill both carbonated and non carbonated products. Corporate Office 123 Castleton Street Pleasantville, NY 10570 Phone: (914) 769-6252 Fax: (914) 769-6786 info@prosperocorp.biz West Coast 7787 Bell Road Windsor, CA 95492 Phone:( 707) 838-2812 Fax: (707) 838-3164 westcoast@prosperocorp.biz Northwest 1722 SW HWY 18 Suite B McMinnville, OR 97128 Phone: (503) 472-6767 Fax: (503) 472-6768 northwest@prosperocorp.biz Canada 438 Isabey Suite 270 Montreal, Quebec H4T 1V3 Phone: (514) 336-7117 Fax: (514) 418-2605 canada@prosperocorp.biz British Columbia Authorized Agent Stefan Buhl Phone: Phone: (250) 317-4378 bc@prosperocorp.biz North 2204 State Route 14 N Geneva, NY 14456-9510 Phone: (315) 719-0480 Fax: (315) 719-0481 geneva@prosperocorp.biz PROSPERO EQUIPMENT OFFERS MANY SOLUTIONS AND CUSTOMIZATION FOR ALL WINE, BEER, SPIRITS AND BEVERAGE NEEDS. NEW GAI LINEAR FILLER Linear fully-automatic bottling machine in stainless steel with 4 or 6 nozzles of rinsing, 4 or 6 nozzles of filling and single head for crowning, corking or corking.