Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Brix onn Aug 31, 2011

First brix measurements of the year!(Aug 31, 2011)

Frontenac:  20.6
La Crescent vineyard block 3: 20.0
Prairie Star:  17.7
La Crescent Vineyard block 1:  17.7
Foch:  16.7
La Crosse:  10.7
St. Pepin:  12.8

Monday, August 22, 2011

Nets are going on!


I started putting nets on this weekend. In the past I only netted the red wine grapes. This year I am netting everything that has fruit.

There are a lot of turkeys in the area, and the low hanging lacrescent would be too tempting to them. Also I did see some bird damage on the St Pepin and Lacrosse last year, so the netting should offer some protection. I hope to have everything netted by the end of the week.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Veraison has begun

It's about a week later than I expected compared to other growers around the state, but veraison has begun. First clear signs were yesterday, but things are really moving fast now. Frontenac is the furthest along. Foch has color only on a few clusters. Luckily the hot summer has speed ripening to be close to normal. Harvest is now looking like the second or third weekend in September if the weather cooperates.

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

WTP? What the? .... Phylloxera

Phylloxera has appeared on the vines at the vineyard. I've seen it in the past on the wild grape vines on the property, but this is the first time I've seen it on the cultivated varieties. I saw 3 lacrosse vines with it and one marquette. None so far on the frontenac. Frontenac is the vine typically affected most severely in the midwest.