vittracker

Napa, Sonoma

Andrew Nelson

Warm temperatures in early May helped facilitate growth but this was stopped short by colder temperatures, rain, and even hail in some areas.  Based on degree day models, we are currently trending almost exactly with last year. Compared to average, Napa is 10 to 14 days behind and Sonoma is closer to 3 weeks.

Current vine growth has been slow.  Average shoot length in more vigorous varieties (Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc) is between 1-3 feet on valley floor, with 1-2 feet in hillside blocks.  Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are slightly less at 1.5 to 2.5 feet.  Napa blocks of Merlot seem to have even less growth with 1-2 feet on average.

Managing vine vigor has been a major topic for 2011.  In 2010 creating a balanced vine proved to be difficult in the wet and mild temperatures.  Our strategy last year included aggressive leafing in specific blocks to open the canopy and create more fruit exposure and airflow.  This ended up resulting in additional sunburn when temperatures spiked in late August and scorched clusters not accustomed to high temperatures.  This year we have modified farm plans to create a more balanced and open canopy using alternative methods to aggressive leafing.  Pictured below are two sites known for high vigor (Rutherford Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc) that illustrate different methods we are using to create balance in a season that is abnormally cool and wet.

Disposable “kicker canes” at this Cabernet site in Rutherford are tied to the drip wire for easy removal after berry set. This “disposable” growth acts as an alternative energy sink for the vine rather than producing additional shoots and congestion in the fruit zone. By taking this energy away from the vine, we should have a more balanced canopy that requires less manipulation and promotes improved fruit maturation.

This block of Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc is more vigorous in the southern portion (right of the yellow tie). Here we have not disked the cover crop which will pull additional moisture from the soil rather than leave the water available to the vines. In the northern portion (left) we have disked every row. Also, we delayed suckering in the southern portion to act as an additional energy sink.

Sauvignon Blanc in Potter Valley.

Lodi, Solano, Yolo and Contra Costa

Ron Pieretti

Lodi is still definitely behind with just a few growers having completed suckering and shoot selection. Most growers are waiting to the last minute to complete this pass and some are not going to do it at all. There are concerns about a possible short harvest with a lot of single and sterile shoots present. Nobody can give an accurate insight on the size of the crops but the feeling is it could be short up to 10% or more. We have seen some bloom in Chardonnay and there is concern about set with storms still eminent.  We are possibly up to 14 days behind in some areas but once the weather shifts we may catch up quickly. This past week some growers reported an inch of rain during the last storm making fields hard to enter.

Sac /Delta is fairly similar, however, during this past storm there were reports of hail and some canopy damage, especially around Clarksburg. We have about 10% bloom in some blocks and it is unclear if the hail will have an effect on set.  Up to 10 days behind.   An Interesting note, 5/17 was the lowest daily high on record.

Contra Costa shows signs of the most even shoot growth with most vineyards completing shoot selection this week. Again reports of up to an inch of rain from the past storm with some vineyards  just showing signs of bloom. Growers report they seem behind by 7-10 days.

Yolo / Solano are also slightly behind by about 7-10 days with an average of 12 to 16 inches out.

San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara

Stasi Seay

This area was most affected by recent storms with 1.39” during the week of May 15. The extended wet weather, combined with mild temperatures, have created a high mildew pressure occurrence. Shoot growth has finally begun with Pinot Noir at 18”-24” lengths. The Chardonnay is a bit behind at 12”-18”. Weak shoot thinning began last week in the Pinot Noir. There are significant numbers of sterile shoots in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir cluster counts are at an average count. Bloom has begun in the Edna Valley in the higher elevations.

In Santa Barbara County, recent storms were light in precipitation but cold. This has caused growth to be behind seasonal averages by about a week. Shoot growth in Chardonnay is at 12”-18”. As in other Central Coast areas, sterile shoots are common and the cluster counts are down. Shoot thinning will begin soon, although growers are cautious, given the low crop count. Canopy management will be the topic of focus for this season as vine balance will be important for quality.

Napa, Sonoma

Andrew Nelson

This March was one of the wettest on record.  Over 13 inches of rain in Napa and 11 inches in Sonoma caused flooding in many vineyards.  The end of March brought two heat spikes and dry weather.  However, April has been cool and presented frost danger.

In Napa, growers have battled frost on several nights.  Time periods of 4 to 5 hours with temperatures dipping into frost potential have been mitigated with fans and overhead sprinklers.  Hail caused minimal damage to new green tissue in several sites but nothing of substantial impact.  In Pope Valley, frost protection has been used for long periods on two occasions.  One grower ran overhead sprinklers from midnight until nearly 11am on two consecutive nights.

Bud break is slightly behind with estimates ranging from several days to one week.  Degree day models show we are 3 to 5 days behind average and 1 day behind last year.  Shoot growth ranging from 1 to 6 inches.  Hillside Cabernet at Diamond Mountain Ranch shows about 1 inch in growth while earlier varieties on the valley floor are closer to 6 inches.  Sites with better drained soils are slightly ahead.  Growth has been slow the last week due to colder temperatures.  Growers are slow to get disking and mowing equipment into the field with soils still largely saturated.

During a March downpoor, this Vineyard in Yountville was almost completely underwater.

Mendocino & Lake, Northern Sonoma & Northern Napa

Terese Geniella

The growing season has been cool and rainy, off to a slow start, with only a few days in the 70s and 80s.  Frost nights have been few, most growers turned on less than 10 times, with 28°F the lowest temperature.  Rainfall is above average. Growing grounds are saturated.  Weeds are growing rapidly and growers are rushing to get disking and mowing completed.

Buds are out 2 – 8  inches, becoming shoots, with Cabernet in Lake County the farthest behind.  Consensus is the season is about 2 weeks behind normal, and expectation is that warm May weather will catch up vintage timing to normal.  The first round of sprays has started in the whites.  Clusters are mostly long, and doubles with wings, although it’s too early to see possible crop size.  Suckering will start in the next 2 weeks.

Lodi, Solano, Yolo and Contra Costa

Ron Pieretti

Over all shoot growth started off strong after the late bud break but slowed down after the weather changed to a cooler climate after our heat spike a few weeks ago.  In general we have shoots ranging from 4 to 8 inches in the warmer spots and 3 to 6 inched in the cooler areas.

Pest pressures are low with the cooler climate but I am still monitoring for symptoms.  One grower reports a new problem with snails in blocks that are close to cherry orchards with invasions nesting on stakes and posts then migrating to the vines to feast on the soft tissue.  None of this type of activity is noted in any of our blocks.

The frost event that we experienced a few weekends ago also had impacts in the Lodi and Delta area with some of our blocks being impacted.  Worst off appears to be some Chardonnay in Lodi.  The net loss is still too early to assess but about 20% of the block has tissue damage.  However, the end impact could be minimal because the fruit we usually drop after set could be equal to the losses due to frost damage.  Originally it was reported that our Zin Blocks in Lodi fared well but after further inspections some damage has been noted.  Again, net losses could be minimal because of our standard farming practices and could be mitigated by leaving canes that would typically be removed.  Viognier also initially reported no damage but we have become aware of some damage on the western edges of blocks with between 5-10% of the vineyard being impacted.

San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara

Stasi Seay

San Luis Obispo

The weather forecast is calling for seasonable weather for the next ten days with no frost warnings.  Highs ranging from the mid 60’s to the low 80’s, low in the mid 40’s. Overall, the vine growth is behind ten days but should catch up quickly with warmer temperatures.

Santa Barbara

The forecast looks promising with warmer temperatures predicted. Highs in the upper 60’s to mid 70’s and lows in the low 40’s. Vine growth is behind a week but will catch up with continued warm weather.