Disease Management Workshop

Dr. Mike Ellis, Plant Pathologist from Ohio State University, was the featured speaker at a Grape Disease Management Workshop held November 16, 2002 in Lincoln at the East Campus Union.  More than 85 people attended the workshop, which included presentations by Dr. Ellis entitled “Integrated management of grape diseases”, “Fungicides for grape disease control”, and Update on new developments in grape disease control.”  Attendees remarked on Ellis’ “down-to-earth style” and appreciated the practical nature of his advice and informative talks.

 A panel of growers that included Ed Swanson, Cuthills Vineyards; Eli Bergmeier, former James Arthur Vineyards’ vineyard manager and now Viticulture Advisor for Iowa’s developing industry; Eric Nelson, Lancaster County grape grower; and Max McFarland, Mac’s Creek Vineyards and Winery; shared insights and ideas derived from their many years of grape growing experience.  A review of the 2002 growing season was presented by Paul Read, University of Nebraska Viticulturist.  It was agreed that the drought afflicting much of Nebraska and bird depredation were major challenges for most Nebraska grape growers in 2002.  However, partly as a result of berry size reduction and less disease pressure related to the drought, fruit quality was the best that has been experienced in recent years.  As a result wine quality from the 2002 vintage is expected to be outstanding. 

Audience participation was spirited and active throughout the day and attendees were generally very satisfied with the workshop.  Several growers commented that their disease management and use of chemicals would be more effective and they would save money as a result of the information gained from this workshop.

The day concluded on a high note, with participants enjoying excellent wines provided by Cuthills Vineyards, Lovers Leap Vineyards, James Arthur Vineyards and Millenium Wines.  Millenium is a newly opened winery from Lexington, Nebraska, that poured a deChaunac that was met with favor by many who had the opportunity to sample it .

This workshop topic was selected based on grower requests and appeared to meet the needs of those in attendance.  Future workshops will continue to focus on grower interests, with the Fall 2003 workshop tentatively scheduled to address Water Management and Irrigation Technology.  Additional informative topics are to be included in the Sixth Annual Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Forum to be held February 28 and March 1, 2003 at the Ramada Inn, in Kearney, Nebraska.  Please feel free to suggest topics and speakers for future educational programs.  (contact us at pread@unl.edu and dmichel@unl.edu, (402/472-5136 or 402/472-8747 or by mail:  University of Nebraska Viticulture Program, 377 Plant Science, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE  68583-0724, attention Paul Read or Donna Michel.

Winemaking School Well-Received

With the limit of 45 participants in attendance, the second offering of “Winemaking 101”, held in Lincoln, Nebraska, November 22 and 23, 2002 was deemed highly successful.  Offered in a new venue, the Cornhusker Hotel and Conference Center, the school featured Dr. Murli Dharmadhikari and Kimberly Rey from the Midwest Enology and Viticulture Center at Southwest Missouri State University and Dr. David Peterson, owner of Swedish Hill and Goosewatch Wineries in New York State’s Finger Lakes wine region.  Topics covered in the school were:  Basic wine analysis, pre-fermentation treatment, sensory evaluation, wine yeast and alcoholic fermentation, and winery design, just to name a few for the first day.  The second day covered such areas as wine stability, wine filtration, malolactic fermentation, sparkling wine production and ending with wine tasting:  Varietal and defect recognition.

A highlight of the school was the tasting of a diverse group of wines at the end of the second day.  These wines were selected to represent many of  the numerous wine types and styles and the tasting was designed to educate the participants’ palates and to help them recognize specific wine characteristics.  Earlier tastings had focused on wine components that could be discerned by the olfactory senses and by tasting, along with common wine flaws.  Participants’ comments included, “this school met my expectation”, “highly enlightening” and “this (school) helps me to recognize how far I have to go to become a successful winemaker”.  Future winemaking schools are being considered.  If interested, be sure to contact us at the University of Nebraska Viticulture Program.

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Don’t forget to check out the University of Nebraska Web-site.  There are many changes and lots of new information each week.  If you would like something added to the University web-site also, please let Donna Michel know.      dmichel@unl.edu      web-site address:  agronomy.unl.edu/viticulture

 2003 November Workshop will be at the Cornhusker Hotel, November 8, 2003.  There is no home football game that weekend.  We hope to have 8 wineries represented for our reception.

 

Wine Making School Offered in Iowa

Southern Iowa Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. (SIRC&D ) will be sponsoring a wine making workshop January 7-8, 2003 in Creston, Iowa.  The pre registration fee is $295 and is due by 12/20/2002.  The workshop will be conducted by Alan Dillard of Jonesboro, IL, a private consultant in vineyard/winery management. Mr. Dillard will accept eight to ten participants for the workshop.  The same workshop will be offered again January 14-15 if there is the demand.

If anyone in the organization is interested in attending please contact SIRC&D Office at 641-782-7058 (Ext. 20) or Email sircd@ia.nrcs.usda.gov.

 

Nebraska Winery Update

 FROM LOVERS LEAP VINEYARD

The holidays are fast approaching and we would like to take this time to wish everyone a joyous holiday season.  In the winery Mr. Black has just put the final touches to the 2002 Edelweiss and blush blend which should be available in the near future.  Our first wine, the Turkey Run Red made from the Valiant grape got a make over this year.  With a cold soak and a little more residual sugar the valiant has taken on a new life, stop in and try some.  In the Sidney store we have greatly expanded the gift items with a line of Nebraska pottery by Nancy Fairbanks,  a  gourmet food and pasta line that is absolutely incredible, and an always changing collection of Nebraska art.  This month the featured artist is a pencil and watercolor artist named Dean Studnicka.  Happy holidays!

 FROM MILLENIUM WINES, INC.

 Millenium Wines is open.  They will be displaying their wines for sale through the Sav A Lot grocery stores chain in Lexington.  Pick up a bottle or two for the holidays.

 

FROM MAC’S CREEK WINERY

On December 14, 2002,  Mac’s Creek Vineyard and Winery will open, with their Grand Opening, January 2003. (Date to be announced later).  They will feature 10 varieties and styles of wine.  Hours:  Thursdays through Saturdays; 12:00 – 6:00pm.  Sundays 12:00 – 5:00pm.  Just in time for the holidays.  Book the party room for your holiday party.

 

FROM CUTHILLS VINEYARDS

We had cold weather early this fall with 4 degrees in early October and 12 below zero in late November. Some things probably didn't harden too well, but LaCrosse and deChaunac look pretty good.  Wine quality looks very good from this year's crop and we will have a very good supply for the holidays.  We just bottled the Country Red, Autumn Blush, Traminette, Willow Blanc, LaCrosse, Harvest White and Harvest Red.  Thank you to Al, Ken and Phil for your help. Anyone who is interested in Brianna should get their orders into Bluebird Nursery very soon, 800-356-9164....it is in high demand in several states.  Bluebird also has plenty of LaCrosse for those of you interested in green growing plants this spring.

 Be sure to check out our web site www.cuthills.com for the latest wine list, calendar of events, (Red Wine & Chocolate February 15th) and collection from Jewels by Holly Eve.  Have a very Merry Christmas and Successful New Year.

Ed and Holly Swanson

FROM JAMES ARTHUR VINEYARDS

Whew! The last few months have been somewhat of a whirlwind here at JAV. All the grapes are in from another record harvest. Tonnage wasn't up to pre-freeze expectations, but the quality of the grapes was outstanding. It looks to be another award winning year! Some of the new vintage is already in the bottle, including this year's Nouveau, which was released at our first ever Nouveau party in November. The event was a huge success and looks to be an annual event for the future. We also had a pleasant surprise last month as a picture of our vineyards graced the cover of Wine Spectator and again on the inside of the magazine. The picture was part of a very nice feature the Spectator did on "Wines Across America." Currently, JAV is gearing up for another hectic holiday crunch. Finally, we wish the best success to our state's newest wineries, Whiskey Run Creek and Mac's Creek Vineyards.

 

Sixth Annual Winery and Grape Growers Forum and Trade Show!
Ramada Inn, Kearney, Nebraska, February 28^th and March 1^st, 2003.

Featured Speakers include:

 G. Stanley Howell, Michigan State University Grape Specialist, the “Father of the Modern Michigan Grape Industry”; Bruce Reisch, Professor, Cornell University, Geneva, NY., geneticist and grape breeder (introduced ‘Traminette’, ‘Chardonel’ and ‘Marquis’.).

 Dr. Paul DiGrazia, Owner and Winemaker, DiGrazia Vineyards.  Dr. DiGrazia will give talks entitled:  “Wine and Your Health” and “Wine, Women and Menopause”.

 Karen Ross, President California Association of Winegrape Growers.  Building the “Industry”.

We will have 3 tracks running on Saturday for a full day of learning.
Introduction to Viticulture, which will include topics such as:

        Site Selection
        Site Preparation
        Propagation (hands-on)
        Trellising
        Pruning
Advanced Viticulture

                B. Reisch

                S. Howell

                Vertebrate Pest Specialist

                Irrigation

                Harris Labs – Soil, Tissue Analysis

Wine/Winery

                Nebraska Liquor Control Commission

                K. Ross

                BATF

Industry Seminars will be a new feature of the Forum.

Don’t forget to register for our Gala Banquet event on Friday evening following the Reception and Wine Tasting.  End the day on Saturday by choosing from” Fundamentals of Wine Tasting” by Michael Black, Lovers Leap Vineyards” or “Matching Food and Wine” by Barb and Jim Ballard.  (Separate registration and fee).

Check your registration packet – mailed to you in January 2003.

“Young Persons” evening available banquet night!  Our very first “Young Persons Evening” will be held at our Sixth Annual Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Forum and Trade Show.  The University of Nebraska-Kearney, “Graduate Students Association of School Psychology” will be heading our Young Persons Evening during the wine tasting and banquet.  Supper and activities will be planned for our “young persons” so mom and dad can attend the wine tasting and banquet.  There will be a small fee for “supper”.  Of course, they are always welcome to accompany you at the Banquet.  However, this will give you a chance to have a relaxing wine tasting experience and a wonderful banquet, too.  Activities will be planned for all ages.  The children’s menu will be a buffet of chicken strips, pizza, fresh fruits and vegetables, chips, juice and milk.  (no caffeine will be served, so we have elected not to serve soda) – Only $6.50 per child additional charge.

“Host Couples” will be greeting attendees on Friday and during the Reception and Banquet.   We want our new-comers to feel at home.  So feel free to seek out our host couples (they will be wearing special name tags) .

The registration fee this year will be

$60 for NWGGA members

$75 for non-members

$90 for late registration.

Pre-registration deadline:  February 15, 2003

Guest tickets for Saturday lunch will be available for $15.00 each.

The Banquet Extravaganza will be $25.00.

 

NWGGA

From the Presidents Desk

Happy Holidays to everyone in the NWGGA. Hope everyone has a safe and prosperous Holiday Season.  I would like to say a special thanks to the Festival Committee for all their hard work getting this project off the ground.  I know this will be a great success and will start a tradition that we will all be proud of.  Thank you again Tim and DeeAnn Hrdlicka, Ed and Holly Swanson, Sharon Schilling, Vaughn Hammond, June Simpson, Rick and Deb Barnett, Dane and Sandy Kucera, and Jim Ballard.  With the end of the year fast approaching, so is the spring meeting.  I encourage all to attend this meeting.  Paul has lined up some very good speakers and the trade show should be better then last years.  We have had some confusion over the NWGGA dues and renewals, we are working on it and by the meeting we will have it running smooth again.  Also, now is the time to book your travel plans to Lancaster, PA and the Wineries Unlimited trade show.  This is a great event for growers and winery owners, if you are serious about getting into this industry I feel you must attend at least once.  Happy Holidays!

Justin Moody

 

From Tim and DeeAnn Hrdlicka:       We would like to have all the wineries that are not listed on the web-site to e-mail me their information.  (GITRDUN@aol.com).  That way we can get the web-site current.

 The on-line GrapeGrowers survey is going to be unveiled the first part of December.  I encourage all that have not yet filled out a survey or have changes since you last filled one out to please go to the web-site and do s