University of Nebraska
Viticulture Program
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Nebraska Vine Lines
University of Nebraska Viticulture Program
June 2002 Vol. V, Issue 3
University of Nebraska Viticulture
Program A website has been launched to provide information to the developing grape and wine industry and about the University of Nebraska Viticulture Program. It is available at: http://agronomy.unl.edu/viticulture Research information generated by the UNL Viticulture Program and elsewhere will be posted on the site, along with information on vineyard start-up, site selection, vineyard development, cultivar choices, and many other topics. Links with the Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Association and other grape and wine-related websites will be added in the near future. In addition, the Nebraska Vine Lines will be posted regularly and a calendar of events of interest to the industry will be included. A description of the course, “Vines, Wines and You” is also a component of the website. Check often as new information will be posted. Vigilance in the Vineyard By Paul E. Read Spring and early summer is a critical time in the vineyard. Fruit set has occurred, tying and trellis management is under control, but it’s not time to become complacent. The fungicide sprays recommended for pre-bloom, fruit set/post bloom and subsequent sprays should not be neglected. With the recently experienced cool wet conditions (at least in Eastern Nebraska), conditions have been conducive for many of the fungal diseases to develop in a significant and potentially serious way. It is critical that these sprays not be neglected. Details of the chemicals to use, rates and timings are presented in the Nebraska Commercial Small Fruit and Grape Spray Guide. (available for $7 from the University of Nebraska Viticulture Program; send check made out to the University of Nebraska Viticulture Program, to Donna Michel, 377 Plant Science Hall, Lincoln, NE. 68583-0724). Be sure to pay attention to the recommendation that strobilurin chemicals such as Abound and Sovran should not be applied more than three sequential times and no more than four times per year but instead should be alternated with alternative fungicides such as Nova plus Mancozeb, Rubigan plus Captan or other recommendations found in the Spray Guide. Also remember to always follow all label directions when applying any pesticide. Other considerations for this time of the year include scouting for insects, fertilizing, and weed and row-middle management. A general principle is that disease management must be done in a preventative mode, while for the most part, insect management should be based on application of a suitable insecticide for an insect infestation that has been determined to be at a threshold portending a negative economic impact on the crop. If soil/tissue tests indicate, or previous years’ growth was inadequate, a side-dressing of nitrogen should be considered. However, it is recommended that no fertilizer be applied after about June 20th. This is because excess nitrogen can cause too much vegetative soft growth late in the growing season, thus delaying hardening and making the vines vulnerable to winter injury. Weed competition can be one of the biggest threats to achieving adequate vine growth during the growing season, so attention must be given to keeping at least a two-foot weed-free zone along the vine row (Bruce Bordelon, Purdue University Viticulturist) would argue for this to be at least four feet wide). Our weed management study involves looking at mulches as alternatives to chemical weed control, with some systems appearing to offer adequate weed control without apparent detriment to fruit quality and yield. This year’s harvest results will help confirm or reject use of mulches as viable weed management alternatives to chemical weed control. These results will be presented in a subsequent issue of the Nebraska Vine Lines. BE A PART OF OUR WINNING TEAM! Yes, I would like to be on a committee to help with the 2003 - Sixth Annual Nebraska Winery and GrapeGrowers Forum. (Committees to be assigned soon). Send or call Donna Michel - UNL, 377 Plant Science Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0724. Or call 402/472-8747. E-mail dmichel@unl.edu (In appreciation for significant committee involvement, a reduced registration fee will be in effect for the 6th Forum.) Name_________________________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________________________ City_________________________________ State____ Zip__________ I wish to be on the following Committee: ___________________________________ Assign me one____________________
DO YOU WISH TO CONTINUE RECEIVING THE VINE LINES NEWSLETTER? No, please remove my name from the “Vine Lines mailing list. Mail cancellation notice to: Donna Michel Name________________________________ Address______________________________ City_______________State____ Zip_______ 2002 Winemaking School As a result of the high level of interest expressed by people involved in Nebraska’s developing grape and wine industry, a winemaking school is planned to be conducted in Lincoln, November 22-23, 2002. (Two full days). The instructors for this school are Dr. Murli Dharmadhikari, Director, Midwest Viticulture & Enology Center, Southwest Missouri State University, and Kim Rey, Assistant to Director, MVEC, and Mr. David Peterson, winemaker/owner at Swedish Hill and Goose Watch Wineries, located in New York’s Finger Lakes wine industry. Topics to be covered include: 1. Wine definition, styles and overview of table wine making 2. What kind of grapes do the wineries want? (Grape composition, maturity and harvest) 3. Basic wine analysis 4. Small winery startup considerations 5. Prefermentation: treatment of must 6. Sensory evaluation, tasting exercises 7. Wine yeast and alcoholic fermentation 8. Equipping a small winery 9. TA and pH determination 10. Red wine fermentation: color and tannin extraction and cap management 11. Winemaking operations 12. Sulfur dioxide, free SO2 determination 13. Tartrate and protein stability 14. Protein fining agents and wine filtration 15. Varietal recognition and/or defect recognition 16. Malolactic fermentation 17. Wine maturation and bottling
The cost to participate in this school is $440 per person. The fee includes all course materials, lunch for both days and all breaks. The number of participants will be strictly limited because of space and logistical limitations. Therefore, to reserve your place in this class, please send your check for $440 to Donna Michel, 377 Plant Science Bldg., University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE. 68583-0724. Make checks payable to the University of Nebraska Viticulture Program. The School will be taught in Room 275, University of Nebraska, Plant Science Hall. More information to follow. The following are a few area hotels. Please make your own reservations: Ramada Limited, 4433 N. 27th . . . 402/476-2222 Baymont Inn, 3939 No. 26th . . . . . 402/477-1100 Fairfield Inn, 4221 Industrial 402/476-6000 Super 8, 2545 Cornhusker Hwy 402/467-4488 ______________________________________________________________________________________ WINERY UPDATE
Cuthills Vineyards It was a busy winter at Cuthills and has been a busy spring, although kind of nerve-racking with the cool temperatures and all the rain. Memorial Day week the vines began to show their leaves and with the latest warm weather the vineyards look beautiful. Ed has been steadily busy in the vineyards and working closely with his hybrids. Some very exciting news is that Ed got to name Elmer Swenson's 7-4-76. It is now ‘Brianna’. Supplies are sold out this year, but some of the nurseries should have more in 2003. Cuthills has just released its Frontenac, a dry red wine made from the Frontenac grapes grown at Prairie Fox Vineyard near Kearney. Holly has been busy planting 105 more roses this year, the roses planted last year are full of blooms for the summer and look gorgeous. Events coming up at Cuthills include Steak on the Lake July 27 which features thick cut Sterling Silver ribeye steaks, all the fixin's, entertainment, and a glass of wine. A wine bar will be open. Guests get to grill their own steaks. Reservations are necessary. Also the 7th Annual Wine & Wings Festival is August 24 & 25 with national touring blues bands coming from California, Texas and New Orleans, chefs perform cooking workshops, while other features include food vendors, wine tasting, trolley rides through the vineyards, winery tours, kite flying demonstrations and a caricature artist. Attended my 3,000 wine enthusiasts annually. Admission is $10/day or $15/weekend per person. Also new to Cuthills is Jewels by Holly Eve. A line of beaded jewelry and stemware charms made by Holly Swanson. Be sure to check out www.cuthills.com for the latest wines, jewelry designs and events. Ed and Holly Swanson
James Arthur Vineyard Because of the nice cool spring, things are poking along in the vineyard. However, we're looking forward to a nice warm summer with lots of sunshine as harvest time quickly approaches. Our 5th annual Renaissance Festival (held May 18) was once again a huge success, as close to 6000 folks descended upon the vineyard to watch knights do battle, hear the sound of madrigals, and of course sample some of JAV's award winning wines. The weather was beautiful and over $1500 was raised for Heartland Big Brothers/Big Sisters. There's already talk about next year's festival being even bigger and better! We also sent a contingency to the Wineries Unlimited Conference this Spring, held in Lancaster, PA. At the conference, our 2000 Edelweiss and 2000 Vignoles (sweet) were named two of the Top 100 Wines of the East for the second year in a row. Both wines were tasted at the Gala Banquet along with the other winners. On the homefront, things are moving and shaking as we are once again adding on. A new meeting/party room is being added on to the west of the winery. Below it will be a new barrel room and additional storage. Construction should be completed around July 1! Jim Ballard
Lovers Leap Vineyards We are gearing up for the summer season with both of our stores. The grapes look good and we have been lucky to have received several nice rains in the last month. The 2001 vintages have been very good to us in competitions so far. Our pride to this point is our Double Gold at the Jerry Mead Competition for our Harvest White which is a blend of 50% Seyval and 50% Lacrosse all barrel aged. Next we have won 2 silver medals with our first reserve wine; Earl's reserve is 1999 deChaunac with 30 months in French Oak and won the medals at San Diego and Eastern International. Also winning 4 Silvers is our 2001 Edelweiss at San Diego, Florida, Dallas Morning News and Jerry Mead. Events this summer include Crawford’s annual Fourth of July celebration July 4-6 and a Willie Nelson Concert on August 31. For more info check out our web site: www.loversleapvineyards.com Hope to see you there. Justin Moody
Soaring Wings Vineyard Because of lack of grapes we will not be able to start production this fall as we had hoped. It just doesn’t make economic sense to only make a few hundred gallons of wine. Our first building is nearly complete, the vineyard is surveyed, about a third of the holes are drilled for the first 1900 vines’ planting which took place May 3-5, 2002. The second planting of 700 greenhouse plants, planted the last week of May. We will be building the main winery next spring/summer and will make some apple wine before the fall harvest. We expect to have product to sell around November 1, 2003.
Blue Valley Vineyard Our first annual “Spring Fling” on Sunday, June 2nd was a big success! Kites in the meadow all day, picnic baskets of bread and cheese available to accompany the wine tasting and two musical groups outdoors under the canopy. The Plain Label country string band furnished toe tapping, sing along folk tunes. The husband/wife combo, The Hardings, furnished swing jazz on the keyboard and saxophone. This will be an annual affair for us on the first Sunday afternoon in June. (We learned a lot!) If you missed it this year, plan to come next year!! Construction of the west deck is complete – it evolved into a covered, screened porch, a delightful place to enjoy the view with a Blue Valley wine, Grain Bin bread, and Nebraska cheese!! Picnic tables and trees have been added to the site. We have received many requests for tours of the vineyard along with the wine tastings and we are happy to schedule these for times when the tasting room is not open! The vineyards are looking very good, except for “over-cropping” and summer pruning is in progress along with cluster thinning. The trellis in the newest vineyard is going in. It’s a wonderful opportunity to correct all those things we did wrong in the first trellises – we live and learn!! Current wines available are: Edelweiss, Blush, White Delight and Chancellor. Our Apple Wine is coming soon! The 2001 St. Croix is showing great promise, too! NEW SUMMER
HOURS BEGINNING JUNE 21 Friday and
Saturday from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. Check out our new webstie bluevalleyvineyard.com
Mac’s Creek Vineyards
& Winery Mac’s Creek Vineyards & Winery, Lexington, NE, will be hosting the first ever Grape Growers Field day in Central Nebraska. Come see our new construction. We are busy preparing for the Field Day and looking forward to showcase our vineyard and winery development program. Hope to see you there.
Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Association
From the Presidents desk.....
Greetings grape fans. Hope spring is treating everyone well. Not much of a spring in most parts of this grand state, seems like it went from winter to summer and forgot about the spring. I hate to use the F word, but I am hearing reports of it appearing throughout the state, FROST. Here in the arctic Northwest we light 185 smudge pots to ward the demon off, seems to have worked. I would like to say a special thanks to the group of people working on the future Wine Festival, your work is not unnoticed. I wish everyone a great growing season, Have a great summer.
Justin Moody
Central Nebraska’s 1st Grape Growers Field Day At Mac’s Creek Vineyards & Winery Lexington, Nebraska (½ mile north of Lexington on U.S.Hwy 21)
When: Saturday, July 6, 2002 Cost: $10 Registration Fee * Registration at 9:00 a.m. Due by July 1, 2002 * Sessions begin 9:30 a.m.
We would like to invite you to the first ever Grape Growers Field Day in Central Nebraska at Mac’s Creek Vineyards & Winery in Lexington, Nebraska. This field day is designed to be an opportunity for individuals who are just beginning in the grape growing industry or just curious about grapevines and want to learn and network with those people who have “been there...done that!” The sessions included are “hands on” demonstrations. You will be out in the vineyard with the plants learning today’s most effective and current practices in growing grapevines in Nebraska. Topics included are trellising, canopy management, irrigation system, grape cultivars that survive in Nebraska, vineyard equipment, and insect and disease protection. The field day is Sponsored by Mac’s Creek Vineyards & Winery, University of Nebraska – Lincoln/IANR, Cooperative Extension, UNL - Department of Agronomy and Horticulture - Viticulture Program.
Registration Form Name___________________________________________ Address ____________________________________City______________St_____Zip______ Phone No.__________________________ Number of participants attending;______________ List names of participants: 1. _______________________________________________ 2._______________________________________________ 3._______________________________________________
$10 x ______________(No. Of Participants) Total = _____________________________
Make checks payable to: Mac’s Creek Vineyards & Winery 43315 Rd. 757, Lexington, NE 68850 or Call Mac’s Creek Vineyards
Third Annual University of Nebraska Viticulture Program Field Day The Third Annual University of Nebraska Viticulture Program’s Field Day will take place near Lincoln on Saturday, July 20, 2002. This event was held in Nemaha County in the previous two years and will be moved around the state from year to year. This year’s Field Day will begin by participants meeting at 9:30 a.m., the parking lot of James Arthur Vineyards, West Raymond Rd, Raymond, NE., to arrange for shared rides/car-pooling, since the first part of the Field Day will be a “rolling tour”. We will visit three vineyards in Lancaster County where we will observe several cultivars grown on a variety of trellising systems, look at different post types and installation techniques and discuss vineyard management with the growers. We will then return to James Arthur Vineyards for lunch (Dutch treat, catered by Raymono’s, cost about $6.00). Lunch will also provide an opportunity to observe demonstrations of equipment and to discuss questions with fellow growers and University research and extension personnel. Following lunch we will visit the University of Nebraska Viticulture Program’s on-vineyard research, including weed management studies and row-middle growth reduction research. Participants will also view James Arthur Vineyard’s trellising system development, including retrofitting trellises to the Geneva Double Curtain and also observe JAV’s tests of pre-emergent herbicides. All are welcome at what should be a most informative and stimulating Field Day. A donation to the University of Nebraska Viticulture Program of $5.00 per person is suggested for participants.
FOR YOUR CALENDAR Food Processing center Announces 2002 Entrepreneur Seminar Dates The Food Processing Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, announces the 2002 From Product to Profit seminars dates, June 6, August 19 and October 11. The one-day seminar is designed exclusively to help entrepreneurs succeed in the food industry. Deadline dates for seminars are ten days prior to each seminar. To receive a Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program informational packet and seminar registration form, please contact: Arlis Burney, Food Processing Center, University of Nebraska, 143 H.C.Filley Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0928. Phone: 402/472-8930, E-mail aburney@unlnotes.unl.edu or Web Site: http//foodsci.unl.edu/fpc/market/ent.htm PLANNING AHEAD - Dates set for 2003, 2004 and 2005 Forums. Dates have been set for the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Nebraska GrapeGrowers Forums. They are as follows: 2003 - February 28 &
March 2004 - March 5 and 6 2005 - March 4 and 5 June 20, 2002. Viticulture Field Day 2002 - Southwest Missouri State University, Department of Fruit Science, 9740 Red Spring Road, Mountain Grove, MO 65711-2999; 417/926-4105 - FAX 417/926-6646, http://mtngrv.smsu.edu July
6, 2002 - Central Nebraska Field
Day, Lexington, NE July 20, 2002 - University of Nebraska Viticulture Program Grape Growers Field Day. In the Lincoln area. Meet at James Arthur Vineyards parking lot! November 16, 2002 - University of Nebraska Grape Growers Workshop - “Disease Management Workshop” East Campus Union (more information to follow). November 22 and 23, 2002. Beginning Winemaking School, Room 275 Plant Science Hall, University of Nebraska, East Campus, Lincoln, NE.
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The InThe Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It is the policy of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln not to discriminate on the basis of gender, age, disability, race, color, religion and marital status, veterans status, national or ethnic origin or sexual orientation.l Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It is the policy of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln not to discriminate on the basis of gender, age, disability, race, color, religion and marital status, veterans status, national or ethnic origin or sexual orientation. Send mail to
dmichel@unl.edu with
questions or comments about this web site.
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