June, 2002
Vol. 1, No. 5

Editorial

As of this writing it is beginning to look like summer is getting ready to arrive. My 3rd-growing-season grapes are really doing their thing, and I'm amazed at how fast they take off once they get under way. And of course the weeds along the rows are also taking off as well, which means it's time for a weeding session.
In this issue we salute Chalet Estate Winery, not only because of their recent award-winning, but also because they will have hosted an open-housefor VIGGA people by the time you receive this issue. We also have a few announcements this time that you might be interested in, as well as an excerpt that I found while trolling through an early edition of "Harrowsmith" magazine. Ed Popham has also contributed his regular piece in the Organic Corner, this time on "Posts".
Finally, a plea: so far we have received very few contributions from out there for inclusion in this newsletter. We are a bit thin on material so please let's have something from you, fellow grapers.

Raise A Glass to Chalet Estate Winery

Chalet Estate Winery in North Saanich was awarded a Bronze Medal for their Estate grown "Bacchus"in the prestigious North-West Wine Summit Competition. Entries were judged from wines submitted by wineries in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. Chalet Estates "Cabernet Merlot" 2000won Silver in The All-Canadian Wine Competition, and they received a Bronze award for their Estate grown "Ortega". A total of 622 Wines were blind-tasted from 77 Wineries in four provinces. Chalet Estate Wines can be purchased from their on-site Wine Store, Maddicks Farm VQA shop, and The Wine Barrel on Broughton St in Victoria.
Chalet Estate Winery is open 11- 5 Tuesday to Sunday, and by appointment. For more information, contact Chalet Estate Winery @250-656-2552 . They are located at11195 Chalet Road, North Saanich, B.C. Their web-site is: www.chaletestatevineyard.ca

Difficult Grapes

An article in "Harrowsmith" (No. 19), about 25 years ago, states: "A willingness to attempt the impossible is almost essential for anyone who would grow wine grapes in Canada or the northern USA. The second prerequisite is facing the fact that these tender plants can never be left to cope on their own; they must be nurtured, protected and given great amounts of hand labour. Once established, their foothold in a foreign climate never becomes less than precarious."
"Even after taking all the necessary precautions, the grower must remain philosophical and be prepared to accept a crop failure from time to time when a late spring frost creeps into the vineyard".
(Good reasons to make certain the area you are planning to grow them in is compatible with grape-growing...........Ed.)

Announcements

(1) The threatened invasion of Salt Spring by grapers from the nether regions (meaning the Peninsula) is on, as advertised in The Driftwood. The ad will appear again in two weeks, the Wed. before the meeting. We have arranged a meeting for grape folk on Saturday, June 15th, ( doors at 12.30, meeting at 1.00 pm.), at Fulford Hall. The meeting is to sound out interest in organizing an offshoot of VIGGA on Salt Spring, and eventually on other Islands, eventually with their own executive. The meeting will be followed by a tour of a couple of local vineyards.

(2) Gerry Shelton has some extra, grafted, P. Gris from Ontario for sale at $2.50 per plant. Contact Gerry:- cell: 250-885-9147; work: 386-2522.

(3) The featured speaker at our next VIGGA meeting on June 19th. will be Stephen Eng, of "Evergro". He will speak about SPRAYS of various kinds, a rather timely topic at this time.

(4) Jack MacNeill has some Ortega, Gewurz, Agria, P. blanc and noir on own-rooted stock for sale at $ 2.50 / vine. Contact Jack at 701-0348 or e-mail: darkhorsefarm@shaw.ca

Quote of the Month:

"A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory".

The Organic Corner: Posts

Treated wooden posts cannot be used by growers wanting to be certified ³Organic². These posts have been pressure treated with three compounds to resist rotting; arsenic, chromium and copper (CCA). These substances can leach into the soil. The rate and extent of leaching depends upon the local climate, acidity of the rain and soil, age of the wood and how much of the compound was applied. The United states Environmental Agency (EPA) has conducted many studies, especially in the last decade. On February 12, 2002 the EPA announced a voluntary decision by the industry to move treated lumber products away from the public by December 31, 2003 after which CCA will no longer be used to treat wood for most residential settings (a recent report on radio indicated the main concern was where people¹s skin would often come into direct contact with the wood, as for example on decks....Ed).
The alternatives are untreated posts with a sealer stain, cedar posts, cement, plastic and/or metal posts. Wooden posts will have a limited life span and will likely need to be replaced before the grape plants. Plastic and cement posts will be expensive. Used, 1 1/4 inch or larger, thickwall, steel pipe is usually available from junk dealers at a cost of $9-$12 per 9 foot length. For best results the end-posts need to be set in cement and braced. Holes will need to be drilled to hold the wire on which the grape plants will be secured. Iron T-Post stakes are available in 9 and 10 foot lengths from a number of suppliers. Integrity Sales on Keating X. Rd. has them at $7.75 and $8.45 respectively (less a VIGGA discount of 5%). Wire can be hung on these without drilling but they all may need to be sunk in concrete and end-braced to remain solidly in the ground. These are extensively used in the Napa Valley. The various post dealers in this area have a wide range of prices for post products so it is adviseable to do some shopping.
........from Ed Popham

Victoria Estate Winery

"The newest winery on Vancouver Island, the Victoria Estate Winery, debuted its wines, perhaps prematurely, at the recent Victoria Festival of Wine, Food and Music. Why premature? The winery is a few weeks away from completing all of its licensing. It meant that Eric v. Krosigk, the winery¹s president as well as the winemaker, could pour the wines but could not yet sell them. That was a pity because there were several that I would have stuffed into my already overloaded bag."
"Von Krosigk........is a veteran B.C. winemaker. Born in Vernon and trained at Geisenheim in Germany, he was the first winemaker at Summerhill Estate Winery when it opened in 1991. He currently oversees wine production at both Hillside Estate Winery at Naramata and Saturna Island Vineyards on the Gulf Island of the same name. In addition, he consults with several other wineries".
"A man with as much ambition as he has energy, V. Krosigk intends to develop a fairly substantial winery on the Saanich Peninsula. He has contracted another 15 acres of grapes and is talking to landowners with property on which more vines could be planted. The goal is to have 200 acres of vines in production". (Update: the VEW wines can now be purchased from some local wine-shops......Ed.)
...........from John Schreiner, March 11, 2002.

------------------------------------------------------------------
The "Graper"is published regularly by the Vancouver Island Grape Growers'Association. We welcome articles, comments or questions from members and non-members. The deadline for receiving material is the first of the month in which the newsletter will be issued. Copy for inclusion in the "Graper"may be sent to the Editor via Canada Post or the e-mail address as follows: D.Edwards, 1900 Nicholas Rd., Saanichton, BC, V8M 1X8.

Addendum- your vineyard

John Says......

Now that spring seems to have appeared everything in the vineyard is going to need doing at the same time. Kumulus (sulphur) sprays should have been done and repeated on a schedule of 10 - 14 days. An addition of epsom salts and an addition of potassium as a foliar feed shaould have been made in the first or second spray as the soil does not warm sufficiently for cation exchange and although your soil may have optimum amounts of these nutrients they are not available to the plant in sufficent amounts for optimum growth and fruit set. Disbud and tie up new canes as required, saving a couple of good canes for renewal for next season. Keep the canopy open. See the section in your growers manual regarding the vineyard score card. Time your spray of Nova for 5% capfall. You will not be spraying fungicides until bloom is finished and Nova gives about three weeks residual coverage.
Prevention is what the game is all about with Powdery Mildew. KEEP ON THE SPRAY PROGRAMME. When bloom has finsihed a cover fungicide targeted to Botritis is next. Mistral/ Captan/Elevate etc. One spray after capfall and another just prior to bunch closure. This spray is of particular importance if you have late ripening varieties (I think all will be late this year) as winter rains
promote botritis growth and the resultant loss of fruit. Be prepared to take petioles for analysis during bloom. The petiole (the stem of the leaf that attatches to the blade) to take for the lab is the one opposite the flower and should be taken at bloom or as soon therafter as practical. When you get the lab results you may have to do a foliar feed to adjust the nutrient levels for this season. Follow the agrologists suggestions and keep the report handy to supply the agrologist in the spring
with the resuls of your soil tests. This will allow the agrologist to make more accurate recommendations as to the fertilizer requirements for optimum perfomance next spring . Those growers who are in a first crop situation should not be tempted to over-crop the vine as this will set the vine back and production will be minimal over the next few years. ONE BUNCH PER CANE MAXIMUM on new plantings. On some plants if they appear not to be thriving do not allow any crop and reduce the number of canes if growth appears to be stunted. This will focus the energy of the plant into making one strong cane for next year¹s fruiting cane while it develops a stronger root structure. Nothing is gained by pushing production before the plant is mature and the plant often takes years to achieve maximum production if pushed too early.
If you still have a weed problem in the row by the time this is published, roundup will not be the best solution. Roundup works best when weeds are actively growing (during spring when soil moisture and temperature are optimum) I would switch to Ignite now as this is a contact herbicide and will defoliate anything it comes in contact with. If you have some overspray on some grape leaves it will only affect those leaves and the plant will be unharmed. Unfortunately the same happens to the weeds so the roots are alive to send up new weed leaves which you will dutifully spray again. Pune and sucker the vineyard to keep the canopy open and maintain air flow. Observe the growth in your vineyard. Make adjustments as necessary. Err on the side of caution. Try to achieve balance with each plant. Some plants are very vigorous and should bear a heavier crop load than other vines of the same clone. Reduce crop on the ones that do not appear to be throwing sufficent renewal wood for next year¹s crop.Try to time sprays so they are early in the morning or in the evening when the heat has gone from the day to avoid burning of leaves. Irrigate as required. Water stressed vines do not perfom well. If the leaves are droopy, warm to the touch the vine is water stressed. Some water stressed vines have the lower leaves turn yellow and drop. Water deeply less often, rather than shallow more frequent watering. This gives the vine a chance to develop a deep root system and will eventually withstand drought on its own.
Keep the canes spaced so there is minimal overlaping of leaves. One leaf overlap reduces the efficency of the outermost leaf to 50%. Subsequent overlaps reduce the leaf to a net deficit as the energy that should go to making more plant or fruit is now going to support the leaf hidden so it cannot photosynthesize.In our climate it tkaes a minimum of 12 to 14 leaves to ripen a bunch of fruit. Count 14 leaves up from the uppermost bunch to see where you should hedge.
...........John Brickett