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🍇Napa Valley's Ideal Climate and Geography for Winegrowing Napa Valley's Mediterranean climate, defined by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters, provides near-ideal conditions for viticulture. Most of Napa's rainfall occurs during the winter off-season, allowing vineyard managers to control water stress carefully during the growing season. The warm summer temperatures promote steady, even grape ripening. Fog from the San Pablo Bay often blankets Napa vineyards in the morning and evening, moderating daytime heat spikes that could overly stress vines. In addition to favorable climate conditions, Napa benefits tremendously from diverse topography and soils. The valley runs north to south for over 30 miles, encompassing a variety of microclimates, slopes, and soil types. Cooler climes exist in the southern and northern reaches of the valley, with warmer mid-sections suiting more heat-loving varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Vineyards that are planted on well- drained mountains are different from those that are grown on rich valley floors. Together, these different types of landscapes let vintners match specific types of grapes to the best places for them. 🍇🍷

🍇🌦️ Discover the Impact of #Hail on #Vineyards and how #WeatherData can safeguard your #harvest ! 🍷 Our collaborators at Meteomatics AG have recently released an article on our website that explores the challenges vineyards face due to #hailstorms and the critical role of weather data in predicting and preventing damage. You’ll learn: 🍇 The susceptibility of vineyards to hail damage and the economic impact on wine production. 🌧️ How cutting-edge weather data and predictive analytics are helping vineyard owners and winemakers anticipate hailstorms. 🌱 Effective strategies to protect your vines and ensure a fruitful harvest, even in hail-prone regions. In the framework of the MAGDA Project, Meteomatics AG has forged a partnership with Maison Louis Jadot, a renowned winery with a legacy dating back to 1859 in #Beaune, #Burgundy. Maison Louis Jadot will establish a #Meteobase on its premises, serving as a ground station for a #Meteodrone, thereby enabling the collection of valuable data aimed at enhancing weather forecasts for the region. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g6sxryAf

This is what can happen in a vineyard when a grower decides to change varieties. The choice for grafting over can be due to poor performance (a red flag) or market value of the variety planted. Anyway, the safest way to graft over a vineyard block is to test the incoming budwood as well as what is in the vineyard. In this case, either the budwood or vineyard vines were infected with a pathogenic strain of Agrobacterium vitis. Gall symptoms generally do no display unless stress is present (grafting is considered stressful to a vine!). The work of grafting over a vineyard block is time consuming and expensive. Why not spend the extra money to do it right? 

Vineyard values Napa Valley: In the first two decades of this century, the cost of prime Napa Valley vineyards roughly tripled, rising from $150,00 per acre (€346,000 per/ ha) to $450,000 (€1,037,000), with some top properties going for over $750,000 per acre. (€1,726,000). 

A recent report by the University of Redlands in California shows that vineyards can enhance a property’s value by 8 to 12 percent. This article features homeowners who have started vineyards in their backyards and tips for creating your own. #dmvhomes #homevineyard

We've found a couple of alternatives to geotextiles working with our French trellising provider. These are currently being used in Quebec, Ontario, and Switzerland to combat cold damage. 1) Snow Netting 2) Heated cabling 1) The netting operates similar to a geotextile except it is adapted to traditional vineyards. I think traditional geotextiles with low trunking will get smoked by heat (as well as labour problems). By using a more innovative trellising setup, you can run the netting from the ground to either the top of the fruiting wire above your buds or to the top wire. The huge advantage is in labour - it stays on the posts year round and does not interfere with vineyard operations. It is as easy as unclipping and unrolling to install (and vice versa). Further, it can double as shade and bird netting. Because of this, it can qualify for current Extreme Weather grants. For example, on very hot days you can pull one side of the netting down. The disadvantage is that it does not "provide" more heat than geotextiles. It requires the same snow cover to create a temperature difference from the warmer ground. But the reduced labour and uses as heat/bird netting are significant (and no tucking if used this way). We're also providing in black to provide some benefit of solar radiation when there is not snow cover. 2) Heated cabling is currently used in vineyards around the world. Primarily for spring frost, but with an insulation system like netting it can be used as the heat source paired with the netting. Really, any heat source will work. Obviously some are looking at using heated air which, paired with a netting, would also be viable. The advantage of heated cabling is that (a) it turns on automatically with a built in thermostat (b) stays on the wire (c) can run on generators and (d) can also serve to ward off the rare spring cold here or advance ripening by a week or two in cooler years. The disadvantages are primarily cost and having to have generators on hand. As well, I'm not sure how well it works with cane pruning (it will have some effect, also depends how it's attached). Ultimately, I think this is for premium or high end blocks. Please feel free to contact us or read more at: https://lnkd.in/g8WgxZvX

#Viticulture #Vineyard #Grapes #Enology #Sustainability #Climatechange #SustainableVineyard  This is a "fast-reading" book aiming at summarizing applied research conducted over the last two decades about the interaction between viticulture and climate change. Scion and rootstock choice, alternative floor management solutions, changes in vineyard establishment and summer pruning, climate adaptation and mitigation approaches, how to deal with extreme weather events in viticulture and most recent applications in precision viticulture are just a few of the covered topics. READ MORE>>>>>>> https://amzn.to/3S2KEfr

#WineNews Meininger's International published an interesting article "Owners Who Neglect Vineyards in Bordeaux Will Face Fines" and for the first time, vineyard owners in #Bordeaux are facing penalties if they neglect their vineyards. Fines of up to €5,000 per hectare may be imposed. "Neglected vineyards are not just an eyesore; they pose a significant threat to viticulture by becoming breeding grounds for vine diseases such as Flavescence dorée (yellowing of the canopy). These abandoned plots are also suspected of increasing downy mildew pressure on neighboring vineyards. For years, industry associations and the administration of the Gironde department have advocated for sanitary clearings—a plea that French Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau answered in February with multi-million-euro state aid and clearing premiums. Despite these efforts, the condition of Bordeaux's vineyards remains alarming. According to the industry platform "Vitisphere," the prefecture of the Gironde department acknowledged in a press release that "the number of reports and concerns about the many abandoned or neglected vineyard plots in the department is significant." These fallow areas are estimated to cover over 2,540 ha/ circa 6,300 acres, a consequence of declining wine consumption and unprofitable vineyard management. Continue reading: https://lnkd.in/eBXnqj72 Penalties are due for neglected vineyards (Photo: generated with Firefly AI)

Why do we prune vines in winter? ❄️ 🍇 Vines are pruned in winter for several important reasons. Here are some of the main reasons: 1. Dormant period: During winter, vines enter a period of dormancy, which means they are inactive in terms of growth. This makes pruning easier and less stressful for the vines. 2. Clear view of the structure: When the leaves have fallen during winter, it is easier for viticulturists to visualize the structure of the vine, including the branches, canes, and buds. This allows them to make informed choices during pruning to shape the vine according to their production goals. 3. Growth control: Winter pruning helps control the growth of the vine by removing some of its old wood. This promotes balanced and consistent growth in spring, making vine management easier throughout the growing season. To discover the real Burgundy, contact Youri Lebault 🍷