Spring in the Vineyard Brings Hope and Rebirth (WineEnthusiast)

For winemakers, spring marks the shift from winter dormancy to reawakening. In the vineyard, the groundwork for harvest is laid and important transitions occur, from de-acclimation, bud break, and flowering, to cover crop, vine replanting, and more. Spring isn’t without its hazards, nor immune to the changing climate.

Pruning Vines

Summer in the Vineyard Sets the Stage for Harvest (WineEnthusiast)

For some people, summer means warm temperatures, long days and carefree vibes. For vignerons, summer is hard work. After they prune and prepare the vineyards through the winter and spring, winemakers must shepherd grapes to the finish line. They pull leaves and drop fruit, monitor for diseases and pests, and protect against weather hazards.

Post-Harvest Vineyard Maintenance: Tips to Finish the Year Off Right (Grapevine Magazine)

Although the busy time of harvesting grapes is winding down or has ended for many vineyards, there’s not much time to sit back and relax before more critical work must be done. Many post-harvest vineyard tasks should be on every vineyard’s to-do lists to prepare for next year’s crop and sustain the longevity of the vineyard’s operations.

Pruned Grapes

Pruning and Training Grapes in the Home Vineyard (University of NH Extension)

Home-grown grapes make excellent wine. A small home vineyard with even just a vine or two can be a beautiful and productive addition to the landscape, yard or patio. In this publication, we discuss the importance of pruning and training grapes and describe some of the training systems that can be used successfully in home vineyards.

7 Most Common Grapevine Diseases (Wine Cooler)

For winemakers, grapevine diseases can be devastating. Unfortunately, there are many kinds of vine diseases that thrive in all sorts of conditions. Bacteria and fungi cause the most common grapevine diseases. Insects can also spread disease and damage roots. Environmental conditions can trigger fungi development that wreaks havoc on grapevines in vineyards.

10 Worst Grapevine Insect Pests: How to Identify and Treat Them (Minneopa Orchards)

Nothing ruins a perfect growing season like annoying pests. One week, you’re looking forward to a healthy yield of grapes, and the next, your grape vine has suffered enough damage to threaten a future harvest. It may seem like a hopeless endeavor, but there are ways to spot and prevent grape vine pests from ruining your harvest.

Grapes Damaged by Birds

Bird damage reduction strategies utilizing viticultural practices (MSU Extenstion)

Bird damage begins around Veraison and continues until late fall/winter when grapes are harvested for ice-wine production. If you don’t have bird control, crop losses can reach up to 95% and 60% in red and white varieties, respectively. It is extremely difficult to stop birds once they have tasted the sweet grapes.

VSP - Training and Pruning

Dormant Cane and Spur Pruning (PennState Extension)

Grapevine pruning is an important and labor-intensive vineyard management task. Grapevine buds contain compressed shoots that will grow and produce a crop in the forthcoming season. Retaining fruitful buds is the primary method of manipulating shoot density and cluster number for the following season.

Climate and weather

Climate, Weather and Vineyard Management (eVineyard)

Climate and weather play an important role in viticulture. While the weather can change in a short period of time, climate represents the average of the weather over a period of time. While vineyard management practice depends on the climate in which the grapes are grown in, the weather is dictating winegrower’s daily work.

Prevention and Management of Frost Injury in Wine Grapes (NC State Extension)

Late-spring frost events can cause severe injury to grapevines, often leading to the loss of fruitful buds and subsequent decreased yield and fruit quality. Severe frost injury has the potential to destroy a whole vintage. In areas such as the Southeast, where spring frosts are common, both passive and active frost control techniques are essential to maintain the longevity and economic sustainability of a vineyard.

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