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Muscat plantings on the rise
Muscat grape varieties, the hottest selling wines in America, have also been the hottest selling grape nursery stock. And while there’s been an uptick in Muscat plantings in Washington State, in general, the state’s wine industry is taking a cautious approach to the latest wine fad.
Sustainable program for wineries launched
Wine bottle corks are repurposed as mulch, an example of sustainable practices implemented at Snoqualmie
Vineyard replanting economics
When replanting an existing vineyard, a grower has three scenarios to choose from—replace plants and
A report card for juice grapes
A team of Washington State’s juice grape industry members and university scientists has begun a
Choosing not to replant
An example of layering, in which a cane is brought from the old Cabernet Sauvignon
Sustainability can be economical
More than 160 photovoltaic panels rest on the rooftop of Powers Winery, generating about 20
Organic viticulture is all about timing
Bill Powers used common materials—screen mesh, bottoms of plastic jugs—to construct his pest fan. Melissa
Going without sulfites
Greg Powers knows viticulture and enology from the ground up and was manager for the
Finding a better way
All of the vines at Badger Mountain Vineyard are trained to the Scott-Henry trellis system.
Balancing nitrogen in grapes and wine
Catherine Jones, middle, puts Merlot grapes through a destemmer under the watchful eye of her
Are Washington Merlots Sideways?
Harold Thoreen of Antoine Creek Vineyard near Chelan, Washington, son Colin, and Harold’s wife Suzanne
Merlot’s place in Washington
Merlot grapes have had a strong presence in Washington State since 1956 when the late
High density not for Concords
A Washington State University study found that traditional spacings for juice grapes—around six feet between
Alcohol depresses wine aromas
Ethanol (alcohol) interacts with sensory attributes of wine and can decrease the potency of aromas
The myths of high-alcohol wine
The recent trend of higher alcohol wines is related to winemakers wanting riper fruit so
New pests threaten Washington grapes
Doug Walsh, holding a mealybug pheromone trap, says that such traps have been used throughout
Trapping for grape mealybug
Brian Bahder transfers a first-instar grape mealybug from a grapevine leafroll-diseased Concord vine to a
Bunch rot, a different beast
Michelle Moyer reminds growers who had powdery mildew problems last year to prepare for disease
New variety has it all
Grape breeder Peter Hemstad is also co-owner of Minnesota's St. Croix Vineyards. His winery won
Economy down, wine sales up
Despite a bleak economic picture for many Americans, it’s a good time for Washington State
Marquette tested in Washington
Paul Champoux Washington State’s Paul Champoux of Alderdale, known for his award-winning grapes grown in
Globalization threatens wine terroir
Globalization has brought the world of wine to our front door, offering endless choices for
Minnesota grapes get national attention
Marquette, which can survive to -30°F, has potential for Washington State. Sara Granstrom The University
Honoree is a survivor
Rob Andrews, holding what was once a Merlot vine, said they wasted no time reworking
Grape program feels budget cuts
Dr. Thomas Henick-Kling is hopeful research funding will be restored in the next Farm Bill.
Vineyard and winery financing
From a banker’s perspective, vineyard loans in Washington State can generally be categorized as high
Grape nursery sales remain strong
Cabernet Sauvignon vine sales are still strong, though Merlot and Chardonnay sales softened last year,
Grape calculators revised
The online Northwest Grape Cost of Production Calculators, developed for wineries and vineyards, were recently
Washington’s grape crop down in 2011
Concord yields varied widely last year, ranging from no crop to 20 tons per acre.
Instant vineyard
These "super big" vines were planted in an Oregon vineyard earlier this year. Neil Hauff
Jones of Washington
Jack, left, and Greg Jones moved the Jones of Washington winery from Quincy
Nothing average about Jones
The tasting room for Jones of Washington wines has no Mediterranean architecture, marble floor,
Making wines in a big way
Pinot Grigio grapes are being crushed. White and red grapes are received and crushed in
$60-million boost
A mechanical harvester is part of a major research project relating to production and marketing
Grape industry goes after viruses
Grapevine leafroll disease is easy to diagnose in red varieties, like this Cabernet Sauvignon vine,
Concord grapes, part of American culture
Though Concord was generally accepted as being pure Vitis labrusca, horticulturists today believe it is
Pay attention to vines at bloom
Cabernet Sauvignon with (left) and without nitrogen deficiency during bloom. Markus Keller To a casual
Bloom heading can improve yields
A water deficit of as little as 0.1 or 0.2 of an inch can cause
Growing sought-after Syrah grapes
Mike Sauer of Red Willow Vineyard was the first to plant Syrah wine grapes in
Where should Syrah be planted?
Syrah wine grapes can be successful in warm and cool sites in Washington State. However,
Field-grafting grapes not a sure thing
Dick Boushey shows a cleft graft that he used to change a block of Semillon
Wine industry backs new center
The Washington Wine Commission’s commitment of $7.4 million towards the cost of building a Wine
Small nursery has depth of selection
Jeff Sample has more than 70 grape selections of clones and varieties in his Terroir
What’s hot in grape varieties
Jeff Sample has a small greenhouse that he uses to grow cuttings and increase the
Quality wine by the glass
James Martin spent two years converting the ground flour of the old flour mill into
Eastern U.S. wine industry gets lift
Tony Wolf, center, is director of the Alson H. Smith, Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension
Grapes for Puget Sound
Left to right, Top: Regent, Gruner Veltliner, Pinot Noir Precoce. Bottom: Golubok, Rondo Field trials
Good Stuff
New spraying book Dr. Andrew Landers’ new book Effective Vineyard Spraying is now available for
Puget Sound potential
Washington’s Puget Sound is not only picturesque, but it’s near major population centers. SAN JJUAN
Predicting grapevine cold hardiness
Being able to predict the cold hardiness of grapes could help growers know how to