VMW 117 Fall Vineyard Practices

Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 2
Credits: 4

Surveys fall vineyard management practices. Focuses on harvest practices, harvest contracts, and ripening parameters. Compares different ripening characteristics for a variety of clones and rootstocks. Covers fall canopy management, disease problems, and weather effects on ripening.

Prerequisite: VMW 114, VMW 115, and VMW 116; or consent of instructor. (All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C of better.)
Student Learning Outcomes:

Determine parameters for grape harvest.
Measure the sugar content, and taste of maturing grape clusters.
Measure the total acidity and pH of grape juice to determine grape harvest.
Record and use harvest statistics.
Identify the effects of powdery mildew and botrytis/bunch rot.
Compare and contrast rootstock and clonal characteristics.
Examine different harvest strategies.

Content Outline

Grape Harvest Statistics
- Brix determination
  - Refractometer
  - Hydrometer
- Acid determination
  - Titratable acid
  - pH
- Cluster and berry counts, weights
  - Plant production
  - Cultivar, clone, rootstock yields
  - Vineyard yields
Rootstock and Clones
- Rootstock performance and evaluation
  - Phylloxera resistance
  - Nematode resistance
  - Growth and vigor characteristics
  - Adaptation to soil conditions
  - Water tolerance and stress
- Clone performance and evaluation
  - Yields
  - Ripening characteristics
  - Wine quality
Disease Control
- Identification of the effects of powdery mildew and botrytis/bunch rot
- Poor canopy management effect on grapes
- Fall sprays
Grape Cultivars
- Cool climate grapes
- Characteristics
- Wine characteristics
Harvest Techniques
- Tools and layout
- Labor and winery contracts