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I mentioned this in another thread but thought I would update. I only harvested 60 lbs of 2022 Marquette and due to my inability to stand on both hind legs, I froze the whole clusters. In April 2023 I fermented the frozen clusters and hand pressed the pomace. Since Marquette is descended from...

I want to share the wealth of my Chambourin crop and give some juice to family and friends for jelly and juice. I'm considering crushing the grapes, letting them macerate 24 or 48 hours then pressing. I would like to use the skins in my Chambourcin fermentation so I don't want to heat the...

This was listed on the VVA Exchange page. Petit Verdot and Chambourcin Waterford I don't know if they will sell less than a ton but to get rid of fruit they might. It looks like the Virginia vineyards have an excess of fruit this year.

All whole grape winemakers - how do you control yellow jackets, hornets and wasps during crush and press? We crushed about 500 lbs last week and keeping the bees out of the must was nearly impossible and avoiding stings was impossible.

I pressed my red hybrid blend on Saturday and underestimated the amount of juice for my carboy. I'm having mobility issues and am doing well to see that I have juice in two buckets. Anyway, I filled a 5 gallon carboy, added my MLF bacteria and had two gallons left over. I didn't have any...

My Marquette is starting veraison, so to fight the racoons and other varmints in my vineyard, I bought 1300 feet of Premier 1 poultry netting; 48 inches high 11 hot wires and 3 inch holes in the netting, posts at every 6.5 feet. I got the biggest energizer and had sufficient joules according to...

So I started two FWK kits on Thursday, June 9. One Zin and one Syrah, double skins for both. On Sunday, June 12 we had to leave town suddenly -no not on the run.... I considered taking the batches with me but hated to haul them around. I pulled the skins and popped all four bags in the...

Has anyone used electric fence netting to protect vines from racoons, fox, maybe deer (though deer will probably jump the fence)? If so, what height is best and brand? I'm concerned the racoons will go through two or three wires and the fox will jump the fence. The cost is more than double...

Last year, I lost my pitiful crop to some creatures. I suspect raccoons but never caught anything in the act. I did not net the vines. I want to order netting soon. I plan to net the fruit zone because netting too close to the ground will get caught in the mower. Trust me, I know. I am...

I’m pruning my hybrids this week. Temperatures are to plunge Saturday to 11 degrees. Should I wait to finish? I can’t get back to the vineyard for about two weeks. I don’t think any will break bud before April but I hate to take the chance. I don’t know what is riskiest?

I usually spray my vineyard in the morning so the spray has time to dry. I don't have any beehives near my main vineyard so I have just hoped the bees will stay out until the spray dries. I'm putting a small number of vines in my backyard where I keep bees. I'm concerned about the toxicity to...

The VineSmith spray guides have been out of stock for months. I got a notice last week that the 2022 guides are in stock. I placed my order and already have my set. The cost for the full set is $75 and the organic only set is $25. Spray Guides - VineSmith These are comprehensive guides for...

Here is a link to the Eastern Viticulture and Enology Forum Webinars from 2020/21 and 2021/22. Eastern Viticulture and Enology Forum | Cornell Fruit Resources: Grapes The Spring Frost Mitigation and Rose' Wine Production were both good. I wasn't able to attend all the webinar's due to timing...

A couple weeks back I was lamenting the low stock at Double A for 2022. I had to call them and beg enough self rooted vines to fill my 2022 order. Today, Double A sent a customer email asking customers to give them orders for 2023 or later do they can plan cuttings and grafting. I replied...

I have been ordering my vines from Double A and I REALLY like dealing with them but last year the selection was limited and many varieties were out of stock. This year is worse. I prefer to plant un-grafted hybrids because the winter care is so much easier in that I don't need to hill up the...

I have a Petit Verdot that has been aging for nearly one year in a stainless keg. I oaked it early with French and American oak. My samples have a strange nose almost funky, dull, dusty, no fruit, maybe even a whiff of kerosene. After allowing the sample to sit out for at least 30 minutes...

The VT Research Center in Winchester, Virginia is having open house today from 1 pm to 5 pm. Open to the public at the Alson H Smith Jr Ag Research Center. The research scientists will be giving overviews of their research and there will be tours of the vineyards and orchards.

I received some cuttings from a vineyard and need advice on several issues. I've reached out to the vineyard operators but my emails are not being answered so I'm hoping for help. First, the cuttings were in the mail for 15 days. The wrappings were still damp so I had some hope. I snipped...