Cold Climate Wine Grape Cultivars:

A “New” Crop in the

Northeast and Upper Midwest Regions

of the USA

L.P. Berkett, T.L. Bradshaw, and S.L. Kingsley-Richards

Department of Plant & Soil Science

University of Vermont

Burlington, VT USA

Where is Vermont ?

Agriculture & Tourism

Vermont Plant

Hardiness Zones

La CrescentFrontenac

“Cold Climate” Wine Grapes

Marquette

http://viticulture.hort.iastate.edu/cultivars/cultivars.html

� Origin: MN 1094 and the French Hybrid cultivar Ravat 262 (offspring of Pinot Noir)

� Withstands temperatures as low as -37˚Cwithout serious injury.

� Open and orderly growth habit

� Ripens mid-season, a few days before the cultivar Frontenac.

� Wines have been excellent, exceeding nearly all non-V. vinifera varieties in quality ratings. Tasters have noted an attractive deep red color, desirable aromas of cherry, black pepper, spice, and berry, and substantial tannin structurerarely found in hybrid wines.

Marquette

� White wine grape variety - makes a Germanic character wine reminiscent of Vignoles or Riesling

� Origin: St. Pepin x ES 6-8-25; U of M, 2002

� Very winter hardy with trunks surviving temp. as low as -37 C

� Mid-season variety with an average harvest date of Sept. 26 in Minnesota (approx. 45-degree latitude)

� Yields and vigor are moderate

� Small to medium amber berries on medium clusters that are slightly loose to loose

� Wine quality is high when finished in a semi-sweet style, and aromas include apricot, citrus, and pineapple with no herbaceous or labrusca aromas.

La Crescent

http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/Default.aspx

1963

Published: July 5, 2013

Published: July 5, 2013

1988

2013

Challenge in Cold Regions

An important challenge to this young industry in thecolder regions of the USA is the selection of cultivarswhich will survive the cold winters and consistentlyproduce high quality fruit, particularly within cool,relatively short growing seasons that occur in some ofthe states.

Cultivar selection is a critical decision for a grape growerwhich will impact the vineyard’s competitiveness,profitability, and its success or failure.

It is a decision that needs research-generated, science-based information.

Wine Grape Cultivar Research Projects

� NE 1020 Project

� Northern Grapes Project

1. Evaluate the viticulture characteristics and wine quality potential of clones of economically significant cultivars throughout the USA.

2. Characterize the viticultural and wine quality potential of emerging cultivars based on regional needs.

3. Conduct explorations within and outside of the USA for new or lesser known cultivars that may have economic potential for the US wine industry.

NE1020: Multi-State Evaluation of Winegrape Cultivars and Clones

http://www.nimss.umd.edu/homepages/outline.cfm?trackID=4034

[25 Universities]

University of Vermont VineyardNE 1020 Cultivar Evaluation Project

• Planted: 2007 - 6 rows, 4-vine plots of each cultivar per row

• Cultivars: Frontenac, La Crescent, St. Croix, Marquette,

Prairie Star, Corot Noir, Vignoles, and Traminette

• Soil Type: Adams-Windsor loamy sand

• Training System: High-Wire Cordon

• Irrigation System: Drip

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

2013 Northern Grapes Project Grower Symposium- Research Summaries -

http://northerngrapesproject.org/

2012

http://northerngrapesproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/B.-Gartner-Baseline-survey.pdf

2012

http://northerngrapesproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/B.-Gartner-Baseline-survey.pdf

VERMONT – 2009 Grower Survey

How important is it to you to learn more about the major grape diseases, the optimal time(s) to manage them, and the various management options?

•Highly Important – 82%

•Mod. Important – 15%

•Slightly Important – 3%

•Not at all Important – 0%

•Unsure – 0%

Phomopsis cane & leaf spot - Phomopsis viticola

Black Rot - Guignardia bidwellii

Powdery MildewErysiphe necator

Downy MildewPlasmopara viticola

Major Diseases

NYS IPM Fact Sheet

AnthracnoseElsinoe

ampelina

First Harvest - Never Applied Fungicides

Black Rot

Grape Berry Moth

Endopiza viteana

Grape Leafhoppers

Erythroneura spp.

Grape Phylloxera (leaf form)

Dakutlosphaira vitifoliae

Grape Insect Pests

Grape Berry Moth

Webbing of the grapeberry moth larvae.

Substantial damage caused by the grape berry moth

“New” Insect Pests

• Spotted Wing Drosophila

• Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Source: Wash. State Univ. Source: L.P. Berkett

Halyomorpha halys

University of Vermont Cold Climate Grape Production Website

http://pss.uvm.edu/grape/

http://pss.uvm.edu/grape/IPM/AnInitialIPMStrategy.pdf

University of Vermont Grape IPM Updates

1. http://newa.cornell.edu

2. Chose a weather station

close to your location

NEWA’s Homepage

Stations in

Vermont

Six on apple farmsCalaisEast DorsetPutneyShorehamSouth BurlingtonSouth Hero

Five on airports (NWS)BenningtonBurlingtonMontpelierMorrisvilleRutland

NEWA – Disease & Insect Models

Grower Education in VermontClassroom – Vineyard

La Crescent

Frontenac

Goal: Quality Cold Climate Wine Grape Production

Marquette

Danke, Grazie, MerciThank you

For your Attention

Research Technicians Morgan Griffith, Terry Bradshaw, Sarah Kingsley-Richards