- Posted By: Stephen J. Vasquez
- Written by: Jeannette Warnert
A new winegrape variety trial at the University of California's Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier may help local vintners add a touch of distinction to San Joaquin Valley wines.
At the recently held Kearney Grape Day (August 16, 2011), UC Cooperative Extension viticulture specialist James Wolpert introduced growers to the 55 unusual varieties from Portugal, Spain, Italy and France being evaluated at the research center, located south of Fresno. But don't expect to see these exotic red and white wine varietals - such as Corvina Veronese, Forastera, Trebbiano Toscano and Petit Manseng - on wine labels any time soon.
The research aims to give vintners blending varieties that will...
- Author: Matthew W. Fidelibus
With the passing of bloom, table grape growers are turning their attention from managing fruit set to maximizing berry size. One practice that increases berry size is girdling, removing a thin strip of bark from around the vine trunk. The girdle disrupts the flow of carbohydrates from the vine's canopy to its roots; the young berries grow fat on the extra sugar that would otherwise have been consumed by the roots.
Special double-bladed knives are used to make the girdles. Keeping the blades sharp makes the task go much easier. Some knives also have a single blade on one end of the handle. I prefer such knives as the single blade is a handy tool for removing loose bark that interferes with...
