Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/101495
EAST Maryland VINTAGE 2012 EAST Reporting from: ���Maryland ���New York ���North Carolina ���Ontario ���Pennsylvania ���Virginia Maryland The 2012 season was a significant improvement over last year, if not up to the quality of 2007 or 2010. Weather: The early months were mild and dry, turning wet, windy and warm by spring. Bud break was nearly two weeks early, resulting in early flowering, veraison and harvest. Crop sizes varied from average to generous, and the quality of the fruit was generally good, except that the pHs tended to level off prematurely in the fall. Super storm Sandy, which devastated much of the East Coast, took a detour around Maryland, and most vineyards were spared any damage. Pests/diseases: Disease pressure was on the low side, except for outbreaks of downy mildew in several areas. Pest problems were tolerable, except for bees (mostly yellow jackets), which were the most abundant in years. Weeds were also in profusion, requiring significant manual labor, including frequent mowing and hand-pulling in addition to spot herbicide spraying. Varieties: The number of wineries continues to increase, as does the diversity of wines produced. The number of local wine festivals also were increasing���as were the number of wine trails through the historical regions of the state. Jack Johnston Editor, Maryland Grapevine Newsletter New York���Long Island Likely due to a warm spring, harvest was one to two weeks earlier than normal. Yields were average. Flavors were balanced and ripe. Winemakers are uniformly pleased with how the wines are progressing. Weather: Bud break was early: mid-April. For the most part, the season remained warm with average rainfall. Harvest was finished by the time Hurricane Sandy arrived in late October. Pest/Diseases: Rain fell Sept. 4-5 and swelled berries as well as jump-started cluster rot. Infections were problematic in riper varieties. Subsequent dry weather limited spread. Technology/techniques: There has been an increase in the use of fine mesh side netting to protect fruit from birds. Wide mesh netting does not work well in highpressure areas. Varieties: Varieties such as Albari��o and Gr��ner Veltliner did well. Growers are continuing to diversify their plantings with varieties new to Long Island. Alice Wise Viticulturist, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County www.tenaxus.com Bird Netting Environmentally - friendly alternatives to chemicals and other ineffective methods, available in a variety of sizes and mesh openings. Ground Protection Green solutions for preventing wheel rutting and creating temporary parking areas! Deer Fence Long-lasting effective predator control solutions that do not obstruct the landscape! Jane Fridley de Bigit p. 651.414.9498 | jdebigit@tenax.com 122 W in e s & V i ne s JANUARY 20 13