Wines & Vines

134 WINES&VINES Collector's Edition VINTAGE 2018 NEW YORK — LONG ISLAND Alice Wise Senior issue educator Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County Yields were average to above aver- age except where sorting of cluster rot was required, especially for sus- ceptible white varieties. Summer was hot but often cloudy. Conse- quently, fruit was physiologically ripe with low to moderate Brix (18- 20) and acids (5-7 g/l). Like many eastern regions, Long Island experi- enced an extended period of very warm, humid weather. Rainfall was not excessive during the summer, but the typical four- to six-week dry period did not take place. Tempera- tures remained above average through September. A nor'easter storm on Oct. 27 hastened the har- vest of Bordeaux red varieties. Due to vigorous shoot growth, pe- riodic rainfall, dewy mornings and warm temperatures, downy mildew was the primary challenge through much of the season. Post-veraison, botrytis bunch rot and sour rot were problematic in susceptible varieties, though there was great variability in the degree of cluster rot from farm to farm. Despite the challenges of minimizing downy mildew and, in some cases, sorting out cluster rot, well-managed vine- yards were still able to produce decent yields of ripe, flavorful fruit. NEW YORK — FINGER LAKES Yates, Ontario, Wayne, Seneca, Schuyler and Steuben counties Hans Walter-Peterson Viticulture extension specialist Cornell Cooperative Extension After 2017's very large crop, the general expectation was that this year's yields would be lower than normal in many cases. This proved to be true in some vineyards, but not in others. Overall crop this year ended up being close to average for most growers. Quality appears to be good overall. Varieties that were harvested earlier generally did better than later varieties due to ongoing pest pressure, especially sour rot in Riesling. Brix levels were generally lower than usual, but warm nights pushed acidity levels lower. Winemakers have generally been pleased with the quality of red varieties like Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and Lemberger. 2018 was a season with two dis- tinct phases – one dry and one "not so dry." The period from April through July was drier than normal, with some vineyards be- ginning to show some early signs of drought stress by the Fourth of July holiday. Conditions changed significantly at the end of July and lasted through most of Octo- ber, with more consistent rains. Communities on the eastern side of Seneca Lake and western side of Cayuga Lake were hit with 7 to 12 inches of rain during the morning of Aug. 14, causing damage to roads, homes and businesses, but relatively little damage to vineyards. The Finger Lakes also had a historic number of days with high humidity (dew- points reaching over 70° F), which prevented fruit from drying out after rains and seemed to contribute to higher incidence of fruit splitting before harvest. Pest pressure was relatively light in the first half of the season, thanks to the relatively dry conditions. That changed when rain and hu- midity entered the picture begin- ning in August. Downy mildew was a constant challenge. Sour rot was a significant problem in susceptible varieties, especially Riesling and Vignoles. Many growers spent sig- nificant effort to drop infected fruit before mechanical harvesters ar- rived, and others brought in crews to pick by hand. Later-season reds, including Cabernet Franc, were not impacted nearly as much. The first spotted lanternfly was found in the Finger Lakes this sum- mer. Further surveys and scouting found no evidence of other indi- viduals or egg masses, but we know now that it's probably just a matter of time before this pest shows up here. Grape prices were generally flat or slightly lower than last year. Be- cause of the very large crop that was harvested last year, a number of wineries cut back on their pur- chases from growers this year. NEW JERSEY Gary C. Pavlis Associate professor Rutgers Cooperative Extension 2018 was a difficult year. The sea- son lacked sun and heat and had an overabundance of rain. I haven't heard wineries complaining about diseased fruit, as most growers are quite adept at controlling the dis- eases encountered, but the ex- pense of these controls truly hurts their bottom line. Additionally, it appears that in 2018 red wines will be light in color and structure, as many varieties did not reach opti- mum ripeness. By the end of Sep- tember, New Jersey had already received a year's worth of rain. Storms in September dashed any dreams of salvaging an already- difficult season. Fungal pressure was very intense: Botrytis and mil- dews required extreme diligence. ONTARIO Niagara Peninsula Ryan Brewster, field service manager, KCMS Applied Research and Consulting Inc. Jim Willwerth, senior scientist in viticulture, Brock University Following a record-breaking year for Ontario, with more than 85,000 tons of grapes purchased by pro- cessors in 2017, the 2018 harvest was impacted by some early-winter injury during bud acclimation and increased disease pressure during ripening, resulting in a smaller har- vest. Approximately 60,000 tons of grapes have been purchased by processors so far in 2018, not in- cluding ice wine and late harvest. Fruit quality was acceptable across all regions; however, certain thinner- skinned, early-ripening vinifera cul- tivars suffered greater levels of fruit breakdown late in the season, which slightly influenced overall yields and fruit quality. The growing season in Ontario got off to a wet start, with greater- than-average precipitation re- EAST The harvest crew at Boordy Vineyards in Maryland needed rain gear while picking Sauvignon Blanc in September during a rainy vintage for most of the Eastern U.S.

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