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WineEast F rit z W estover Tremain Hatch (standing, facing camera) leads a group of extension agents for a canopy assessment workshop in June at the Alson H. Smith Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Winchester, Va. ance, but additional metrics are being explored with the project. Objective 1 has two sub-objectives: The first is to evaluate practical tools that might be used to optimize vine balance such as under-the-trellis cover crops, rootstocks and root-containment systems; the second is to refine our canopy descriptive metrics and to explore certain canopy-management practices such as cluster exposure goals under the varied macroclimates of the East. The first sub-objective is being pursued at the AHS Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Winchester, Va., and at Cornell University's Lansing farm near Ithaca, N.Y. The projects have similar goals and use similar methodology to evaluate vineyard treatments, but the projects also differ in some respects. Led by the author of this article, project director Tony Wolf, the Virginia project uses Cabernet Sauvignon clone No. 337 as the test cultivar. Treatments include two different vineyard floormanagement schemes: One involves using a permanent cover crop (creeping red fescue) under the trellis, combined with permanent inter-row cover crop; the other is the conventional floor-management scheme for this region—permanent inter-row cover crop combined with an 85cm-wide under-trellis herbicide strip. Additional treatment levels include rootstock comparisons (101-14, 420-A and Riparia Gloire) and a means of restricting root development. An early report about this project was provided in the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture (Hatch et al., 2011). Some of the key findings thus far: • oot restriction and under-trellis cover crop (UTCC) were indepenR dently effective in suppressing vegetative development of vines as measured by rate and seasonal duration of shoot growth, lateral shoot development, trunk circumference and dormant pruning weights. The net effect was that less time was needed for specific canopy-management practices such as lateral shoot and leaf removal and shoot hedging. Wine Packaging by Naylor WPN is a premier supplier to over 2,000 wineries, and wine & spirits shops. Our automatic bottom wine carriers are the perfect sturdy solution for your retail sales! Wine Packaging by Naylor 4138 Vineyard Rd. Stewartstown, PA 17363 (800) 292-3370 sales@naylorwine.com Ask about discounts for Wine America & Ohio Wine Producer members. www.naylorpackaging.com Naylor Wine Cellars is a lifetime member of Wine America, Pennsylvania Wine Assoc., Ohio Wine Producers and the NY Wine & Grape Foundation. Win es & Vin es N OV EM b er 20 13 105