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GRAPEGROWING duarte nursery He added that plantings are coming into balance with demand, "but we have been sold out for 2014 for over a year. So there will be ongoing planting through all of 2014 and 2015 until each winery is satisfied with their individual balance of supply and demand." Though red blotch is a growing concern, Monette said that some of the symptoms growers see might not be red blotch. "Every time they see a red leaf I get a call, but it's been a terrible year for potassium and phosphorus deficiencies after the two big crops and lack of rain, which can cause those symptoms. This has been a huge challenge the past few years." He said that this is particularly true of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Malbec." Monette recommends that growers perform tissue tests and apply fertilizer if needed. Virginia creeper leafhopper (Erythroneura ziczac) appears to transmit red blotch virus from vine to vine in the greenhouse, but it's not yet proven that the leafhopper is a vector in the field. A word from Washington Inland Desert's Kevin Judkins claims his firm is the largest grapevine nursery in Washington state, where conditions are significantly different than in California. In the first place, almost all vines in that state are own-rooted since there's no Phylloxera present—and frequent freezes can kill the tops of vines. Fortunately, Judkins said, "There's no red blotch here, except for a few patches due to growers buying plant material from California." He added, "Washington nursery plants have been tested completely free." He said part of the reason is that Washington State University in Prosser acquired clean material that had gone through microshoot tip culturing from Foundation Plant Services at UC Davis, then performed the same process before releasing vines for propagation to Inland. Views from the east Conditions in eastern vineyards obviously differ from those in California and the northwest. Dennis Rak of Double A Vineyards in Fredonia, N.Y., has tested source wood for red blotch and said he avoided sources that are positive. "We are also establishing new budwood blocks from the 2010 protocol material that is free of red blotch," he said. Rak added that supplies of nursery vines are good, but the demand is strong. He doesn't expect shortage beyond what is normal on hot varieties. Joseph Dressel at Davis Viticultural Research in Carrollton, Ill., said the supply of nursery stock is excellent in most varieties. He expects shortages only in a few new varieties. Dressel anticipates increased demand for vines, especially as French hybrid vines are being replaced. The biggest demand is for Crimson Cabernet, Cabernet Doré and Zinthinanna. Growers also ask for PD-resistant varieties. Maniaci of Sunridge may have summed up the red blotch and vine supply situation when he said: "Growers are going to have a tough time finding the absolute cleanliness they desire until the Protocol 2010 material is in full production." 510-732-7010 Include Code 0214 on your first order for an extra 10% off! wineryseals.com A Division of Bay Seal Company Providing Sealing Solutions for over 50 Years Win es & Vin es F EB Rua ry 20 14 59