Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/480754
April 2015 WINES&VINES 85 WINE EAST GRAPEGROWING - B E C O PA D - Y E A S T & E N Z Y M E S - C R U S H PA D E Q U I P M E N T - S T E R I L E F I LT R AT I O N - W I N E R Y H O S E - O A K A LT E R N AT I V E S What does such dense planting do for fruit quality? Merwarth thinks it limits growing space, vigor and water intake per plant, which stresses the vines. Merwarth also changed trellising from the Pendelbogen system, where vines hang in a downward arc, to two trunks— one with a single cane tied flat, with 8 buds, and the other spurred with two buds as a safety net. Such spacing and trellising signifi- cantly lowers fruit production, eliminating the need to crop thin. The vineyards now produce a maximum of about 2.2 tons per acre, with loose clusters and tiny berries. "I feel that conventional viticulture has forced growers to produce big vines," he said, which results in large crops of less-concen- trated fruit. With his densely planted vine- yard, however, he noted, "The vines are working within an uncomfortable zone, re- sulting in higher quality fruit." As an ex- ample, the 2004 vines, planted with the closest spacing and an east-west orientation, have provided excellent fruit, used in their Cabernet Franc Reserve since 2007. In 2012, the grapes went into their first vineyard- specific Cabernet Franc (Magdalena), repre- senting the best they have. He said, "I'm amazed at the concentration and structure of the resulting wine." The east-west direction is on a sloping par- cel and takes advantage of better air and water drainage. "Air drainage is critical," he said, "and water drainage is critical as well." Vine- yard management hills up the vines at Her- mann J. Wiemer Vineyard, and the grapes planted north-south can suffer flooding and erosion, unlike the east-west planting. The east-west planting also gets longer exposure to the sun, so leaf pulling is not normally done. If necessary, it takes place at véraison, the same time as crop thinning. However, Merwarth Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard grows 5.5 acres of Cabernet Franc.