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December 2015 WINES&VINES 85 WINE EAST GRAPEGROWING although other PD-tolerant hybrid varieties have only been planted in commercial vine- yards in the Southern Piedmont since 2011, beginning with plantings at Little Vine Vine- yard in Carroll County, west of Atlanta. Little Vine Vineyards now produces five wine styles from their estate-grown Blanc du Bois, Lenoir and Norton varieties. Since their initial plant- ing and the formation of the Vineyard and Winery Association of West Georgia to promote the establishment, more than eight commercial vineyards have been planted in the region with an estimated total of 20 acres in the ground as of 2015. Other commercial vineyard plantings in the Southern Piedmont include Clearwater Vineyards, Trillium Vineyards and the Vine- yards at Mill Creek. Future expectations The modest increase in vineyard acreage planted to PD-tolerant bunch grapes in the Southern Piedmont is expected to grow at a more rapid rate now that quality, award-win- ning wines are being produced and vineyards have cropped reliably for the past three years. For example, mature vineyards in 2015 yielded 4-8 tons per acre with the common PD-tolerant hybrid varieties. Pierce's disease-tolerant varieties can host the bacterial pathogen—often without express- ing symptoms—and therefore are not recom- mended for planting in mixed stands of V. vinifera or other non-PD-tolerant hybrid wine grapes. This factor should discourage move- ment of these varieties into the V. vinifera- producing regions of north Georgia, further distinguishing them as unique to the Southern Piedmont region. Dr. Andrew Walker and his lab at the University of California, Davis, has established PD-resistant varieties containing 87%-97% V. vinifera parentage, which also will be considered for future plantings in the re- gion. Walker's hybrids already are being tested in Alabama and Texas. The Georgia Department of Agriculture is enthusiastic about the potential for the hybrid grapes to greatly expand the bunch grape and wine industry beyond a handful of counties in the Southern Blue Ridge region. Vine stock has been exclusively planted as non-certified dor- mant, own-rooted vines with the potential for certified stock entering the market during the next five years via Foundation Plant Services in Davis, Calif. Fritz Westover is a viticulturist and owner of Westover Viticulture, based in Houston, Texas. He specializes in vineyard consulting, research and education in the south and southeastern United States, drawing from more than 15 years combined experience in the vineyard in- dustry including extension and outreach in Virginia, Texas and California. Fritz is a contributor to Wines & Vines and maintains a practical grapegrowing blog and grower resources at vineyardadvising.com. Service • Selection • Location • Experience It's no surpise we're racking up wineries, distilleries and breweries! Lissa McLaughlin (727) 321-8879 lmclaughlin@allamericancontainers.com Roberta Parmelee (315) 585-6045 rparmelee@allamericancontainers.com East Coast Glass Stocking Warehouse in PA & FL • Additional locations in CA, FL, GA, IL, NJ, TX, WA Experi i ce rienc www.aacwine.com www.americancontainers.com