Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/619725
January 2016 WINES&VINES 79 mand was low for wine grapes. Wine grapes other than Rubired and Pinot Grigio are facing big challenges now in the Central Valley. Mechanical pruning becomes more and more common and might sig- nificantly impact the grape indus- try. Water shortage is really variable in different areas. Some growers had significant yield loss due to pump failure. MADERA, MERCED AND MARIPOSA COUNTIES Lindsay Jordan Viticulture farm advisor University of California Cooperative Extension The region produced a large crop with good quality for growers that maintained good powdery mildew control. Acid levels were retained due to few heat spikes. Apoplexy, an acute expression of esca or measles, hurt some growers, as well as some delayed ripening from sources unknown. Random rain events occurred in summer, and few heat spikes oc- curred compared to normal for the Central Valley. Apoplexy was rampant, bad pow- dery mildew as well. Lack of water and salt issues in groundwater and soil were challenging. Other chal- Unified Wine & Grape Symposium January 26-28, 2016 Visit us at booth 811 AZ Wines&Vines Dez.15_88,9x250_RZ.indd 1 12.11.15 11:02 ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° We were the only green foliage and water on our mountain, and the deer were desperate, breach- ing our deer fence for the first time in nearly 18 years. Ray Krause Owner and winemaker Westbrook Wine Farm O'Neals, Calif. Grapes are harvested for Terra d'Oro Winery of Plymouth, Calif.