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WineEast Muscadines with wine characteristics that are more similar to red vinifera. Lenoir in the vineyard within the state of Texas. 100 years in production, California's Pagani Ranch may be home to the oldest surviving Lenoir vines, which are processed by winemaker Richard Kasmier of Kaz Winery in Kenwood, Calif. Currently, Texas is leading the industry in production of Lenoir, with more than 120 acres in production in the eastern and south- eastern parts of the state and more than 20 commercial wines. Growers across the southeastern United States have expressed an increasing interest in Lenoir because they view the variety as a unique alternative to Lenoir is a moderate to highly vigorous grape variety that has a vertical growth habit adaptable to either vertical shoot positioning or downward sprawling vine- training systems. Lenoir clusters are large and compact, with small berry size. Lenoir typically has two clusters per shoot, with an average cluster size of about 0.45 pounds per cluster. Depending on the soil vigor and vine-training system, yields can range from about 4 tons to 8 tons per acre. In Texas, Lenoir usually is grown on vertical shoot positioned training systems, although there are also successful plantings on high wire cordon and Geneva Double Curtain. Lenoir is most commonly planted on its SpiritedShipper_Dir11.qxp 10/6/10 10:52 own roots and is well adapted to a wide range of soil pH. Vigorous and productive vineyards have been planted in central Texas on calcareous soils of pH 7.5 and in acidic wooded areas of east Texas on soils of pH 5.5. The wide adaptability of Lenoir to soil type and pH has made it an attractive option for using as a PD-tolerant rootstock. Lenoir has been growing in regions of Texas that experience temperatures of 0°F and, as a result, it is thought to be cold hardy enough for planting in any of the southeastern states where Muscadines currently grow. Lenoir retains high titratable acidity even in hot growing climates. Winemakers selectively harvest Lenoir between 20° and 25° Brix, 7 to 12 grams per liter titratable acidity and pH 3.2 to 3.6, depending on the wine style desired. As with Blanc Du Bois (see "Blanc Du Bois Takes Root" in Wines & Vines' February 2012 issue), a wide range of accepted fruit chemistry allows for a long harvest period that can target several wine styles—or a total harvest early in the range, if needed, to avoid late-season rots caused by excessive rain near harvest. The large and compact cluster morphology of Lenoir has led to some challenges in the Texas Gulf Coast area. In 2007 and 2010, more than 3 inches of rainfall per month in June through July resulted in berry splitting and complete crop loss of Lenoir in some vineyards. Well- drained, sandy loam soils on slopes tend to show fewer rot problems than heavy clay soils, U.S. Patent Numbers 5,730,289 & 5,967,294 AW&V0312 • All our shippers are made with extra cushioning to prevent breakage THE ORIGINAL SHIPPER • UPS & FEDEX approved • For spirited shipments up to 12 bottles • Magnum size shippers up to 6 bottles • Fits bottles up to 5"diameter to 16"tall • Costs less, more durable than styrofoam • Gift Boxes •Gift Bags •Wooden Gift Boxes 100% ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY – GO GREEN! spiritedshipper.com 800-730-SHIP (7447) 288: $1.34 576: $1.21 1008: $1.13 2016: $1.08 Expires 03/30/2012 Wines & Vines MAY 2012 95