Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/643683
58 WINES&VINES March 2016 GRAPEGROWING WINE EAST A fter two bitterly cold winters, almost everyone on the East Coast was pleased to have warm, almost spring-like tem- peratures for the 2015 holiday season and even the first few days of 2016. However, after several days of temperatures rising into the 60ºs and even 70ºs (F) in late December, grapegrowers began to get concerned. When temperatures dropped into the single digits for several nights in early January, that concern turned into anxiety. Some growers with long memories were reminded of the "Christmas Massacre" of 1980. That year was characterized by a warm No- vember in New York state, with more normal highs and lows in December. On Christmas Eve, the temperature rose into the mid-30ºs and then plummeted to approximately -20° F in the Finger Lakes and -24° F in the Hudson River Valley. The drop of more than 50º, through the freezing zone to such extremely cold levels in less than 24 hours, was seen as a major calam- ity for the grape and wine industry. As it turned out, the Christmas Massacre did cause damage, worse at some sites and for some varieties than others, but it did not completely decimate the entire grape industry in New York. The temperature change from December to early January this year was even greater than the drop in 1980, but the major difference was that the warm temperatures were higher dur- ing the daytime, and the low temperatures were not below zero. For example, the high in Cold Hardiness and Dormancy More challenges for grapevines in eastern growing regions By Linda Jones McKee KEY POINTS This January, temperatures dropped from the 60ºs and 70ºs (F) to single digits across eastern grapegrowing regions. Grapevines need sustained exposure to tem- peratures between 32º F and 45º F before they can begin to deacclimate. When grapevine tissues have been exposed to the necessary chilling requirement, the endodor- mancy stage transitions to ecodormancy. In this stage, bud development is inhibited not by the vine itself but by environmental factors such as late-winter warm spells. 716.542.3000 WWW.NIAGARALABEL.COM 716.542.3000 WWW.NIAGARALABEL.COM digital printing flexo printing screen printing embossing hot & cold foils specialty papers advanced VDP digital printing flexo printing screen printing embossing hot & cold foils specialty papers advanced VDP Natural Corks Champagne Corks Twinline Corks Bartops VISION Synthetic Corks G-Cap® Screw Caps Sales Representatives: Chris & Liz Stamp info@lakewoodcork.com lakewoodcork.com 4024 State Route 14 Watkins Glen, NY 14891 607-535-9252 607-535-6656 Fax PIONEER INNOVATOR PARTNER