Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/66144
WineEast example. The technology keeps improving, and who knows if we will eventually have a dead ringer for Cabernet Sauvignon that ripens in 120 days and withstands temperatures of -30°F and colder. The cold, hard truth is that cool/cold areas are best suited for white wine production for a variety of reasons. Whites generally ripen earlier, and they are more forgiving, flexible and adaptable to make a good wine from a wider range of maturity than reds. Many white varieties such as Grüner Veltliner make very different styles of wine at low to higher Brix levels, but both whites and reds are attractive and have their supporters. Of the reds, only Pinot Noir is a classic international variety that is suitable for cool climates, and even then it is extremely fickle and challenging to make consistently high-quality wines. However, other red varieties such Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch (Lemberger) or even Dornfelder can make interesting if not charming wines—reds that say "hug me." At Nimble Hill Vineyards in Tunkhannock, Pa., I tasted a basic red wine made from a blend of St. Croix and Cabernet Franc and declared it the perfect entry red wine with just a touch of sweetness that says "hug me" to the consumer. In Nova Scotia I asked why the wineries insist on making red wines, and they told me frankly that at least half of the people who come to the winery want red wines. OK, but let's forget about snobby reds and go for the crowd pleasers. On that note I was told that the secret to the balance of a friendly red was blending a portion of California-grown wine (what I refer to as "sunny" wine) that helped to fill in the middle and give the wine a lift. It made the wine complete. As long as there is truth in labeling and adherence to the local wine laws, I think winemakers H&W_Dec10.qxp 10/12/10 10:59 AM Page 1 Grapegrowing Cool- and cold-climate resources Pl ocher, Thomas A., and Robert J. Parke. Northern Winework: Growing Grapes and Making Wine in Cold Climates. Hugo, MN: Northern Winework, 2008. Print. To m Plocher's Northern Winework website: northernwinework.com/cms/index. php?page=home Za badal, Tom, et al. Winter Injury and Methods of Protection. Michigan State Extension Publication 2930. 2007. migarden.msu.edu/uploads/files/8/ e2930.pdf Ja ckson, David. Monographs in Cool Climate Viticulture 2. Wellington, NZ. Daphne Brasell Assoc. with Gypsum Press, 2001. Sm iley, Lisa; Domoto, Paul; Nonnecke, Gail. Cold Climate Cultivars: A Review of Cold Climate Grape Varieties. Iowa State University. viticulture.hort. iastate.edu/cultivars/cultivars.html Co ld Hardy Grapes. University of Minnesota. grapes.umn.edu/index.html Dr . Berkett, Lorraine. Cold Climate Grape Production. University of Vermont. uvm.edu/pss/grape. Am erican Society for Enology and Viticulture: Cold Hardiness Workshop. Conference Proceedings. 2000. Dr. Ker, Kevin. KCMS Applied Research and Consulting. Ontario. kcms.ca/ default.asp Visit the Pennsylvania Wine Grape Network website at pawinegrape.com/ for more information. should use blending as a tool to make wines better—especially red wines. Most winemakers now know that a portion of ripe Merlot or Cabernet Franc can improve almost any Frontenac or Marquette. However, the focus of any cool/cold wine region should be on white wines such as Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner, Albariño and the legion of hybrids. Chardonnay is troublesome because of its early bud break, and no one really knows how cold-hardy varieties like Albariño and many other exotic aromatic vinifera white varieties really are. Some growers have told me that Sauvignon Blanc is very hardy, and others say it is very tender. As a rule, cold hardiness in any variety is very hard to pin down and fluctuates from one winter to the next, although generaliza- tions abound. I am always scratching my head about the relative hardiness of Merlot vs. Cabernet Sauvignon. One thing we know for sure is that among the Bordeaux red varieties, Cabernet Franc is the most hardy, and it has become the default classic vinifera red wine in regions like the Finger Lakes and Niagara Peninsula largely m o – Mist Sprayers – C American Made Low Maintenance High Performance Excellent for spraying: VINEYARDS, vegetables, orchards, nurseries, Christmas trees, mosquitoes, cattle, chicken houses, etc. 7240 County Road AA, Quinter, KS 67752 For free brochure contact: Swihart Sales Co. 54 Wines & Vines AUGUsT 201 1 Motor Models available We offer a complete line of low volume mist blowers. References available in your area 785-754-3513 or 800-864-4595 www.swihart-sales.com y S n a a e l p s