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130 WINES&VINES January 2017 VINTAGE 2016 Pricing appeared to be stable. Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling yields were good; Pinot Gris, Nor- ton and Concord lower. Whites in general appeared to have lower yields than 2015. Zinfandel yields also were good. Early drip irrigation prior to bud break in a year with dry spring weather seemed to be beneficial in promoting cluster formation. Summer 2016 was relatively dry. Drip irrigation was a must. Caber- net Sauvignon and Riesling yields in the central part of the state were probably the best we've seen in 10 years. Insect damage was minimal compared to earlier years. Adher- ence to a rotating schedule of fun- gicides up to véraison resulted in minimal fungal damage. TEXAS As the harvest came to an end in the southern United States, Fritz Westo- ver, owner of Westover Vineyard Ad- vising and consultant for many wineries and vineyards in the region told Linda Jones McKee of Wines & Vines (who provided a separate re- port on Pennsylvania's harvest on page 132 of this feature) that rain hit the Gulf Coast and Hill Country near Fredericksburg throughout the sea- son, increasing the rate of black rot and downy mildew. "It was very wet, and that made maintaining spray programs challenging," he said. "The best sites did that, and the quality was very good." The Hill Country enjoyed a mild winter with little freeze damage, but those warmer temperatures height- ened Pierce's disease pressure. The High Plains AVA suffered hailstorms in late June and July, followed by rain after véraison. Even growers who did manage to spray suffered some issues from rot. The collaborative marketing group Texas Fine Wine, which includes Bending Branch Winery, Brennan Vineyards, Duchman Family Win- ery, Pedernales Cellars and Spice- wood Vineyards, reported that its members expected to produce their best crop in several years. "The 2016 vintage is shaping up to be one of the best crop yields, and weather conditions are right where they need to be to have a stellar vintage," said Dave Reilly, wine- maker at Duchman Family Winery. Dr. Bob Young, owner of Bending Branch Winery, said the spring weather led to a wide variation in wine grape yields across the state. "Several of our vineyard partners are having a great growing season thus far with our signature red wine grapes Tannat, Petite Sirah and the up-and- coming varietal Souzão," Young said. "Other vineyards have been hit by hail, and Hill Country vineyards have experienced fungal pressure, includ- ing at our estate, after continuous heavy rains earlier this season." Llano Estacado Winery crushes Malbec in Lubbock, Texas.