Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/766392
140 WINES&VINES January 2017 GRAPEGROWING PRACTICAL WINERY & VINEYARD of his revolutionary farming, which he calls "shade throttling." He is still far from proving that this method of controlling the exact amount of sunlight on the crop is viable, but early tests are promising. On trial vines, all leaves are removed from the fruit zone, so disease problems are greatly reduced. Different thicknesses of mesh screen have been installed and are held in place with a metal device Babcock calls "the hotel" to shade the clusters. Babcock found that the ripe fruit at 24°-26° Brix hanging under a less dense shade-screen that provided a lower degree of shade (40%) had a much higher degree of dimpling, scorching, desiccation and raisining compared to fruit at the same sugar level hang- ing under a shade screen that provided a higher degree of shade (60%). By controlling the amount of sunlight on the grapes, Babcock could develop ripeness while avoiding damage. He is still working on this concept, but in 2016 he was not able to dedicate the acreage to the testing he feels is necessary. Babcock could not afford to commit 2 acres of 40% sunlight and 2 acres of 60% sunlight in order to make wine from different amounts of sunlight. "To really understand, you would have to make wines like this for 10 vintages. I'm not there yet," he notes. In Bryan Babcock's system, each pedestal is topped with a 2-inch metal spiral helix that holds two fruiting canes from neighboring vines. The vines are spaced 42 inches apart with 8-foot-wide tractor rows. Managing the ree-Tier Distribution System February 28, 2017 ~ HAMPTON INN & SUITES NAPA ~ NAPA, CA $ 5 0 D I S CO U N T Use Code SPP50 800-574-4852 TSGregistration.net/5766W Since the repeal of prohibition and the enactment of the 21st Amendment in 1933, the alcohol beverage industry has operated with a three-tier distribution system in most states. Producers and suppliers sell to distributors who sell to retail licensees. roughout this period, all three levels have evolved to better meet consumer needs. At one end, suppliers have globalized and diversified their portfolios to optimize scale, allowing smaller, more specialized operators to seize regional and niche market opportunities. Distributors have responded with professional organizations that span multiple states, driven by the customer service expectations of sophisticated regional and national retailers. Consolidation has progressed steadily over the past 25 years. Understanding the implications of this ever-changing landscape, and developing the most effective route to market, remains the single greatest challenge facing wine, spirit and beer suppliers in today's alcoholic beverage market.