Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/80303
WineEast metal hoops are attached to the posts to create the arched support structure for the greenhouse-grade plastic that creates the roof and sides of the tunnel. While clear plastic is available, most of the tunnels are covered with a luminance plastic that diffuses the sunlight and reflects infrared light. The plastic is held in place by an arrangement of crisscrossed ropes. Each tunnel is 18-30 feet wide and 10-18 feet high—wide enough to cover four rows of grapevines and high enough to allow trac- tors and other vineyard equipment to drive down the rows. The plastic covering can be rolled up on the sides and ends of the tunnel to allow air flow during the growing season or put down to protect the vines from rainfall or to modify the temperature so that the vines are not affected by frost in spring or fall. The ability to extend the growing season by two to three weeks for a high-end wine variety can significantly increase the ability of the grapes to ripen fully, which can make the difference be- tween a good wine that will sell for $15 Grapegrowing While visiting Ralph and Keith Cramer's farm in Lancaster, Penn State viticulturist Mark Chien talks with workers about using tunnels. per bottle and an excellent one that will sell for twice as much. Because of the cost of adding a tun- nel to the already high cost of planting America's Wine Trails App NOW AVAILABLE! DISCOVER 6,000+ American wineries and 260+ wine trails SEARCH by varietal FIND wineries within a 20 mile radius RECORD favorites in your personal wine journal Compatible with any smartphone t Spread the word to your customers t FREE download at AmericasWineTrails.com t 80 WINES & VINES SEPTEMBER 2012 a vineyard (now estimated before land costs to be at least $30,000 per acre in the east when drain tile, deer fence, trellis, vines and irrigation are included), not every grower may be interested in erecting tunnels over part or all of his or her vineyard. Winemakers who want to make good-quality, everyday wines that people enjoy drinking can plant grape cultivars that will give them good fruit on a regular basis without tunnels. However, for growers and winemakers who want to make high-end, high-value wines that will compete successfully every year on the world stage, high tunnels are tools to help achieve that goal. The ability to reduce the excess rainfall that often arrives post- veraison and during harvest can be a criti- cal factor in increasing wine quality. Chien noted that there are a number of questions about tunnels for future research to address. One such project is being conducted by Richard Carey at Vitis Research and Tamanend Winery in Lan- caster, Pa., where half the vines are under a high tunnel and the other half are not covered. The vines were planted in 2010, and in the second season the difference in their growth was dramatic. Those under cover were more vigorous, more fully es- tablished and ready to bear a crop in their third season.