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78 WINES&VINES January 2018 VINTAGE 2017 NEW YORK —LONG ISLAND Alice Wise Viticulture researcher Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County 2017 was an unusual season on Long Island. While total growing degree-days were similar to previ- ous seasons (around 3,500), there were wide fluctuations in tempera- tures month to month. Slightly cooler than normal temperatures prevailed in spring and again in August and early September. This delayed grape phenology by one to two weeks compared to 2015 and 2016. October, on the other hand, was unusually warm. The bulk of harvest takes place in Oc- tober, and it was odd to be har- vesting fruit in warm weather. Rainfall was fairly consistent with 3-4 inches each month. There was a relatively short period of dry weather in summer instead of the usual four to six weeks of drought. The labor outlook for Long Island's diverse agricultural industries is similar to other regions. Some ag businesses including vineyards were short-handed throughout the season. For the wine industry, this has led to an increase in mechani- zation with a number of growers purchasing mechanical leafers. There has also been an increase in machine versus hand harvest. Good canopy management and disease control were important in 2017. Downy mildew was an issue in some vineyards due to large vines, periodic rainfall and dewy mornings. Infections were mostly in the upper third of VSP cano- pies. Potato leafhopper infesta- tions, though typically spotty, were more widespread. Grape berry moth infestations were mini- mal for a change. Vineyard managers were forced to be patient with ripening, which was one to two weeks later than normal. Their patience paid off, as flavors developed nicely with moderate Brix (20°-21.5°) and low to moderate acids, 4-8 g/L. There was a touch of sour rot in early varieties such as Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, aggravated by swarming yellow jackets. Fortu- nately, they did not persist through the remainder of harvest. Botrytis infections ranged from negligible to moderate, variable by vineyard and variety. Bunch stem necrosis was common in older blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon, even in a few Merlot blocks. This is usually absent or a curiosity at best. Overall, the 2017 harvest had clean, bright, balanced fruit with subtle, nuanced flavors. We look forward to tasting the results of our labor. NEW YORK —FINGER LAKES Yates, Ontario, Wayne, Seneca, Schuyler and Steuben counties Hans Walter-Peterson Viticulture extension specialist Cornell Cooperative Extension The 2017 season represented a big departure from the conditions that the Finger Lakes experienced in 2016. That year's record drought meant crop yields were lower (smaller berry size and some loss of crop), and a very warm season led to high Brix and lower acidity in fruit. In 2017, a larger than normal crop with cooler temperatures most of the season meant slower ripening, slightly lower Brix than normal and higher acidity, but the overall assessment is still positive about quality in 2017. Harvest was about one to two weeks later than normal in many cases, with lots of grapes harvested after Halloween. The 2016-17 winter was kind to the region's vineyards for the first time in several years, which meant very little crop and vine loss due to winter injury. Rains seemed re- lentless this spring and summer, leading to heavier disease pres- sure, lots of canopy growth and higher berry weights. Fortunately, the weather pattern changed in September and October, with warmer temperatures and drier skies predominating during much of harvest. Overall total rainfall in the 2017 growing season was twice as much as 2016, our driest season on record. That's what we call vintage variation. Because of higher than normal rainfall, disease management was more challenging. Downy mildew in particular presented difficulties for growers who were not consci- entious about rotating materials, using proper rates and maintaining adequate spray intervals. Botrytis infections became established in the early summer due to the rains that persisted at that point, but drier weather and good manage- ment practices prior to and during harvest helped to keep those in- fections from having a major im- pact on fruit quality in the end. The combination of sunny condi- tions during bud development in 2016 (leading to higher numbers of clusters per vine), minimal win- ter injury and above-average berry size resulted in yields much higher than normal. Only vine- yards that suffered significantly during the 2016 drought seemed to be the outliers, but even those had average or slightly below av- erage yields. New research from Cornell on management of sour rot (page 122) suggests that controlling fruit flies, along with the use of anti-microbial materials, can have a significant impact on development of the dis- ease. Lots of anecdotal evidence this year indicated that it seemed to have had an effect in many vine- EAST A mechanical harvester drops white wine grapes into a bin at Fox Run Vine- yards in Penn Yan, N.Y.