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76 WINES&VINES January 2018 VINTAGE 2017 EnartisUSA_Zenith tr.indd 1 20/11/17 15:42 R edwood efrigeration R 707-766-8950 redwoodrefrig.com Industrial/Commercial Services Winery Systems • Cold Storage • Process Cooling RWRefrigB&WAd.R2.10506.qxd 3/26/07 6:54 PM Page 1 overall fruit quality was very high throughout the state, and many winemakers expressed anticipation of an outstanding 2017 vintage. Exceptionally mild winter tempera- tures raised concerns for early bud break and increased risk of frost damage, but favorable weather con- tinued through bud break and bloom. Growing season weather was gener- ally favorable throughout the state, although the Gulf Coast region expe- rienced exceptionally high rainfall from Hurricane Harvey in late August. Fortunately, harvest in this region had already been completed, and vine- yard and winery damage was very minimal. Ripening conditions were very favorable in the Texas High Plains and the Texas Hill Country. Fungal disease pressure was about average in 2017, and gener- ally did not pose an exceptional threat to yield and quality any- where in the state. Post-harvest disease pressure for downy mildew was very high in the Gulf Coast region due to heavy rains from the hurricane. Similarly, insect pests such as grape berry moth were at typical population levels in 2017 and were readily managed below the point of significant damage. The record grape crop met or somewhat exceeded most wineries' demand for fruit in 2017. Prices were mostly unchanged from the previous few years, but with more new acreage coming into produc- tion on the Texas High Plains, some downward pressure on grape prices could occur in 2018. Increased planting on the Texas High Plains of cotton varieties resistant to dicamba or 2,4-D led to greater her- bicide drift damage to vineyards in 2017 than any previous year. Some symptoms of herbicide drift injury were evident in nearly every vineyard on the Texas High Plains, and a few vineyards had severe injury with stunted shoot growth and reduced yields. Grape producers are con- cerned about potential multi-year impact on damaged vines and cumu- lative effects of herbicide exposure. Record yields led to a shortage of tank space at a few wineries, al- though the timely opening of a new custom-crush facility helped absorb the large crop. Labor availability con- tinues to be a challenge. Many Rhône, Italian and a few Span- ish varieties that continue to perform well in the vineyard and winery tended to dominate new plantings. Mourvedre stood out among red vari- eties in the Texas Hill Country and Texas High Plains. High-quality vari- etal Mourvedre wines (red and rosé) and Rhone-style blends were being produced. Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne were performing very well on the Texas High Plains, where con- ditions for bunch rot were less com- mon. Montepulciano and Aglianico also were performing very well in both the Hill Country and High Plains. Tempranillo has been extensively planted throughout the state. ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° Growing season weather was generally favorable throughout the state, although the Gulf Coast region ex- perienced exceptionally high rainfall from Hurricane Harvey in late August. Fortunately, harvest in this re- gion had already been completed, and vineyard and winery damage was very minimal. Ed Hellman Professor of viticulture Texas Tech University