Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/946131
8 WINES&VINES March 2018 A member of Wine Communications Group Inc. President & Publisher Chet Klingensmith Chairman Hugh Tietjen Publishing Consultant Ken Koppel Associate Publisher Tina Vierra Publishing Assistant Ian Fadden EDITORIAL Editor Jim Gordon Managing Editor Kate Lavin Senior Editor Andrew Adams Northwest Correspondent Peter Mitham Contributing Editor Jane Firstenfeld Columnists Andy Starr, Cliff Ohmart and Glenn T. McGourty Contributing Writers Laurie Daniel, Richard Smart, Richard Carey, Jaime Lewis, Chris Stamp, Andrew Reynolds, Ray Pompilio and Fritz Westover Practical Winery & Vineyard (PWV) Editor Don Neel Wine East Editor Linda Jones McKee DESIGN & PRODUCTION Graphic Designer Rebecca Arnn DATABASE DEVELOPMENT – INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Vice President — Data Management Lynne Skinner Project Manager Liesl Stevenson Database & Web Development James Rust, Peter Scarborough Research Assistant Sara Jennings EDITOR'S LETTER MARCH IS A HOPEFUL TIME OF YEAR in North American vineyards, when crews restore order to the tangled canopies and owners imagine how large and perfect their harvest will be six months later. It's a month when many wine regions will finish their annual pruning and some will see bud break, and it's a month when Wines & Vines covers vineyard equipment and technology extensively. This issue is packed with five articles that should be especially interesting to grapegrowers and other vineyard professionals, and you're going to find them in different sections of the magazine. Two of them deal specifically with vineyard technology that is practical and afford- able for operations of different sizes. The first is by regular contributor Andy Starr, beginning on page 26. Starr came up with a new name for his bi-monthly column, "Here's What Works," and this one explores "Solu- tions to Labor Problems for the Small Grower." Those solu- tions involve technology and at least a degree of mechanization, however his message is that you don't have to dive into the deep end right away but can take it step by time-saving step. The second is writer Laurie Daniel's interview with a large-scale grapegrower, Randy Heinzen of Vineyard Profes- sional Services in Paso Robles, Calif. His firm manages or consults on nearly 4,000 acres of grapes, so although Heinzen has the scale to afford many new technologies, he has discovered that "some of the tools pres- ent solutions to problems that we really don't have or just won't scale." Read his thoughts on the subject beginning on page 32. Three other articles are based in science and offer practical solutions for growers and grapevine breeders. Two academics from Washington State University, Dr. Yun Zhang and Melissa Hansen, authored "Grapes and Irrigation Myths Debunked" (page 36), in which they declare that late-season drip irrigation does not increase berry size, based on their research, but does reduce dehydration. Two contributions in the Wine East section continue the research theme. Vineyard consultant and former extension advisor Fritz Westover explains how growers can and should use the modified Eichhorn-Lorenz system to help them fine tune their farming prac- tices (page 60). He recommends tracking the phenology (or growth stages) of vines, and describes how to use them to time chores for better results. Finally, Dr. Tim Martinson of Cornell University is back for the second article in a four-part series on genetics in the Wine East section (page 64). He details and celebrates the amazing advancements in DNA sequencing that now allow grape breeders to rapidly accelerate their work. We hope this collection of opinions, practices and research stimulates a thought or two that will help you improve the quality of your crop as well as the magni- tude of your bottom line. The growing season has just begun. All the fun and all the challenges still lie ahead. What a great time to be in the wine business. —Jim Gordon You don't have to dive into the deep end right away, but can take it step by time-saving step. CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS Email: subs@winesandvines.com Online: winesandvines.com/subscribe Phone: (866) 453-9701 EDITORIAL Email: edit@winesandvines.com MAIL 65 Mitchell Blvd., Suite A San Rafael, CA 94903 CONNECT WITH US facebook.com/WinesandVines twitter.com/WinesandVines youtube.com/WinesandVines1919 Vineyard Innovations as the Growing Season Begins