CONSIDERING WINEGRAPE PRODUCTION R.A. Allen Extension Viticulturist NC State University

OVERVIEW OF THE NC GRAPE AND WINE INDUSTRY

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Modern Revival • • • • • •

1972 – Westbend Vineyards founded 1975 – Biltmore Estate Vineyards founded 1976 – Duplin Wine Cellars opened 1985 – Biltmore Winery opens to public 1988 – Westbend becomes a bonded winery 1999 – 15 wineries in NC, Shelton Vineyards established

Recent Trend in Acreage 2500 Acres

2000 1500 1000 500 0 01 20

96 19

91 19

86 19

81 19

76 19

Year

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Current Status • As of Spring ’02, we have over 1100 acres of grapes in NC • 66% of acreage is in bunch grapes, of which 91% is Vitis vinifera varieties • Currently there are 26 wineries, with 15-20 more expected in the next 1-2 years • 2300 tons of grapes were produced in 2002, with a value of $2.9 million

Current Status 700 600 500 400 Acres

300 200 100 0 Muscadine

Vinifera

Hybrid

American

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Current winery locations

SOME BASIC CONSIDERATIONS

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What are the requirements? • • • • •

Resources Time Willingness to take a risk Dedication and patience A well thought-out plan

Steps in Getting Started • • • •

Choosing an appropriate site Soil testing/Site preparation Deciding what to grow Designing the vineyard

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Choosing a Site • • • • • • •

Elevation Slope Aspect Soils Availability of water Proximity to woods Proximity to neighbors

Importance of Site • • • • •

Reduce frost/freeze risk Reduce disease/pest pressure Enhance fruit quality Increase profitability/success Affect opportunity for expansion

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Poor site – low area

Good site – good elevation and slope

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Site Preparation • Take soil samples • Remove trees and brush, vines, perennial weeds • Amend soil pH/nutrient levels as needed • Rip/subsoil • Cover crop • INVEST THE TIME TO DO IT RIGHT!

What to Grow • Location • Use or sell? • Who will buy? – Varieties? – Quantities?

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Examples of Pierce’s Disease

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Vineyard Design • Row orientation • Trellis type – Vine type – Vine vigor

• Row and vine spacing – Trellis type – Equipment size

GRAPE VARIETIES FOR NORTH CAROLINA

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Vinifera Facts • 60 species of grape, >8000 varieties • >90% of world production is vinifera • Not successful in eastern US until 20th century • Rootstocks and new techniques made it possible

Vinifera Challenges • • • •

Pest susceptibility Climatic challenges Lack of experience Lack of knowledge of variety performance in NC

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The Do’s

Chardonnay • • • • • • • •

#1 vinifera in NC Early budbreak Early harvest Good demand High quality High yields Frost damage Bunch rot, powdery mildew • Cold injury

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Viognier • • • • • • • •

Alternative to Chardonnay Well-adapted Less rot prone Early ripening Good demand Early budbreak (+3) Modest yields Weak growth

Muscat ottonel • Distinctive fruity flavor • Good rot resistance • Early ripening, before Chardonnay • Mid-season budbreak (+6) • Modest yields • Low demand • Weak growth

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Cabernet Sauvignon • • • • • •

#2 vinifera in NC Later budbreak (+8) High demand Rot resistant Late harvest Winter injury, crown gall • Excessive vigor

Merlot • • • • •

Good demand Good yields Mid-season harvest Early budbreak (+1) Bunch rot, powdery mildew • Cold sensitive

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Cabernet Franc • • • • •

Similar to Cab. Sauvignon Mid-late season harvest Rot resistant Good yields, good demand Better cold hardiness than Cab sauv • Early budbreak (+1) • High vigor

The Maybe’s

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Syrah • Planted at several vineyards • Appears to do well • Ripens with Cab franc • Early budbreak (+2) • Cold tender

Sangiovese • • • • • • • •

Very large clusters High yields Some Piedmont plantings Vigorous vine Mid-season budbreak (+4) Cab sauv harvest season Tends to overcrop Cold tender

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Petit Verdot • Good yields • Some Piedmont plantings • Vigorous vine • Mid-season budbreak (+6) • Approx. Cab sauv harvest season • High pH and acidity

The Don’ts

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Rogue’s Gallery • • • • • •

Pinot noir Riesling Gewurtztraminer Sauvignon blanc Pinot gris Zinfandel

Hybrid Advantages • • • • •

Cold hardiness Later bud break Fruitful secondary (tertiary) buds Disease resistance Good to excellent quality

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Hybrid Disadvantages • No strong demand • Little market name recognition • It’s just not vinifera

Chambourcin • • • • • • • •

Number 1 red High quality Rot resistant Disease resistant Mid-season Good yields Early budbreak (+1) Weak growth

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Seyval blanc • Number 1 white • Medium vigor, grafting helps • Extremely fruitful, cluster thin • Moderately cold hardy • Later budbreak (+6) • Early ripening • Prone to rots • Prone to overcropping • Downy, powdery susceptible

Vidal blanc • • • • • • • • •

Number 2 white Good cold hardiness Late budbreak (+9) Good yields Rot resistant Late maturity Tends to overcrop Susceptible to TRV Graft

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Niagara • • • • • • • •

V. labruscana variety Good cold hardiness Vigorous, productive Rot resistant Mid-season maturity Highly susc to BlR, DM Susceptible to crown gall Low demand

Varieties in test at the Upper Piedmont Research Station 2001 • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Cabernet franc 332 Chardonnay 76 Chardonnay 96 Merlot Muscat ottonel NY 73.0136.17 Petit verdot Sangiovese Seyval Syrah Tannat Tempranillo Traminette Viognier

2002 • • • • • • • • • • •

Aglianico Albarino Barbera Cabernet sauvignon 337 Carmenere Grenache Loureira Mourvedre Petit Manseng Treixadura Verdejo

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CO$T$

Assumptions • • • •

Already own appropriate site Already own equipment Using irrigation Does not include other fixed costs (taxes, interest on borrowed capital, payroll costs, utilities, cost of operating machinery, etc….) • Everything goes right

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Equipment and Supply Costs ITEM

COST

Tractor

20,000

Airblast Sprayer (50 g)

4,500

Herbicide Sprayer

1,600

Hand Tools

350

Harvest lugs

950

Bird-netting

1,050

Establishment Costs VSP Site prep/layout Planting Weed/pest control Fertilization Trellis construction Vine training Irrigation* Total

310 2294 150 32 2100 165 1135* 6186

LYRE 310 2294 150 32 4484 220 1135* 8625

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Second Year Costs VSP Pruning Replanting Weed/pest control Canopy management Total Accum. Total

73 45 290 315 723 6909

LYRE 146 45 290 550 1031 9656

Third Year Costs VSP Pruning Weed/pest control Fertilization Canopy Management Harvest Income Total Accum. Total

300 450 27 250 856 3250 1367 5542

LYRE 600 450 27 640 856 3250 677 8979

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Fourth Year Costs VSP Pruning Weed/pest control Fertilization Canopy Management Harvest Income Total Accum. Total

250 450 25 250 785 5200 3440 2102

LYRE 505 450 25 640 950 5850 3280 5699

Fifth Year Costs VSP Pruning Weed/pest control Fertilization Canopy Management Harvest Income Total Accum. Total

250 450 25 250 785 5200 3440 1338

LYRE 505 450 25 640 1276 8840 5944 245

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MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Grape Diseases/Insects • • • • • • • • •

Pierce’s Disease Powdery Mildew Downy Mildew Bunch Rots Black Rot Phomopsis Eutypa Crown Gall others

• • • • • • • • • •

Phylloxera Climbing cutworm Grape Berry Moth Grape Root Borer Grape Scale Green June Beetle Japanese Beetle Grape Flea Beetle Leafhoppers others

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People and Organizations • NCSU – – – – – – –

Andy Allen - bunchgrape viticulture Turner Sutton – bunchgrape pathology Barclay Poling – muscadine viticulture Bill Cline – muscadine pathology Ken Sorenson – entomology Wayne Mitchem – weed science Dan Carroll - enology

People and Organizations • Cooperative Extension Service • NC Grape Council – http://www.ncwine.org/

• NC Winegrowers Association • NC Muscadine Growers Association

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