The place for all things wine, focused on serious wine discussions.

Recent article tallies up Missouri's spring freeze disaster

Moderators: Jenise, Robin Garr, David M. Bueker

no avatar
User

Paul B.

Rank

Hybrid Guru

Posts

2063

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:38 pm

Location

Ontario, Canada

Recent article tallies up Missouri's spring freeze disaster

by Paul B. » Thu May 31, 2007 10:03 pm

From Appellation America:

Spring Freeze Leads to Summer Squeeze

It's interesting to note how Norton and Vignoles - both late budders - were spared the worst of the damage and will come through as the least affected varieties.
http://hybridwines.blogspot.ca
no avatar
User

Randy Buckner

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

1708

Joined

Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:46 am

Location

Puget Sound

Re: Recent article tallies up Missouri's spring freeze disaster

by Randy Buckner » Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:50 am

"The labrusca was wiped out," said Jon Held


There is a God! :twisted:
no avatar
User

Keith M

Rank

Beer Explorer

Posts

1184

Joined

Sat Jan 06, 2007 2:25 am

Location

Finger Lakes, New York

Re: Recent article tallies up Missouri's spring freeze disaster

by Keith M » Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:14 am

Thanks for the article, Paul, very interesting.

Norton, the native American grape (vitis aestivalis) that produces Missouri’s best red wine, and also a fine port, is a little tougher.


Now that sounds interesting. Has anyone sampled a fortified Norton? I'd love to!

Missouri’s wineries [ . . .] took enough of a beating that the state Department of Agriculture ruled that Missouri wineries can buy out-of-state grapes and juice for 2007. Wineries can buy necessary grapes or juice to produce as much as 95 percent of the amount of wine which they produced last year.


I was puzzled by this. Certainly they can't still label it Missouri wine, can they? And if they wanted to produce wine with an "American" appellation, Missouri's Department of Agriculture couldn't prevent them from doing that any year, could they? Or is this a deal where they get some subsidy-or-other if they produce 'Missouri wine' and they'll get the subsidy this year if they produce any wine?
no avatar
User

Paul B.

Rank

Hybrid Guru

Posts

2063

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:38 pm

Location

Ontario, Canada

Re: Recent article tallies up Missouri's spring freeze disaster

by Paul B. » Fri Jun 01, 2007 6:47 am

Randy Buckner wrote:
"The labrusca was wiped out," said Jon Held


There is a God! :twisted:

Yep, and He was particularly kind to us in Ontario, if not Missouri. My own labruscas have leafed out beautifully! :D
http://hybridwines.blogspot.ca
no avatar
User

Paul B.

Rank

Hybrid Guru

Posts

2063

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:38 pm

Location

Ontario, Canada

Re: Recent article tallies up Missouri's spring freeze disaster

by Paul B. » Fri Jun 01, 2007 6:48 am

Great questions, Keith. I sure hope we get some answers on them - I'd like to know as well.
http://hybridwines.blogspot.ca
no avatar
User

Alan A.

Rank

Wine geek

Posts

68

Joined

Thu Apr 13, 2006 3:22 pm

Location

Being blue deep within a red state.

Re: Recent article tallies up Missouri's spring freeze disas

by Alan A. » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:26 am

North Georgia was hit pretty hard as well from the April freeze. This was a response from David Harris, owner of Blackstock Vineyards near Dahlonega, to a query from me concerning how he faired from the freeze and whether he would be able to sell grapes to home wine makers this year (I have purchased grapes from him in the past):

Not this year, Alan. We have just sustained some extensive fruit losses to this last weekend's freeze. I think we will have enough fruit from secondary buds for a normal crush for our winery, but I don't think we will have any extra fruit to sell other wineries or home winemakers for 2007. Considering we sold about 150 tons last year to others, it is still a considerable hit, financially.


He only grows vinifera. There are some other vineyards in the area that grow Norton and hybrids (Seyval, Vidal) but I haven't heard how those varietals held up to the cold. But it would be safe to assume most vinifera in the area was hit pretty hard. I'm going to be in the Atlanta area latter this month on a business trip, so I may head up to Dahlonega one afternoon to see how everyone made out (plus to beg for grapes with hat in hand.)

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Amazonbot, ClaudeBot and 2 guests

Powered by phpBB ® | phpBB3 Style by KomiDesign