grape growing – Page 3 – Salado Winery Company & Salado Wine Seller

Test #4 for Grape Ripeness

uneven ripening, 1 more week to go

I thought that we would harvest the red grapes during the weekend of August 10-11, but after testing the grapes, I have decided that we will wait one more week, and harvest the red grapes August 17-18. Here are the numbers from test #4 (done Tuesday, August 6, 2013) for those who are curious:

Sangiovese piccolo 3.42 pH, 19 degrees Brix, 8.4 TA (pear)

Sangiovese grosso 3.54 pH, 20 degrees Brix, 8.25 TA (overripe plum)

Cabernet Sauvignon 3.29 pH, 17 degrees Brix, 9.75 TA (green apple–definitely under ripe)

Merlot 3.56 pH, 19.2 degrees Brix, 7.20 TA (mellow)

Most importantly, I am still seeing some green grapes in the vineyard, some green seeds, and the peduncles have not hardened off quite yet, so I think to optimize the quality of the grapes, I should wait one more week. Hope the birds don’t get all this fruit!

Some of the numbers have not moved much since test #3, but the flavors are developing, so I have confidence that the grapes are still ripening.

Test for harvest #3

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IDR7nI8Rusg/Ue1MMBP-fbI/AAAAAAAAKYE/1tmbRqIAQDk/s144-c-o/IMAG0299.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/102153593012294996679/20130801?authkey=b-YJ_-aBRpw#5903458455930174898″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”IMAG0299.jpg” ]

While we picked the chardonnay, I was quite struck by how far behind the reds seem to be. So time to run the tests again:

Merlot 19.8 degrees Brix, 3.55 pH, 7.5 TA (bland-no flavor)

Sangiovese 18.3 degrees Brix, 3.29 pH, 9.0 TA (strawberry-slightly tart)

Cabernet Sauvignon 16.8 degrees Brix, 3.04 pH, 10.5 TA (TART!)

Based on these numbers, I am predicting that harvest will be Saturday, August 10 & 11, at least for the merlot and sangiovese.

We also tested the grapes from Belle Crest Vineyard:

Malbec 20.3 degrees Brix, 3.55 pH, 6.0 TA (fig)

Tempranillo 22 degrees Brix, 3.74 pH, 4.5 TA (pear)

Cabernet Sauvignon 19 degrees Brix, 3.29 pH, 7.5 TA (nectarine)

Their cab sauv looks to be a bit higher than ours, but their sample is not a true random sample since it did not include the green grapes. For our sample, we tried to make sure that we had a truly random sample and included green berries.

<<<<<<<<<UPDATE: RED harvest at Salado Vineyard MOVED to AUGUST 17 & 18 after test #4>>>>>>>>>

2013 Chardonnay Harvest July 27-28

chardonnay sample picked on July 20. Notice mostly dark brown seeds and some beige.

It is time! Chardonnay harvest begins Saturday morning, 7 am, July 27. It will likely continue on Sunday July 28 at 7 am and you are officially invited to join us for Harvest 2013! We usually pick grapes until 11 am and you’re welcome to come for as little or as long as you like. Come for the fun and camaraderie! Kids welcome.

If you have favorite pruners, bring them, otherwise we have extras for you. Please wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and sturdy shoes. (I like to wear old sneakers and socks so that the pigweed doesn’t get me). Some folks like to wear light cotton gloves, but they are not necessary. Beware of the wasps, fireants, mosquitos, and be prepared for the heat. Watch out for the mean old mockingbirds who think they own the vineyard! I haven’t seen any snakes this year, but there’s always a first.

Also, Sunday afternoon and the days following harvest are the best times to visit the winery and see the wine making in action. We can always put extra hands to work, so if you don’t like to get up early in the morning, come by in the afternoon and be part of the bucket brigade.

The vineyard is at 21724 Hill Road, Salado, TX 76571. Feel free to send me an email to june @ saladowinery.com. If you are lost the morning of harvest, call/text us on cell phone, (254) 466-5813. More harvest updates will be available, and they are tentatively listed on our homepage under “vineyard” or on ourfacebook page http://www.facebook.com/SaladoWinery.

2013 Harvest starts July 20

Baby Grape goes to harvest on August 4th, 2012

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<dates are changed, please look here>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You are officially invited to join us for Harvest 2013! We expect the schedule to be:

Saturday, July 20 & Sunday July 21==chardonnay

Saturday, July 27 & Sunday July 28==merlot

Saturday, August 3 & Sunday August 4==cabernet sauvignon

TBD during the week==sangiovese

We are usually at the vineyard from 7-11 and you’re welcome to come for as little or as long as you like. Come for the fun and camaraderie! Kids welcome.

If you have favorite pruners, bring them, otherwise we have extras for you. Please wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and sturdy shoes. (I like to wear old sneakers and socks so that the pigweed doesn’t get me). Some folks like to wear light cotton gloves, but they are not necessary. Beware of the wasps, fireants, mosquitos, and be prepared for the heat. Watch out for the mean old mockingbirds who think they own the vineyard! I haven’t seen any snakes this year, but there’s always a first.

Also, Saturday afternoon and the days following harvest are the best times to visit the winery and see the wine making in action. We can always put extra hands to work, so if you don’t like to get up early in the morning, come by in the afternoon and be part of the bucket brigade.

The vineyard is at 21724 Hill Road, Salado, TX 76571. Feel free to send me an email to june @ saladowinery.com. If you are lost the morning of harvest, call/text us on cell phone, (254) 466-5813. More harvest updates will be available, and they are tentatively listed on our homepage under “vineyard” or on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/SaladoWinery.

Don’t pick the grapes yet!

Hey Dino! Don’t pick the grapes! It isn’t time yet. I know you’re almost 11 months old, and you’ve been waiting a long time for harvest because then it will be time for your birthday, but it’s TOO SOON! Those are cabernet sauvignon grapes and they still have to go through veraison–they have to turn RED first. I hope you’re not colorblind? You’re gonna taste them? TART, aren’t they? Those grapes won’t make good wine yet. They still need 6-7 more weeks of ripening Dino.

Dino, maybe you should get back in your pack and up on my back? We’ve got to get this vineyard ready for netting. Soon these grapes will turn red and then the birds will try to get them. Plus, look at all these weeds. We’ve got mowing and weeding to get done. So we need to get back to work!

2012 Salado Winery Harvest Statistics

time to ferment

Our BIGGEST year yet!

We’ve processed quite a few grapes this summer, in fact, we made wine from 9 tons of grapes, all from central Texas.

Our vineyard here in Salado grew one ton of Sangiovese, a half ton each of cabernet sauvignon and merlot and more than a half ton of chardonnay. That means we have over 160 gallons of Rootin Tootin for next year! As well as 85 gallons of chardonnay and 150 gallons Wild Hare (cab + merlot).

From our friends in Belton, we harvested 4 tons of Blanc Dubois and Black Spanish! These grapes were new to us and presented us with many winemaking challenges do to the thick skins and tough nature of the grape.

The Black Rock Vineyard co-op brought in a ton of white and red grapes, mixed varieties and we hope to make some sparkling white from some of the white grapes.

From Belle Crest Vineyard had almost a ton of tempranillo, malbec and cabernet sauvignon. They had so much fun at harvest, they even stomped on their grapes! (see story)

So there you have it, in total we made about 1400 gallons of wine for the 2012 vintage. And don’t forget, one exceptionally cute baby (I’m obviously un-biased).

Vineyard update–May 3, 2012

Baby Sangiovese grapes!

Bloom/Pollination/Fertilization is almost over in the vineyard. We thought you might like to see these little bitty grapes as they are formed now and will grow in size until about mid-June. After that veraison (fancy name for turning color) and ripening. Then before I know it, harvest and wine making…stay tuned!

Vineyard is looking good!

: could be a 20 lb cluster in a few months!

This picture was taken April 1st, 2012, and no fooling around, this may be the biggest cluster yet from our vineyard. The sangiovese has already reached stage 15 on the Eichorn-Lorenz stages in shoot development–and we haven’t even had Easter yet!

The crop looks very promising this year, but I’m trying hard not to count all the grapes too soon. All it takes is a short hail storm like last year, when the chardonnay grapes were obliterated. But for now, we’re having a beautiful spring here in Texas and the grapevines are certainly going crazy.

Time to Start Pruning!

Grab your pruners and get busy!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Today was the first day of pruning and when I arrived the first peek of green was awaiting me. The sangiovese is ready to burst forth and the chardonnay is only days behind. So put down your glass of wine, grab your pruners, and GET BUSY spring is here!

2012 Learn More about Grape Growing

Grape Growers:

Happy New Year! Please mark your calendars for the following upcoming viticulture and enology events.

Pruning Workshops:

There will be two pruning workshops in the Gulf Coast region in the month of January. The dates and locations are below, however I will follow-up with a reminder email one week before each pruning event which will contain directions to the vineyard site and other details regarding the material covered. Please save the date and plan to attend a workshop near you. There is no fee for the pruning workshops.

January 18, Wednesday 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Weslaco, Texas. Workshop focus: 1-year-old vines: Vertical Shoot Positioned, Geneva Double Curtain, and Watson High Bilateral training systems.

January 25, Wednesday 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Richards, Texas. Workshop focus: 1 to 3-year-old vines, on Vertical Shoot Positioned and Watson High Bilateral training systems.

Additionally, Haak Vineyard and Winery, in Santa Fe, Texas will again be hosting their annual pruning day and oyster fry on Saturday, January 14^th. There will be a very basic pruning demonstration of Vertical Shoot Positioned vines, starting at 9:00 a.m. This is a fun opportunity for new or prospective growers. For more information visit: http://www.haakwine.com/events/event_schedule.php

Annual Gulf Coast Grape Grower Field Day 2012 – Save the Date – February 10

The 20^th Annual Gulf Coast Grape Grower Field Day is set for Friday, February 10th 2012. This meeting is organized by the Austin County Grape Grower Committee and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, and will be held at Agricultural Society Hall in Cat Spring, TX. The agenda is just about wrapped up and will be posted in a separate email. Topics this year will include research demonstration results from Gulf Coast vineyards, soil moisture monitoring practices, advances in Pierce’s disease research, new results for improving dry Lenoir wine, and much more. Please RSVP via email if you wish to attend this event. Registration will be at the door on the day of the event. It’s going to be a great meeting!

Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association, Annual Conference and Trade Show – February 16-18

The annual conference and trade show will be held this year at the Embassy Suites, San Marcos, Texas from February 16-18^th. For more information please visit the TWGGA website at: http://www.txwines.org/conference/

Prospective Wine Grower Workshops

Grape growing is a labor intensive enterprise, which requires significant up-front investment in comparison to many other agriculture crops. The Prospective Wine Grower Workshop was created by the Texas AgriLife Extension Viticulture team in order to educate farmers, entrepreneurs, or any individual considering planting a commercial vineyard. This one-day educational event consists of a series of presentations that provide an overview of the unique requirements and risks associated with establishment and operation of a commercial vineyard in Texas. The workshop is co-instructed by the Texas AgriLife Extension Viticulture Advisors at multiple locations throughout the state. If you or someone you know is interested in planting a commercial vineyard please bring these upcoming workshops to their attention.

2012 Schedule (8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)

February 7th – Pittsburg, TX

March 14th – Houston, TX

May 4th – Fredericksburg, TX

June 15th – Lubbock, TX

Workshop topics include:

• Vineyard Economics

• Necessary Viticulture Expertise

• Vineyard Site Considerations

• Risk Factors

• Vineyard Labor Requirements

Fee: $150 ($250 per couple), Includes lunch and all educational materials

Register Online: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/index.cfm

?Enter keyword “wine” in search options

The Prospective Winegrower Workshop serves as a prerequisite for application to the Texas Viticulture Certificate Program, offered by Texas Tech University and Texas AgriLife Extension.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments.

Best regards,

-Fritz

Fritz Westover

Extension Program Specialist – Viticulture

Texas Gulf Coast Region

Texas AgriLife Extension Service

3033 Bear Creek Drive

Houston, Texas 77084

Office: 281-855-5608

Cell: 713-584-3360

Fax: 281-855-5638

Email: [email protected]

http://winegrapes.tamu.edu/

http://www.extension.org/grapes

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