The soil tests from VA Tech are in. Looks like we are good to go once we have incorporated lime. With a SOM (organic matter) of only 1.4% we will be adding more compost in our garden areas, but it this may work well for the vines; only time will tell. P (phosphorus) and Ca (calcium) are low. Wood ash added with the lime should take care of the P. wood ash when we incorporate the lime. Mg (magnesium) is high so we'll be careful of which limestone product we use. All in all it's pretty much what I expected for unimproved pasture where woodland used to be.
We've also been researching grape varieties. It seems a pretty good bet that Bordeaux grapes might do well here if we can keep the downy and powdery mildews under control. So far the possibilities for our test plot planting are: Sauvignon blanc, Semillion, Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Merlot, Malbec, the Spanish Albarino, Tannat, Petit Manseng, Viognier, Muscato Ottonel, as well as the hybrids Traminette and Chardonnel. We are also considering the Virginia native, Norton. Since we do not have plans to make or wine, we aren't as concerned with growing varieties we like to drink as much as we are focusing on what works on our particular terroir and what others need or want for their wine production. The test plot will yield only enough for small batch home production. Feel free to contact us if you are a home vintner interested in making wine from fresh grapes instead of 'kit juice.' We look forward to the next step in the process - making our final variety selections, matching the proper rootstock and ordering!
Here is to Grape Expectations! Cin-cin!
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