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!
Showing posts with label soils. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soils. Show all posts
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Playing in the Dirt
We began the testing with a little assistance from our LGD. His native curiosity is what will keep the four and two legged critters away from our vines.
Even in the small (0.08 acre - 3500 avg sf) area where we will be planting our first vines, the soils range in color.
The entire area we selected is supposed to be a type of soil known as Appling Sandy Loam which should be good for growing. It is well drained, particularly on our 2-5% slope but it will also hold enough water to sustain the vines once they establish their root system. Here is the description from the USGS Soils web site:
The trick is going to be figuring out which root stock will work best with which varieties on the soils we have. At 35 inches, the bottom of our test pit, we hit this yellow clay with white striations. It may be kaolinitic clay. We sent a sample to the Virginia Tech lab for identification. Hopefully it is something our vines can work with.
As you can see, this soil is still holding moisture around two feet down. Our last rain was almost a week ago.
Even in the small (0.08 acre - 3500 avg sf) area where we will be planting our first vines, the soils range in color.
The entire area we selected is supposed to be a type of soil known as Appling Sandy Loam which should be good for growing. It is well drained, particularly on our 2-5% slope but it will also hold enough water to sustain the vines once they establish their root system. Here is the description from the USGS Soils web site:
APPLING SERIES -The Appling series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils on ridges and side slopes of the Piedmont uplands. They are deep to saprolite and very deep to bedrock. They formed in residuum weathered from felsic igneous and metamorphic rocks of the Piedmont uplands. Slopes range from 0 to 25 percent. Near the type location, mean annual precipitation is 45 inches and mean annual temperature is 60 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults
The trick is going to be figuring out which root stock will work best with which varieties on the soils we have. At 35 inches, the bottom of our test pit, we hit this yellow clay with white striations. It may be kaolinitic clay. We sent a sample to the Virginia Tech lab for identification. Hopefully it is something our vines can work with.
As you can see, this soil is still holding moisture around two feet down. Our last rain was almost a week ago.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Virginia Vineyards Association
Today we submitted our membership to the Virginia Vineyards Association an organization of viticulturists and associated business entities dedicated to growing great wine in Virginia. I wish we had found the organization sooner as they sponsor some great seminars. The Summer Technical Seminar is to be held on June 5th at Barboursville Winery & Vineyards. Unfortunately we are unable to attend, but the Winter Event will be a must do event!
Another recommended resource we have purchased is the Wine Grape Production Guide for Eastern North America
We also marked out the location for our test plot. It is roughly 0.08 acres that could fit 104 vines at 8 x 4 foot spacing. The area is 60' x 64' x 80' x 40' Tomorrow we'll take soil samples for testing. Once we receive that information we will have a better idea of the varieties we can grow.
Once the test soils are gathered, we begin the process of marking rows in the field. Instead of using herbicides to kill off grasses/weeds in the vine rows, we will be using a leaf litter mulch i.e. clean chopped leaves. This will kill the vegetation, add some organic compost and prevent weed seed germination all at the same time.
Another recommended resource we have purchased is the Wine Grape Production Guide for Eastern North America
We also marked out the location for our test plot. It is roughly 0.08 acres that could fit 104 vines at 8 x 4 foot spacing. The area is 60' x 64' x 80' x 40' Tomorrow we'll take soil samples for testing. Once we receive that information we will have a better idea of the varieties we can grow.
Once the test soils are gathered, we begin the process of marking rows in the field. Instead of using herbicides to kill off grasses/weeds in the vine rows, we will be using a leaf litter mulch i.e. clean chopped leaves. This will kill the vegetation, add some organic compost and prevent weed seed germination all at the same time.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Vineyard Soils Report
Here are the images of the Vineyard Site Analysis, pages two and three. For anyone interested in growing vinifera grapes, it is highly recommended.
This is the location we've selected for several rows of grapes. It will be our test plot. The area is approximately 1/4 acre on a slight east facing slope.
We also bit the bullet and invested in a small tractor with a bucket and backhoe to help with all the work that still needs doing to prepare for the arrival of the vines. Our choice was a Kubota BX25D. It is a subcompact machine that packs a lot of bang for its size and price. We felt it would be the best bet for work between rows without compacting soils near the vines both in terms of width and weight. We're rapidly learning that growing quality grapes isn't going to be cheap!
This is the location we've selected for several rows of grapes. It will be our test plot. The area is approximately 1/4 acre on a slight east facing slope.
We also bit the bullet and invested in a small tractor with a bucket and backhoe to help with all the work that still needs doing to prepare for the arrival of the vines. Our choice was a Kubota BX25D. It is a subcompact machine that packs a lot of bang for its size and price. We felt it would be the best bet for work between rows without compacting soils near the vines both in terms of width and weight. We're rapidly learning that growing quality grapes isn't going to be cheap!
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Getting Started
It's been a long, long, long winter but it's given us the chance to do our homework on the vineyard. For those in Virginia, the VA Tech Viticulture Extension is is an excellent place to start. We were able to access their beta mapping system to find out what kind of soils we have in the areas we hope to grow our grapes. Vineyard Soils Maps
Unfortunately it looks like we have Partlow loam in almost 1/3 of the area we hope to plant. We also have more moisture in the upland soils than vinifera grapes prefer. Amendments with organic matter will be needed.
Unfortunately it looks like we have Partlow loam in almost 1/3 of the area we hope to plant. We also have more moisture in the upland soils than vinifera grapes prefer. Amendments with organic matter will be needed.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)