How is the 2019 California wine grape crop and harvest progressing? And what are the current trends in the wine market? Watch this brief interview with Jeff Bitter from Allied Grape Growers and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
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Fungicide Resistance is a real issue in the grape industry in regards to powdery mildew control. Growers need to take this seriously and be able to recognize signs of it in their vineyards; however, sometimes what may appear to be a resistance problem may actually be an issue of poor sprayer calibration/coverage. Watch this brief video with Research Plant Pathologist with the USDA Walt Mahaffee as he explains and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine. Don’t currently receive the magazine? Subscribe for free at: https://malcolmmedia.com/american-vineyard-subscriptions/
With a shrinking and more costly labor force, grape growers are searching for new ways to mechanize their vineyard operations, and mechanized canopy management is a great opportunity for growers to look into. Watch this brief interview with Luca Brillante from Fresno State’s Viticulture & Enology Department as he shares some very positive results of a recent study supporting greater efficiencies with vineyard mechanization. Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
Table grape growers in California are very busy right now catching up on all the major vineyard tasks that need to be done leading up to harvest due to a very wet May. Watch this brief interview with Farm Labor Contractor George Rodriguez from Grapeman Labor as he explains the situation and what’s going on right now in the vineyard. Read more about it in the coming July issue American Vineyard Magazine.
After many years of drought, can we possibly have too much water? Watch this brief interview with Jeff Bitter from Allied Grape Growers as he provides an update on the 2019 wine grape crop and how the recent rainstorms might impact it. Watch this video and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
As many in the industry know, USDA’s 2018 Grape Crush Report was delayed due to the recent government shutdown. This record breaking crop report was covered in the May issue of American Vineyard Magazine; but we also recently got some special insights on the report along with current wine market trends from Allied Grape Growers President Jeff Bitter. So check out this brief interview, and if you haven’t already, be sure to read more about the Crush Report in the May issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
Central Valley Thompson grapes ended up being quite valuable this last harvest, both on the raisin and concentrate side of the business. But as Jeff Bitter from Allied Grape Growers shared in this interview with California Ag Network, both markets can be quite volatile and there are a lot less acres of Thompson Seedless grapes in the ground than there used to be. Check out this interview with Jeff on his insights for the future of the industry and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
Last year, wine industry analysts were questioning the strength of the high end wine market, as prices got higher and higher; and now it appears that the tide is turning again for California wine grape growers, as much of the movement of inventory is coming back to the San Joaquin Valley. Watch this brief video with Jeff Bitter from Allied Grape Growers as he explains at the recent Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. He also discusses the potential delay of the USDA Annual Crush Report due to the government shutdown. Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
So how do you know when your wine grapes are ready for harvest? Wineries are looking for more than just solid brix levels. There are other chemical indicators to consider. This was one of the topics of discussion at California State University Fresno’s biennial industry Grape Day. Watch this brief interview with Tim Holt from E&J Gallo Winery as he provides his perspective on what growers should be looking for to know that their grapes are ready to harvest and produce quality wines. Read more of the proceedings of Fresno State Grape Day in American Vineyard Magazine.
Although most folks in the Central Valley of California have been safe from the ravaging wildfires around California, they have still suffered the affects that the ash and smoke have brought into the Valley. It has caused airline flight delays due to obscured vision and increased allergies & asthma among the public; but what some raisin growers have been discovering is that it has also delayed the sugar accumulation of their crop. Watch this brief interview with Rick Stark from Sun-Maid Growers, and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.