A Happy New Year! I hope you and your family and friends had a nice holiday season. Please see below for upcoming viticulture-related meetings in our area. Please note that some of them are offered by other institutions beyond Virginia Tech (or VCE).
UPCOMING VITICULTURE and ENOLOGY PROGRAMMING, MEETINGS, and EVENTS
January 11 @ 2:00-3:00PM: VT Enology Wine Acid Chemistry webinar Registration link coming soon!
Pruning Short Course (offered through NCSU’s Dr. Mark Hoffman) We are very happy to announce that we will offer the popular pruning training with Italian pruning specialist Marco Tessari again in 2023. This year we open up our reach to growers from Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Like last year, the training is partly sponsored by Vesco Pruning Tools. The price per Person will be $350 to have access to all classes. Like last year, we managed to give a limited amount of extension personnel free access as well. The training covers three intensive virtual workshops on proper grapevine pruning techniques plus one class on shoot thinning in Spring. We will go through the basic and the details of spur and cane pruning. We also will talk through your case studies with before/after photos. The workshop schedule will be: First workshop: Tuesday, Jan 17 (12-3 PM EST) Second workshop: Friday, Jan 20 (12-3 PM EST) Third workshop: Tuesday, Jan 31 (12-3 PM EST) We only have a limited amount of space, so please make sure to RSVP as quick as possible. If you are interested, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/yzH4QC7A7dQ8n3At6 I look forward hearing from you soon, Mark Hoffman
February 15-17: 2023 Virginia Vineyards Association Winter Technical meeting
Virginia Tech/VCE workshops within the VVA meeting
February 15 from 1 PM to 4 PM: Grape Disease Management Workshop: The aim for this workshop is to make you prepare for the season. We will go through the season together, identifying key diseases and discussing how to manage them. We will also discuss where to find resources to help you prepare for the season.
February 15 from 1 PM to 5 PM: Beginner’s workshop: Thinking of starting a new vineyard operation? We will provide a series of lectures that cover site selection, cultivar choice, canopy management, disease management, etc.
Vineyard workshops from Virginia Tech/VCE
Below is the list of upcoming workshops offered by Virginia Tech/VCE. Registration will be required for many, and Tremain or Mizuho will send announcements soon.
February 27 from 10 AM to 3 PM: Pruning Workshop, Stone Tower Winery 19925 Hogback Mountain Rd, Leesburg, VA 20175. Specialists with Virginia Tech’s AHS Jr. AREC and local Virginia Cooperative Extension agents will conduct a grapevine pruning workshop. This workshop will involve classroom style presentations followed by guided practice in the vineyard. We will provide a review of the fundamentals of dormant pruning. Moving to the vineyard we will then focus on pruning strategies for vines.
March 29 from 2 PM to 4 PM: Grape Disease Management Workshop, Loudoun Co. Extension office (750 Miller Dr SE suite f-3, Leesburg, VA 20175) – with online (Zoom) option: The aim for this workshop is to help you prepare with disease management strategies for the season. We will go through the season together, identifying key diseases and discussing how to manage them. We will also discuss where to find resources to help you prepare after the workshop.
March 30 from 2 PM to 4 PM: Grape Disease Management Workshop, Grape disease ID (with Spanish translation), Loudoun Co. Extension office (750 Miller Dr SE suite f-3, Leesburg, VA 20175) – with online (Zoom) option: In this workshop, we will focus on disease identification by studying pictures of symptomatic grape vines. The session will be translated in Spanish to train vineyard workers to aid their identification skills.
March 31: GrapeIPM.org training and Q and A, online from 1 PM to 3 PM: GrapeIPM.org is an online tool to help you organize your pesticide sprays. You can use it to keep up with inventory, plan your spray, share your spray plan with co-workers, and create reports for the WPS and EPA. In this workshop, we will go through the basic functions of the system and answer any questions you may have.
April 7: GrapeIPM.org training and Q and A, online from 1 PM to 3 PM: GrapeIPM.org is an online tool to help you organize your pesticide sprays. You can use it to keep up with inventory, plan your spray, share your spray plan with co-workers, and create reports for the WPS and EPA. In this workshop, we will go through the basic functions of the system and answer any questions you may have.
The “Eastern Viticulture and Enology Forum Series”(EVEF), co-organized by Virginia Tech, Penn State, and Cornell University, will take place from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the following dates in December, January, February, March, and April. The webinars are intended for vineyard owners, winery owners, vineyard managers, and winemakers.
Dec. 13:“H2-A Temporary Agricultural Program: The Vineyard’s Perspective” Attendees can learn about the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program from the perspectives of experienced vineyard owners and an agricultural workforce development specialist. Instructors will discuss the ever-present labor challenges in the grape and wine industry and how workforce development can offset labor deficits.
Jan. 10: “Top 10 Dormant Pruning Mistakes in Your Vineyard” This webinar will cover basic and advanced pruning approaches for young to mature vines. Presenters will address common errors and how to avoid or repair them.
Jan. 23: “Reducing SO2 During Winemaking Process: Why, When and How” Participants can learn about the use of sulfur dioxide throughout the winemaking process, how to lower levels of SO2, and how to achieve antioxidant and antimicrobial protection in wine, including canned wines. Instructors will discuss alternatives to SO2 as well as the pros and cons.
Feb. 7: “Academic and Industry Perspectives on Biofungicide Use in Vineyards” Academic grape pathology specialists will present research results, and experienced vineyard management professionals will provide feedback on biofungicide efficacy and use. In addition to those involved with vineyards and wineries, grape extension and research specialists may benefit from this webinar.
In addition, online registration will soon be available for these future live webinars:
Feb. 21: “An Introduction to Practical and Applied Winery Laboratory Quality” The winery laboratory is a critical part of wine production. This presentation will cover the basics of a laboratory quality assurance program designed to protect wine quality decisions. Attendees can learn how to determine the accuracy and precision of their methods and ideas for improvement. Instructors will focus on concrete, practical steps.
March 7: “Climate Change Implications for Grapevine Production in U.S. Wine Regions” Climate and weather patterns impact regional grapevine suitability, productivity, and sustainability. Current and future changes in weather patterns have implications for viticulture and enology practices. This session will focus on climate change predictions and possible effects on grapevine productivity and wine quality potential.
April 18: “Pét-Nat Production: An Industry Roundtable” Enjoyed by the French for centuries, Pét-Nats — also known as “pétillant naturel” — are gaining in popularity. In this webinar, industry experts will explain production methods, lessons learned, and tips for producing this “natural sparkling wine.”