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Wine-Grower-News #304 6-8-15 Midwest Grape & Wine Industry Institute: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Wine

Information in this issue includes:

BioDynamic Wine Demystified – Book Report

Volunteers needed for this year's Wine Experience at the Iowa State Fair Results! – 2015 Wine Maker Magazine Intl. Amateur Wine Competition

6-9, Improving Soil Health in Orchards, Vineyards, and Groves - Webinar 6-(18-19), Comprehensive Elderberry Workshop & Field Tour – MO

America’s Most Visited Winery Videos of Interest Show n Tell Marketing Tidbits Neeto Keeno

Notable Quotables Articles of Interest Calendar of Events

BioDynamic Wine Demystified – Book Report My last newsletter included a book report on “VooDoo Vintners – Oregon’s Astonishing Biodynamic Winegrowers” by Katherine Cole. The book report for this issue covers “Biodynamic Wine Demystified” by Nicolas Joly, 177 pages, copyright 2008. I made it a point to read both of these books prior to my visit to the Willamette Valley and several biodynamic wineries. Nicolas Joly studied at Columbia University and subsequently started to work for J.P. Morgan in New York as an investment banker. He was later posted to London, but in 1977, he left banking to take over his family's vineyard and winery “Coullee de Serrant in Savennieres, France. The biodynamic wines from this vineyard are world famous and Nicolas Joly is a world renowned expert, practitioner and consultant in biodynamic viticulture. The key theme behind “Biodynamic Wine Demystified” to me was to only use on-premise inputs and management techniques to enhance the environment the grapes are growing within to project a local flavor represented by the terroir of the vineyard. To get this done, Nicolas Joly leads the leader through a broad range of biodynamic practices and concepts that many would deem as a cult religion. Concepts involving solar vs gravitational forces, cosmic world energies, electro-tellurism, magnetism, platonic forms, laws of harmony, dynamism, electrical wavelength pollution and a few more that I did not understand. This book dives deep into the theories behind Biodynamic agriculture. I found it somewhat hard

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to comprehend during my first read. So much so, that I read it again. The second time through helped. Would I recommend this to someone who was just curious about biodynamic agriculture? Probably not. There are a lot of big words with a lot of weird meanings and concepts most would consider pure nonsense! Probably best read by someone more versed into the concepts of biodynamic. Still, it is hard to argue with success. Nicolas Joly’s wines are exceptional and his vineyard practices very, very sustainable. The concept of promoting a positive growing equilibrium in the vineyard versus combating the individual pests seems to be working well for him. Here is very popular on-site YouTube video interview that describes Nicolas Joly and his practices well:

The Wine Magician, 11-7-13 by Vice, 14:03 min. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2qBIgTZodU

Volunteers needed for this year's Wine Experience at the Iowa State Fair Do you want to volunteer your time AND have fun doing it? Join us as a volunteer at the Wine Experience at this year's Iowa State Fair! Be sure to check out our Facebook page for photos from last year's fun. Wine Experience volunteers work in Grandfather’s Barn and perform a variety of volunteer duties including greeting Fair-goers, helping with grape stomps, selling wine samples and working the information booth. Volunteers receive admission and a parking pass for the day(s) they work and are guaranteed to have a good time! Three shifts are available each day of the fair (August 13 - 23) from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 9 p.m. More details and signup here: http://iowawinegrowers.org/2015/05/volunteers-needed-for-the-iowa-state-fair-wine-experience/

Autochthonous wine yeast: Scientific term used to describe what most winemakers call wild, indigenous or native yeast found on the grape skins. Autochhtonous : “formed or originating in the place

where found”.

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Contact: Nicole Eilers at nicole@iowawinegrowers.org or 515.664.7754.

6-9, Improving Soil Health in Orchards, Vineyards, and Groves What: 60 minute Adobe Connect webinar When: Tuesday, June 9th. 1 p.m. CST, 2 p.m. EST Who: Rudy Garcia, State Agronomist, USDA NRCS New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM Sponsored by: USDA NRCS Science & Technology Cost: Free Registration: No prior registration required Details here: http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/improving-soil-health-in-orchards-vineyards-and-groves

6-(18-19), Comprehensive Elderberry Workshop & Field Tour – MO When: Thursday & Friday, June 18 & 19, 2015 Where: George Washington Carver Center – 3804 Bald Hill Rd, Jefferson City, MO

Results! 2,825 Entries 870 wine flights 1,012 Judging Hours 49 American States 6 Canadian Provinces 10 Countries April (10-12), 2015 Burlington, VT Largest in the World Check it out: http://winemakermag.com/1401-competition Midwest Grape & Wine Industry Institute Updates:

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/wine/content/institute-updates

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Who: River Hills Harvest Cost: $75 for 1st family member, $50 each for additional family members Details here: http://www.riverhillsharvest.com/

Videos of Interest 1. Wine Diamonds trailer video, 6-5-15, 3:15 min: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1weXxuM-4Y

Show n Tell

(Left) Larva of the Grapevine Epimenis Moth (Psychomorpha epimenis). By early to mid-June the

larva completes its development. Gets to be approx. ¾”

long. The mature larva burrows into soft wood or any

other suitable medium and pupates. There is only one

generation per year.

The female moth lays eggs on or near the new foliage.

Larvae construct an enclosure of terminal leaves by

drawing the leaves toward each other and tying them

together with silk. The caterpillar feeds within the

shelter. A single larva may construct several

enclosures.

It can be an occasional economic pest to grapes.

Typically concentrated on edges of vineyard near

forested areas. 5-27-15 Ryan Krull, IDALS

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America’s Most Visited Winery

Established in 1985 1.2 million visitors per year 8,000 acre Estate 40 wines 360,000 gallons / year

Biltmore Estate Winery – Asheville, NC

http://www.biltmore.com/wine

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Below is a good idea from Christine Carlton & Gary Edgington from Two Saints Winery near Saint Charles, Iowa. They are using # 3 epoxy coated concrete re-rod for new vine training poles and re-rod clips to attach to wire. Life-long training poles that can be used over, and over, and over and over. mlw

I was very fortunate to be invited to the 2015 VESTA curriculum retreat held at the Skamania Lodge near Stevenson, WA during May 27 -29th. I flew into Portland two days earlier to have some time to visit wineries in the Willamette Valley just south and west of Portland. I also spend some time visiting wineries in the Columbia Gorge area east of Portland. I ended up visiting 12 different wineries (8-Willamette Valley, 4 – Columbia Gorge). All of these wineries were using sustainable viticulture practices and 5 were Demeter certified biodynamic. I would like to thank the VESTA folks for allowing me to help review their curriculum and for the opportunity to learn about viticulture & enology practices in Oregon & Washington. Here are the wineries I visited. Bergstrom Wines – Newberg, OR (Biodynamic) Cascading Cliffs Winery – Wisram, WA Cooper Mountain Vineyards – Beaverton, OR (Biodynamic) COR Cellars – Lyle Washington Domaine Pouillon Winery – Lyle, WA (Biodynamic) Domaine Serene Winery – Dayton, OR Elk Cove Vineyards – Dayton, OR Maryhill Winery – Goldendale, WA Maysara Winery – McMinnville, OR (Biodynamic) Montinore Vineyards – Forest Grove, OR (Biodynamic) Patton Valley Vineyards – Gaston, OR White Rose Estate – Dayton, OR An individual picture album tour with comments of all these winery visits can be found here on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000304374293

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(Left) Water Flowform at Cooper Mountain Vineyards. 5-25-15

(Right) Mobile sanitary restroom and wash station used by vineyard workers at Elk Cove Vineyards. 5-25-15

(Left) Perching pole for raptors that help control Gophers in Patton Valley Vineayrds.

(Right) Cleft graft used on old vines at Domaine Serene Winery to change the variety being grown in this old established vineyard. 5-26-15

(Left) Individual dump buckets and shot glasses of water served with wine at White Rose Estate Winery. 5-26-15

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Marketing Tidbits 1. How Much is Too Much?: A Study on Choice Overload in Wine Retail, 5-28-15 academic wino: http://www.academicwino.com/2015/05/choice-overload-wine-retail.html/ 2. What Goes into Wine Label Design? 5-25-15 Walls Street Journal: http://www.wsj.com/articles/what-goes-into-wine-label-design-1432308290

Neeto Keeno 1. National Pesticide Information Center: http://www.npic.orst.edu/ 2. Your Brain on Coffee, Wine and Cannabis – Wine Folly: (humorous) http://winefolly.com/update/coffee-vs-wine-vs-cannabis/

Notable Quotables “Vinum Bonum Laetificat Cor Humanum”

Latin for (Good Wine Pleases the Human Heart) – Author unknown

(Right) “Beware of Rattlesnakes” sign at Cascading Cliffs Winery. 5-28-15

(Left) Came across Howard Hugh’s Spruce Goose wooden airplane in the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum at McMinnville, OR while visiting wineries. 5-29-15

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“Governor Inslee signed House Bill 1004 into law April 23, 2015, allowing students under 21 enrolled in enology and viticulture programs at four-year universities to taste — but not consume — wine as part of their instruction.” From: Bill for Enology, Viticulture Students Signed into Law, 4-23-15 Washington State University "It takes a lot of beer to make good wine."

- Lakewood Vineyards Winemaker Chris Stamp

Articles of Interest 1. WA: Vineyards Restore Native Habitat – Attract Butterflies, 5-27-15 Wildlife Society: http://wildlife.org/vineyards-restore-native-habitat-attract-butterflies/ 2. The Benefits of Vineyard Mechanization, 5-27-15 Growing Produce: http://www.growingproduce.com/fruits/grapes/the-benefits-of-vineyard-mechanization/ 3. NY: I have galls in my nursery – Grapes 101, May 2015 Cornell University Viticulture & Enology 4. MN: Round Lake Vineyards & Winery is Ready to Pour – 6-3-15 KWOA – 730 AM Radio: http://www.kwoa.com/news/2015/06/03/round-lake-vineyards-winery-ready-pour

Calendar of Events 2015 Practical Farmers of Iowa schedule of field days: http://practicalfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2015-Field-Day-Guide_final_smaller1.pdf

6-9, 1 p.m CST, 2 p.m. EST. Improving Soil Health in Orchards, Vineyards, and Groves – USDA NRCS 60 min. Free webinar. Details here: http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/improving-soil-health-in-orchards-vineyards-and-groves 6-9, Missouri Grape Growers Annual Meeting & Field Day – Les Bourgeois Vineyards Blufftop Bistro – Rocheport, MO. Details here: http://www.missourigrapegrowers.org 6-(15-19), 66th ASEV National Conference- Marriott Downtown, Portland, OR: http://www.asev.org/ 6-(18-19), Comprehensive Elderberry Workshop & Field Tour – Jefferson City, MO. Details here: http://www.riverhillsharvest.com/ 6-29, 9am to 3:30 pm. Drip Irrigation School Monday, ISU Horticulture Research Station. Free, Registration at 515.993.4281. Details: Joe Hannan jmhannan@iastate.edu

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7-11, UNL Vineyard Field Day at Oak Creek Vineyards – Raymond, NE Details later here: http://agronomy.unl.edu/viticulture/ 7-(23-25), 40th ASEV-Eastern Section Annual Meeting, Clarion Hotel - Dunkirk, NY: Details: http://www.asev-es.org/ 7-(26-29), ISHS International Workshop on Vineyard Mechanization and Grape and Wine Quality - Fredonia, NY: http://www.ishs.org/symposium/428 7-29, 26th Southwest Michigan State University Viticulture Day – Benton, Harbor, MI: Details: http://agbioresearch.msu.edu/events/26th_annual_msu_viticulture_field_day 8-10, ISU Extension Fruit & Vegetable Field Day, Horticulture Research Station – Ames FREE. Register here: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/vegetablelab/fieldday 8-(12-14), Society of Wine Educators 39th Annual Conference – New Orleans, IA: http://societyofwineeducators.org/conference 8-22, ISU Aronia Berry Field Day, Winding Creek Gardens – Belmond, IA. Details later. Contact: Joe Hannan: jmhannan@iastate.edu 8-29, “WHAT” Berry Farm Aronia Berry Field Day – Fairbank, IA: Details: http://midwestaronia.org/event/berry-farm-field-day/?instance_id=78 10-17, Fall University of Nebraska Viticulture Program Workshop, Lincoln, NE Details later here: http://viticulture.unl.edu/ 11-(11-14), 2015 VitiNord International Conference will be held at the Lied Lodge & Conference Center in historic Nebraska City, NE: http://www.vitinord2015.org/ 2016_______________________________________________________________ 1-(26-28), Unified Wine & Grape Symposium – Sacramento Convention Center, CA http://www.unifiedsymposium.org/ 2-(4-5), Midwest Grape & Wine & Craft Brew Conference – St. Charles, MO Convention Center. Details: http://midwestgrape.com/ 2-(11-13), Texas Wine Grape Growers Conference – San Marco, TX. Details: http://www.txwines.org/ 2-(11-13), Cold Climate Conference - Hyatt Regency, Minneapolis, MN http://www.mngrapes.org/ 2-(22-23), Northern Grapes Project Symposium & Advisory Committee meeting – Kalamazoo, MI, Details later: : http://northerngrapesproject.org/ 2-(24-26), 2016 Michigan Grape & Wine Conference, Radisson Plaza Hotel – Kalamazoo, MI. Details later: http://www.michiganwines.com/conference

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3-(3-5), Nebraska Winery & Grape Growers Forum & Trade Show – Omaha Marriott http://agronomy.unl.edu/viticulture/ 3-(9-11), Eastern Winery Exposition – Lancaster County Convention Center – Lancaster, PA: http://easternwineryexposition.com/

Michael L. White - CCA, CPAg, CSW ISU Extension Viticulture Specialist 909 East 2nd Ave. Suite E, Indianola, IA 50125-2892 ph: 515-961-6237, fax: 6017, cell: 515-681-7286 mlwhite@iastate.edu

e-Viticulture: http://eviticulture.org/

Iowa Wine Growers Association: http://iowawinegrowers.org/

Iowa Wine Explorers Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/IAWineExplorers?ref=hl

Iowa Wine & Beer Promotion Board:

http://www.traveliowa.com/GetInspired/WineAndBeer

ISU Viticulture Extension: http://viticulture.hort.iastate.edu/

ISU Midwest Grape & Wine Industry Institute: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/wine/

Northern Grapes Project: http://northerngrapesproject.org/

Missouri Grape & Wine Institute Weekly Vineyard IPM Reports can be found here:

http://gwi.missouri.edu/

VESTA (Viticulture Enology & Science Technology Alliance): http://www.vesta-usa.org/

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