Let me begin by thanking Randy and Karen Phillips and their team for hosting us at Cave Ridge Vineyard for our Summer Social on Saturday June 11th. Over 70 members registered for the event, which shows that it is a convenient location for our members, but sadly many did not make it. Put off, no doubt, by the weather that knocked out the power earlier in the afternoon and had Randy scurrying about buying generators. Fortunately the storm passed us by and power was restored in time for the band to play and for us to enjoy great food, great company and great wine.
This edition of the Grape Press focuses on Sustainability with Christine Vrooman Leaning Green and providing an introduction to the Sustainability Viticulture Workbook, which Virginia Tech will be putting out in draft prior to our Summer Technical meeting on 10 August. Tony or Tremain will explain the status of Virginia’s IPM effort at the meeting and we can discuss the next steps to certification. To help us to gauge membership interest in the subject please take time to complete the anonymous survey by following the link in Christine’s article.
Bruce Zoecklein has also produced a piece on Winery Sustainability Considerations – a consideration that has not been lost on Cooper Vineyard, which is leading the way with their Platinum certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) tasting room. You can read about this in the Virginia Wine Lover Summer edition. Pete Johns, our Eastern representative also gives his views of Sustainability at New Kent Winery and Vineyard.
Andrew Hodson has also written on another good topic – Cane Pruning versus Cordon Pruning. It will be interesting to see what the experts have to say on this in our next edition.
Dean Triplett has also provided an update on the Virginia Wineries Association Commonwealth Quality Alliance (CQA) program, which, if things go as recommended by the Technical Committee, could be great news for Virginia Vineyards as the program calls for 100% Virginia grapes and promotes quality wine from Virginia. This, together with the decision outlined by Amy Ciarametaro to designate Viognier as Virginia’s signature grape for national branding purposes can only mean more demand for Virginia grapes so start planning you 2012 planting now.
I look forward to seeing you all at our Summer Technical Meeting on August 10th at Rappahannock Cellars where we will have an interesting program for you that will include; Late Season Diseases and Late Season Canopy Management in addition to the Sustainability Workbook. Keep your eye on our new web site when it comes out in July for details.
Bill Tonkins | Aftonshire