jgoforth

Parts of Virginia suffered freeze or frost damage during the early morning hours of May 14.  While this is a late spring frost, it is not unusual for such an event to occur at this date.  VVA would like to learn of your vineyard's experience with this weather event. Would you please respond by telling us: the overall percent of apparent damage (expected loss of fruitful buds) the absolute elevation of your site (average) the slope of your site (average) the relative elevation of the susceptible areas above bottomland or obstructions to the free-flow of cold air (e.g., trees in leaf) the [...]

This year's topic for the Summer Technical is Steep Terrain Viticulture.  Registration is now open.  For more details visit here.

The 2012 Virginia Commercial Grape Report is now available online at VirginiaWine.org. The annual report is compiled by the Wine Marketing Office and provides information on the growing conditions and production from the 2012 harvest in Virginia. Information from this report is a great reference and can act as a compass for future and veteran growers.  Also, knowing the exact production of grapes, along with wine production, allows industry representatives to give up-to-date exact figures and is vital for discussions related to the growing viticulture industry. Special thanks to the Virginia Wine Marketing Office for compiling this data, and thank you [...]

The National Weather Service is trying to expand the network of weather observations. As part of that effort Anita Silverman, Lead Forecaster of NWS Blacksburg is contacting vineyards and orchards across Virginia to recruit volunteers to report rainfall information. Rainfall reporting is very simple: Join CoCoRaHS, install a rain gauge (if you don't already have one a gauge can be purchased for a low price), and report your precipitation every morning. CoCoRaHS is a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation. If you would like more information, do not hesitate [...]

Please save the date for the VWC's annual Wine & Vine Legislative Day to be held at the Capitol on January 17, 2013. This event is a great opportunity to gather with a group of your industry partners and remind our legislators of the importance of the wine industry to every district in the Commonwealth. We have a busy legislative session ahead of us, and it is critically important that the wine industry constituents of every district have a strong presence in the Capitol. ADDITIONAL DETAILS: We ask that you please contact Katie Hellebush for additional information on the schedule and [...]

Last February at our annual meeting, the Virginia Vineyard Association’s Grower of the Year Award was presented to Jeanette Smith of VineSmith.  Nominations will be accepted from members for this prestigious award through January 6, 2013. The candidate should meet the following qualifications: •        Nominated by an active member of the VVA. •        Managed or operated a vineyard in Virginia for at least seven years. •        Contributed to the Virginia Viticulture Industry. •        Have a minimum of five acres of vineyard. •        Be an active member of the VVA. A list of our current members can be found on our website. [...]