The Ohio “Vintage Report,” January 2010, contains two errors. The first bullet-point states “An extreme January freeze damaged labrusca grapes in the Grand River Valley.”

In fact, an extreme freeze in January 2009 damaged vinifera grapes in the Grand River Valley. Labrusca grapes were uninjured by the January event, although an extreme frost May 18, 2009, damaged several labrusca vineyards. Growers on good, frost-free sites reported large to excessive labrusca crops in 2009. Prior to May 18, all labrusca fields showed average to above average crop potential.

Paragraph six states, “It was even too cold to use the wind machines that in prior years had made a significant difference.” The extreme freeze Jan. 16 and 17 in the Grand River Valley dropped temperatures to minus-16°F two nights in a row. Wind machines were not run at any locations in the valley because it was too windy.

The two-night episode Jan. 16-17, 2009, was unique because it was accompanied by 8-12 mph winds. Wind machines should not be run during winds exceeding 4 mph, according to the manufacturer. The machines were not run in the GRV on these two nights because of the wind.

At the operations I manage, South River Vineyard and Debonne Vineyards, we started our five Orchard Rite machines at 7 p.m. the first night, even with the wind, but had to shut them down because of tower vibration. Temperature sensors at 10 locations took readings every six minutes, and confirmed that there was no inversion layer because of the high winds.

In 15 years of experience running wind machines in the winter, this was the first time arctic cold and high winds combined. Our typical classic night is to have arctic chills to minus-15°F, with calm winds and clear skies.

We averaged 4.5 tons per acre in 2009 over all our vinifera vines by adjusting our pruning methods to leave 150-200 buds per vine, while Merlot was actually left completely unpruned, but later twice hand-thinned as bud break occurred. Merlot cropped 3 tons per acre.

I’m the largest grapegrower in the Grand River Valley, operating 125 acres of 23 varieties of grapes ranging from Catawba and Concord to Syrah, Merlot, and Sémillon. We utilize five Orchard Rite machines for winter freeze protection

Gene Sigel
Owner, South River Vineyard
Vineyard manager, Debonne Vineyards
Grand River Valley, Ohio