Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Department of Food and Agriculture has a certification program, as do many states and
provinces with active vineyard communities.
Ordering from out-of-state or out-of-country can sometimes be difficult because of
quarantines, but if you find a good out-of-state source, check with your extension service
or agriculture office for the correct procedures for importation.
GRAPE VARIETIES BY AVERAGE DAILY TEMPERATURE
60°F to 85°F (15°C to 30°C)
The grapes that can be grown in climates that are in
the midrange of temperatures are those you've probably heard about in the premium wine
trade, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Pinot Noir, to name a few.
85°F to 95°F (30°C to 35°C)
In these upper temperature ranges, you will need heat-
loving varieties such as Syrah, Colombard, Ruby Cabernet, and Grenache.
50°F to 60°F (10°C to 15°C)
These are challenging temperatures, but it's not impos-
sible to grow good grapes varieties such as Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Pinot Noir.
Matching the Grape to your Climate
Many places throughout the world that have not been historically noted for grape grow-
ing have discovered that there are grapes that can grow successfully if the meso-climate is
identified, the vineyard is ideally located and constructed, and the proper grape variety is
selected.
A key thing to know about varieties is the number of frost-free days they need to ripen;
that is, the period between bud burst and harvest. Some varieties need as few as 110 to 140
growing days to ripen. Most vinifera grapes need between 150 and 200 days. If you live in
an area with short summers, you must choose varieties that will have time to ripen before
temperatures start to drop in fall. Keep in mind that even if you have potentially enough
frost-free days, if your vineyard is typically subject to heavy rainfall toward the end of the
growing season, you should choose varieties that can ripen before their onset.
