Planning Ahead for Wine Grape Industry

Planning Ahead for Wine Grape Industry

Planning Ahead for Wine Grape Industry. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report.

The Washington wine industry is more than likely going to see another record year this year with the wine grape crop, but it is planned growth according to Vicky Scharlau with the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers. She says they take subject that into consideration when planning their annual meeting.

SCHARLAU: The focus in Washington State has always been about quality and making sure that our consuming public as well as distributors and retailers and wine connoisseurs around the world focus on that upper end of wine. So even when we develop our educational sessions we really focus on pushing that higher end envelope.

She talks about some of this years annual meeting sessions.

SCHARLAU: Everything from managing alcohol in wines to integrated pest management at a higher level. We're also going to be getting into managing some of our lesser known varieties; Petite Verdot, Grenache, Malbec, Barbera. Some of those that we are - not experimental but I think we're figuring out where the best location for them to grow is and also how best to utilize them in the bottle given the kind of grapes that we pull off of our vineyards here.

Another interesting topic will be on what vessels to use for maceration.

SCHARLAU: What's best? Stainless steel, concrete, bins, oak so we'll have a discussion about that. We also have a session talking about new processing technologies. Whether or not you're a large or a small winery or production facility.

That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.

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