Quality Wine Grapes in Quality Wine Grapes in the San Joaquin Valleythe San Joaquin Valley

Quality Wine Grapes in the San Quality Wine Grapes in the San Joaquin ValleyJoaquin Valley

Why?Why?– HistoryHistory

– A Global Market PlaceA Global Market Place– Global Warming/Our Changing ClimateGlobal Warming/Our Changing Climate

– The Challenges of Warm Climate ViticultureThe Challenges of Warm Climate Viticulture

Quality Wine Grapes in the San Quality Wine Grapes in the San Joaquin ValleyJoaquin Valley

WHY??WHY?? The world is flat and we are in a The world is flat and we are in a

constant battle for shelf space!constant battle for shelf space! Consumers are demanding more Consumers are demanding more

value for their dollar!value for their dollar! ““Quality and the perception of value Quality and the perception of value

continue to be the key to survival, continue to be the key to survival, today, and success, tomorrow.” today, and success, tomorrow.”

Tony Correia- November 2007Tony Correia- November 2007

What is QualityWhat is Quality

Definitiions: Definitiions:

"Reducing the variation around the target"

An inherent or distinguishing characteristic

peculiar and essential character

degree of excellence

Synonyms: property, character, attribute

fit for purpose

Quality Wine Grapes in the San Quality Wine Grapes in the San Joaquin Valley Joaquin Valley

Definition of Warm Climate:Definition of Warm Climate:

>1650 GDD (>1650 GDD (ooC) (~3000 C) (~3000 ooF) (Region F) (Region III and above)III and above)

~1.1F

Something to keep in mindSomething to keep in mind

Over 60% of grapes and wines of the Over 60% of grapes and wines of the world are produced in warm climate world are produced in warm climate

regions.regions.

The evidence suggests that these The evidence suggests that these regions will be shifting in the future.regions will be shifting in the future.

Things to keep in mindThings to keep in mind

““Some of the warmest regions around the Some of the warmest regions around the world are making some of the hottest world are making some of the hottest wineswines….….praised by critics and pursued by praised by critics and pursued by consumersconsumers” (Tim Patterson: Wines and ” (Tim Patterson: Wines and Vines) Vines)

We need to apply existing knowledge to We need to apply existing knowledge to the production of the selected cultivars to the production of the selected cultivars to achieve the desired achieve the desired (contracted)(contracted) yield and yield and quality criteria.quality criteria.

Warm Climate Viticulture: ChoicesWarm Climate Viticulture: Choices

Target MarketTarget MarketDestination (taste preferences)Destination (taste preferences)Price pointPrice point

What will the demand be in the What will the demand be in the future?future?

Cultivar selection?Cultivar selection? Management Management

Cultivars for the San Joaquin Cultivars for the San Joaquin Valley?Valley?

Currently only 2% of the known Currently only 2% of the known cultivars are being used cultivars are being used commercially (Approximately commercially (Approximately 260/14,000 cultivars)260/14,000 cultivars)

I don’t think there is a single cultivar I don’t think there is a single cultivar

that we can that we can notnot grow in the San grow in the San Joaquin Valley. However, I think we Joaquin Valley. However, I think we can grow some better than others.can grow some better than others.

Some Potential ChoicesSome Potential Choices

TannatTannat TourigaTouriga TeroldegoTeroldego MarzeminaMarzemina Tinta BarrocaTinta Barroca TrincadeiraTrincadeira CarmenereCarmenere

Nero d’AvolaNero d’Avola RefoscoRefosco AlbarinoAlbarino PinotagePinotage SouzaoSouzao NegroamaroNegroamaro DolcettoDolcetto

UCCE experiments (Jim Wolpert, Paul Verdegaal) Grower trials

Management ?Management ? RootstocksRootstocks

– Perhaps those that delay harvest (420A?, 41B)Perhaps those that delay harvest (420A?, 41B)– Those that are more efficient water users Those that are more efficient water users

(1103P, 110R)(1103P, 110R) Cultural practices (really need to know Cultural practices (really need to know

what the yield and quality goals need to what the yield and quality goals need to be)!be)!

TrellisingTrellising NutritionNutrition IrrigationIrrigation Canopy managementCanopy management Crop load managementCrop load management Vineyard floor managementVineyard floor management

Cultivars for the San Joaquin Cultivars for the San Joaquin Valley?Valley?

The question is: Which cultivars should we grow The question is: Which cultivars should we grow in the San Joaquin Valley?in the San Joaquin Valley?– Changes are occurring or being contemplated in other Changes are occurring or being contemplated in other

regions of the world.regions of the world.– To answer this question we need to first answer several To answer this question we need to first answer several

others first. others first. What is the market?What is the market?

– What quality characteristics are required?What quality characteristics are required?– Can we balance the supply-demand-price equation?Can we balance the supply-demand-price equation?

As growers we need a well defined objective and As growers we need a well defined objective and a contract that is economically sustainable. a contract that is economically sustainable.

The good news is: If we know in advance what the quality criteria are, I believe we can deliver the

quality requested!