Fruit set & leaf pulling. Memorial day.

A healthy vineyard. The 2009 planting on the right, 2011 planting on the left. The 2011 vines are thriving, with no visible deer nibbling this year. Deer severely impacted the vineyard last year, but not at all now.

Integrated pest management is critical in cultivating outstanding wine grapes. I use fairly innocuous chemicals (copper, sulfur, phosphorous acid, and others), so the cultural practices are even more important. Leaf pulling on the east side allows the morning sun to dry the dew off the young grapes. Less moisture, less disease. Also, it is easier to catch disease earlier with direct visualization of the developing fruit. I just never would have foreseen that I would be pulling leaves as early as Memorial Day!

BB-sized petit manseng grapes.

Tiny petit verdot grapes.