by Lodi Growers | Jun 3, 2019 | Blog
JUNE 3, 2019. BY STAN GRANT. The climate of most of California is well suited to grape growing, with consistent warm, dry weather and ample sunlight hours during most of the growing season. In addition, many California soils have the capacity to capture, store, and...
by Lodi Growers | Oct 8, 2018 | Blog
OCTOBER 8, 2018. BY STAN GRANT. Beginning in the late 1980’s, Merlot became a major fixture in the California wine grape industry largely because it lends itself to smooth, fruity, darkly colored, and approachable red wines. Merlot is truly an international...
by Lodi Growers | Jun 6, 2017 | Blog, Vineyards
Hedging is a summer pruning method involving the removal the distal or apical ends of shoots. In some parts of the world hedging is called topping or tipping. Like all pruning methods, hedging depresses vine growth vigor and capacity. It does so by reducing the...
by Lodi Growers | Aug 29, 2016 | Blog, Grapes, Vineyards
Zinfandel is California’s winegrape variety and for over a century, Zinfandel has been at the heart of the Lodi, Sierra Foothill, and eastern Contra Costa County wine industries. Over the years, this versatile variety has lent itself to various grape and wine products...
by Lodi Growers | May 20, 2016 | Blog, Grapes, Vineyards
MONDAY, MAY 20, 2016. BY STAN GRANT, VITICULTURIST. Fruit set is the process in which flowers become fruit and potential fruit size is determined. It occurs after pollen is released from male flower parts (anthers), lands on receptive female flower parts (stigmas),...
by Lodi Growers | Jul 21, 2015 | Blog, Uncategorized
Many species of microorganisms may infect grape berries, including fungi and bacteria. Several species of these fungi, including Botrytis cinerea, Aspergillus niger, A. carbonarius, Cladosporium cladosporioides, C. herbarum, Penicillium spp., Rhizopus arrizhus, and...
by Lodi Growers | Jun 23, 2015 | Uncategorized
Erratic budbreak and variable shoot emergence was more common this year than most. At one point in some vineyards, early emerging shoots had elongating clusters and 7 or 8 unfolded leaves while late emerging shoots appeared as tiny green leaf tips between bud scales....