Top 10 Mediterranean Winegrape Cultivars To Consider

for Foothills Vineyards

Glenn McGourty, Viticulture and Plant Science Advisor, UCCE Mendocino and Lake Counties

The International Varietiesn Cabernet Sauvignonn Merlotn Sauvignon Blancn Pinot Noirn Chardonnay

Why InternationalVarieties?n Long modern history of

export production n Perceived qualityn Tradition

European Viticulturen Climate is more continental—more rain,

overall cooler in many areas compared to California

n Grapes are grown from 38-50th parallel

n Vintage years happen when grapes become fully ripe

California Has A Mediterranean Climaten Most wine growing occurs between

Latitude 33-38 degrees (vs. 41-50 degrees)n Climate is characterized by warm dry

summers and cool (but not freezing) winters

n One percent of the earth’s surfacen One of six areas on the planet

Why Consider Planting Something Different?n Niche Marketn Vines adapted to your climaten Wine Stylesn Direct Sales

Market Realitiesn Wine drinkers are more adventurous than

wine distributors!n Many wine writers don’t understand lesser

known varietiesn It is hard to sell wines with names that

consumers can’t pronounce (Viognier, Montepulciano, Cieliegolo, etc.)

Other Considerations forNovel Varieties n Not everyone likes what you liken New wines require a hand selln You are pretty much on your own for

information on how to grow things! (Could require extended trips to where the winegrape originated from)

The Mendocino and Lake County Mediterranean Winegrape Cultivar Trialsn UC Hopland Research and Extension

Center, 1994-2004 (19 cultivars)n Roumiguire Red Hills Trial, 1994-2000 (12

cultivars)n Roumiguire Highland Springs Trial, 1994-

2000 (12 cultivars)n McDowell Valley Vineyards Syrah Clonal

Trial, 1998-present (5 clones)

White Varieties Evaluatedn Arneisn Cortesen Fianon Marsannen Pinot gris n Roussannen Viognier

Red Varieties Evaluatedn Aglianicon Alicante Bouchetn Canaiolon Cinsautn Corvinan Dolcetton Freisa

n Grenachen Montepulcianon Mourvedren Nebbiolon Sangiovesen Syrahn Tempranillo

Ripening Order, WhitesVariety Approximate MonthPinot gris Late August, Early Sept.Viognier Mid-late SeptemberArneis Mid-late September Fiano Late Sept.-Early OctoberMarsanne Mid-late OctoberCortese Late October

Ripening Order, RedsVariety Approximate MonthLemberger Late August, Early Sept.Pinotage Mid-late SeptemberDolcetto Late Sept.-Early OctoberSyrah Early-mid October Tempranillo Early-mid OctoberGrenache Mid-late October

Sangiovese Mid-late OctoberFreisa Mid-late October

Ripening Order, RedsVariety Approximate MonthBarbera Mid-late OctoberCorvina Mid-late OctoberTouriga nacional Late OctoberCinsaut Late October Souzao Late OctoberCanaiolo Late October Nebbiolo Late October Montepulciano Early November Mourvedre Early November Aglianico Early November

Med II Trial :Cultivars Being Tested:AlbarinoCiliegioloCounoiseGracianoGreco di TufoNegro AmaroPeriquita

SagrantinoTannatTeroldegoTinta AmarellaTinta FranciscaTocai FriulanoTouriga NacionalVermintino

The Mediterranean Region

Diversity and Warm Growing Conditions

Production of Winegrapes in Southern Europe

Country AcresGreece 330,000

Italy 2,305,000

Spain 3,060,000

Portugal 647,500

Cultivars from Northern Italyn Barbera n Dolcetton Arneis

Italy: Land of Diversity!

Piemonte *

Arneis

Arneis Characteristicsn Early bud break (like Chardonnay)n Early ripening (mid-September), around 2900

degree hoursn Sprawling growth, vigorousn Small clustersn Cane prunedn Low-moderate yield potential n Moderate-low acid, good aromatics

Barbera

Barbera Characteristicsn Mid-season bud breakn Mid-season ripening, around 3050 hoursn Medium-sized clusters n Vigorousn Good yield potential n Spur prunedn Good acidity and color

Dolcetto

Dolcetto Characteristicsn Mid season bud break n Mid-season ripening (early October),

around 3000 degree hoursn Compact growth n Medium-large clustersn Moderate yield potential n Good color and tannins

*Abruzzo

Varieties from Central Italy: Montepulciano

Montepulciano Characteristicsn Late season bud break n Late season ripening (early November), around

3200 degree hoursn Moderate growth n Medium-large clustersn High yield potential n Spur pruningn Good color and soft tannins

Abruzzo Region, Italy

Montepulciano vines on a tendone trellis, Abruzzo

Beneath the tendone

* Campagnia

Fiano

Fiano Characteristicsn Mid season bud break n Mid-season ripening (early October),

around 3000 degree hoursn Vigorous growth n Small clustersn Low- Moderate yield potential n Good acidity

Fiano Vineyard

Aglianico

Aglianico Characteristicsn Late season bud break n Very late season ripening (early November),

around 3200 degree hoursn Compact growth n Small-medium-large clustersn Low-moderate yield potential n Spur pruningn Good color and tannins

Traditional Aglianico Trellis, Campagnia

Southern France

Varieties from Southern France

n Syrahn Grenache n Viognier

Chateauneuf du Pape

Syrah

Hermitage – Rhone region

Syrah Characteristicsn Late season bud break n Late season ripening (mid-October), around

3100 degree hoursn Moderate-vigorous growth n Small-medium-large clustersn Moderate to high yield potential n Spur pruningn Excellent color and tannins

Syrah Clonal Trial

McDowell Valley VineyardsHopland, California

McDowell Valley Vineyards Syrah Clonal Trialn 6 Clonesn RCB ANOVA Designn 5 vines per rep, 8 reps, 40 vines totaln 9 foot wide rows, 6 feet apart in rown Planted spring, 2000 as green growersn Rootstock: 101-14n VSP Trellis Systemn Drip Irrigated

CTPS (ENTAV) Clonesn Selected primarily to ensure ripening under

French conditionsn Selected initially for plant health, but may not be

completely virus freen Smaller clusters and berries than UC Shiraz

clones (which are pre-phylloxera Syrah clones from Australia)

n Ripen earlier in France than older selections

Syrah Harvestn Vine yield, cluster number, average cluster

weight, berry sizen Fruit Chemistry: pH, TA, % Brixn Harvested October 5, 2007

Syrah Clones Evaluated:n CTPS 100n CTPS 174n CTPS 308n CTPS 383n CTPS 474n CTPS 877

McDowell Valley Vineyards Syrah Clonal Trial2004 - 2007

Average Vine Yield (Kg)

2.06

4.18

3.76

4.86

0

2

4

6

2004 2005 2006 2007

Year

Yie

ld (K

g)

McDo well Valley Vineyards Syrah Clo nal Trial2004 - 2007

Ave rage Clus te r We ight ( g)

141.95

150.13

82.70

144.67

60

85

110

135

160

2004 2005 2006 2007

Ye ar

Clu

ster

Wt.

(g)

McDowell Syrah Clonal Trial 2007 Average Yield per Vine (5 kg= 4.5 t/a)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Syrah 100 Syrah 174 Syrah 877 Syrah 383 Syrah 308 Syrah 470

Kilo

gram

s

Summary of McDowell Syrah Clonal Trialn Vines are maturing, but still youngn Clones were chosen for early ripening, and

these selections are certainly meeting that objective

n High pH fruit may be a problem some years, but trial is young, fruit was very ripe. This seems to be consistent in this trial.

Grenache

Grenache

Grenache Characteristicsn Early season bud break n Mid- late season ripening (mid-October),

around 3100 degree hoursn Moderate-vigorous growth n Small-medium-large clustersn Moderate to high yield potential n Spur pruningn Good color and tannins

Viognier

Grapes – North Rhone

Viognier Characteristicsn Early bud break (like Chardonnay)n Early ripening (mid-September), around 2900

degree hoursn Sprawling growth, vigorousn Small clustersn Cane or prunedn Low-moderate yield potential n Moderate-low acid, very aromaticn Likes and needs heat—pick ripe

Spain, the World’s Biggest Vineyard

Tempranillo

Tempranillo Characteristicsn Mid season bud break n Mid season ripening (mid-October), around

3100 degree hoursn Moderate-vigorous growth n Small-medium clustersn Moderate yield potential n Spur pruningn Good color and tanninsn Great taste in warm climates

Thanks for your attention!