CALDWELL, Idaho — Precept winemaker Maurine Johnson, who has been part of the Idaho wine industry since arriving at Ste. Chapelle Winery in 1987, is not too worried about the extended cold blast in the Snake River Valley last month. Single-digit temperatures were recorded during a two-week stretch in Idaho's key growing area for wine grapes. However, a variety of factors … [Read more...] about Precept reports no sign of winter damage in Idaho vineyards
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Comparing California, Washington wine
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - On Friday, the USDA released California's preliminary 2012 wine grape harvest numbers, and they reveal a lot of interesting information, especially when compared with Washington wine. Overall, California crushed more than 4 million tons of wine grapes, easily outdistancing 2005's record crop of 3.75 million tons. The No. 1 grape was, of course, … [Read more...] about Comparing California, Washington wine
Elkton Oregon AVA is state’s 17th appellation
ELKTON, Ore. - The federal government has approved Oregon's 17th American Viticultural Area - and the sixth in Southern Oregon. The Elkton Oregon AVA is the coolest and wettest area in Southern Oregon, said Greg Jones, a climatologist and wine grape expert at Southern Oregon University in Ashland. Jones conducted most of the research and wrote the petition for the Elkton … [Read more...] about Elkton Oregon AVA is state’s 17th appellation
Mild winter pleases Washington wine grape growers
KENNEWICK, Wash. - So far, so good. That's what Washington wine grape growers are saying after a mild winter in Washington's Columbia Valley. "So far, it looks really great," said Kent Waliser, who managers Sagemoor Farms north of Pasco and on the Wahluke Slope. "It's not too cold and not too hot. We're happy at this point, and we don't foresee any unusually warm weather, … [Read more...] about Mild winter pleases Washington wine grape growers
Long, hard freeze worries Idaho wine industry
Grape growers and winemakers in the Snake River Valley enjoyed a record vintage in 2012, but a string of days with single-digit temperatures in January has the Idaho wine industry worried about bud damage in 2013. "We had temps down to minus 3 at our place for a week, so I am concerned," Ron Bitner of Bitner Vineyards in Caldwell said via email. "I am going to do bud samples … [Read more...] about Long, hard freeze worries Idaho wine industry