Todd ChapmanVineyard Manager CCV

Field Grafting and First Year Management

Ecomomics Disease and Virus status Site suitability Trellis design and vine densityMicroclimate

Grafting CriteriaBefore grafting you should be able to answer these questions:

TEST, TEST, TEST!!!

Know the virus status of your block (Prior to grafting

Symptoms in white varietals can be tricky

Pre-grafting preperation

Virus assessment of existing blockClean source of scion wood Secure grafting labor Vineyard preparation

Paterson grafting project

Approximately 300 acres over three years.

Grafting Riesling over to Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Gruner Veltliner.

Rootstock planted 1979-1981 on center pivot.

10 X 6 foot spacing, 48” cordon wire. Drip irrigated.

Hydraulic shear vine removal

$74.31 Cost/Acre

Vine Removal

$200.89 Cost/Acre

Scion cuttings-18” (6 bud) cuttings cut down to 2-3 bud cuttings

Grafting supplies $1,054 Cost/Acre

Rootstock face cuts on both sides for scion wood

Scion wood is sharpened to two sided flat point with single cut up through end

Scion cuttings are inserted into cuts on rootstock, lining up cambium layer.

Grafting Labor $1,601 Cost/Acre

Cuttings are taped to secure graft union on rootstock.

Scion wood and entire graft is painted over to seal union.

About one month post graft.

Suckering Passes=3 to 4 @

Two months post graft.

Two years post graft.

First Year Management

Monitoring and relieving vine pressure.Managing suckers. Irrigating new growthCover crops (areas that rely on rainfall)

Grafting Management Challenges

Timing of viticultural practices Spray applications (herbicide and fungicide) Shoot thinning and pruning 2nd year graftsOver cropping