- a light, fruity, easy-drinking red wine

- a heavy, intensely flavoured red wine for use with foods

- a light, aromatic sipping white wine

- a heavy but neutral white wine for use with foods

- an experiment in winter protection of Pinot Gris vines
near Peterborough using Arbotex fabric

To this end, we have planted two test plots of 100 vines each near Peterborough. One plot, known as Peregrine North Farm, is west of the City and is owned by COVA President Dr. Bryan Pell and Jacqui McCloy Pell. The other plot, to be known as Chateau Humphreys, is owned by Dr. Garry and Mrs. Eleanor Humphreys. It is just north of the City limits. The plots nearly mirror each other as to number and type of vines planted. The vine varieties selected are the best of those available that will withstand -30^o C, ripen in 1200 degree days Centigrade, and have high disease resistance. A third site north of Owen Sound near Georgian Bay was planted to largely the same quantities of the same varieties as a further test.

Of the 200 vines planted, 40 of each (20 each site) will be devoted to the production of each of the four intended wine styles. The remaining 40 vines will be other varieties that will be tested for winter-hardiness, disease resistance, ripening parameters and winemaking suitability. Implicit in this test is that some varieties requiring moderate winter protection may be necessary to create a commercially useful blended wine. We know of other, better varieties from Minnesota that are working their way slowly through the quarantine system into Canada.

The sites were prepared in November 2001, and reworked in early May 2002. All postholes, holes for planting vines, and postholes for a perimeter fence were dug in early June 2002. Posts were erected. A permeable heavy black plastic mulch was semi-permanently placed under the vines at the Humphreys site, with the edges buried. This was done for weed control, not heat accumulation - and will be removed and replaced if necessary. This will not apply to the Georgian Bay site or Peregrine North Farm.

We plan a permanent sod cover between the rows at the Humphreys site, mowing it to various heights to help control the vigour of the vines selected. This should allow the exclusion of heavy equipment from the plot once the fenceposts are erected. We forsee using nothing heavier than an ATV or a lawn tractor. The vines were planted in 2002, and despite a protracted drought achieved a good measure of healthy growth.

The Humphreys site will be worked in as "Organic" a fashion as possible. By using the mulch and permanent sod cover we hope to manage weed competition. We will seek advice about organic methods of pest control. By careful work in canopy management we hope to manage the minor disease pressures that these vines may experience. Resistance to weed competition, insects and disease was an important component of variety selection for these plots. Small plantings may be added if promising new varieties become available.

The intent here is to grow the vines as "Naturally" as possible. While we will certainly intervene when necessary, we intend to use the fewest chemicals and fertilizers that we can get away with. We will tolerate low levels of disease and pests, and plan on only moderate levels of crop. Nutrients will be added only where there is a proven need. Water was only put on those vines in most serious drought stress in the hot dry summer of 2002, and the plastic mulch was quite helpful in retaining water.

There is a good series of articles about "Organic Viticulture" posted on portions of the GrapeSeek website. There is much of use on the GrapeSeek site.

Northern Winework is a new book by Tom Plocher and Bob Parke that will make it entirely possible to grow vines in areas previously considered impossible. The book is available now... click on the cover for more information about the book. COVA members will be able to make a purchase at a discount based on a bulk purchase.

---

For further information about this project please contact Larry Paterson (1325 Royal Drive, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9H 6R6, Telephone: (705) 743-4153
or EMail the Little Fat Wino

Central Ontario Viniculture Association www.littlefatwino.com