Introduction: Mike Traynor
    
    •    Background
    •    Got involved in wine when got a job at the Wine Rack
    •    Moved to Ottawa, and took the beginnings of Sommelier program
    •    Was thinking would be happiest in the production end of wine,          so I moved to Belleville to take wine technology program at           Loyalist.
    •    Involvement with Willow Springs:
    •    About a week into first semester, got a little restless and           put a message on growwine that I was looking for some work in          a vineyard, and Mauro replied, saying he was looking for              someone in Stouffville if I was willing to travel a bit, so I          said I’d give it a shot.
    •    I was really only supposed to be around for a few weeks in            the fall, to help out with the harvest, and they kept getting          more faith in me so they kept giving me more                   responsibilities.
    •    About mid December, they were having some problems with the
         former winemaker, and asked me to fill the position. I said I          wasn’t sure I was qualified, but would give it a shot.
    •    And here I am.
         
         Willow Springs: The Beginnings

    •    Willow Springs started out as a hobby, Mauro asked Mario if           he wanted to plant some grapes, so Mario asked his dad if he          could use some of his land.
    •    The First planting was Vidal and Lucy Kuhlman, the Vidal              never really ripened properly so they built a winery on top           of them
    •    They decided that they wanted a winery, so Mario bought the           land from his dad, and they purchased some land on the bench          in Vineland, that Mauro now own’s.

         Vineyard

    •    We currently have just under 10 acres planted in Stouffville
    •    Varities planted in order of age (oldest to youngest):
    •    Lucy Kuhlman (6 years)
    •    Gm-3 18 (6 years, and 1St year)
    •    Baco (5 years, and 4 years)
    •    Seyval (5 years)
    •    Gamay (4 years)
    •    Chardonnay (2fld year)
    •    This summer we ripped out an acre of Ortega, three rows of
         Kerner, and two acres of apples, to be replanted with more
         Lucy K, Gm-318, and Seyval
    •    Winery
    •    The winery was built last year, and the store opened April            1st
    •    First grape winery to open outside a DVA under the rules
         governing the production of wine (50/50)
    •    Total production this year will be just under 2,000 cases
         
         Tasting of Gm-318

         Growing Grapes in the Cold
         
    •    Considerations of growing grape in cold climate in regards to          varietal selection:
    •    Saleability
         •    Can you sell the resultant wine/grape
    •    Workability
         •    Canopy Management
         •    Harvesting considerations
         •    Productivity (especially under todays regulation)
         •    Hardiness
         
              Ie. Seyval vs. Baco
         
         Knowing When to Say That’s It:
         
         •    Harvesting
         •    The grapes are not always going to be perfect, and you                can't afford to wait
         •    Need to realize that next year is always more important
         •    Knowing that there is going to be enormous vintage
              variation
         •    Pulling and replanting varieties
              •    Unproductive vines
              •    Unsalable wines
              •    Too costly to maintain
              

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