Grape Extension And Research Programs From OSU South .

Grape Extension and Research Programs from OSU South Centersfor Sustainable Wine Grape Production in Southern OhioAnnual Report FY17 (July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017)Submitted byDr. Gary Gao, Associate Professor and Small Fruit SpecialistRyan Slaughter, Research AssistantOSU South CentersCollaboratorsViticulture Collaborator, Mr. David Scurlock, Viticulture Outreach, SpecialistEnology Collaborator, Mr. Todd Steiner, Enology Program Manager andOutreach SpecialistEntomology Collaborator: Dr. Celeste Welty, OSU EntomologistWine grape cultivar trial, identification and evaluation of the best vineyardmanagement techniques and comprehensive grower outreach are some ofpriorities identified though OGIC’s strategic planning process. OSU SouthCenters is uniquely positioned to provide applied research, onsite demonstration,and comprehensive grower training through its demonstration vineyard, worldclass training facilities and a state-of-art digital diagnostic lab. Our demonstrationvineyard has been the main focal point of our outreach efforts, such as OhioBerry Production workshop, Ohio Superberry and Wine grape field night, Grapeand Wine Analysis Workshop and research vineyard tours. Wine grape varieties,pruning demo, spray equipment, hilling machine, and bird netting applicator aresome of the common uses of our outdoor teaching lab. Dr. Gary Gao has alsotaken our research findings directly to both new and existing grape growers insouthern Ohio and beyond.We continue to build on the progress we have made during the last eight years.Some of the grapevines in our research and demonstration vineyard have1

reached its full maturity. We have also replaced a few varieties. Moreexperimental varieties were planted for evaluation and demonstration. We willcontinue to provide educational programs, field days/nights, and vineyard tours atOSU South Centers. Dr. Gary Gao will still serve as the key contact person forgrape related resources in southern Ohio and beyond due to Dave Scurlock’sretirement at the end of April in 2017.Outreach, Research and Committee 0/25/201611/2/201612/15/2016DateClient/Organiza PurposetionOGIC and OSU Ohio Super Berry andWine Grape Field NightOGIC and OSU SARE Administrators’Vineyard TourOGIC and OSU OSU Fiscal Officers’Vineyard TourOGIC/OSUOARDC Vineyard TourOGIC/OSUCFAES Interim Dean’sVineyard TourOSU/OGICOGIC MeetingOGIC/OSU25th Year Celebration andVineyard TourOGIC/OSUFarm Science ReviewLocationClient/Organiza PurposetionOGIC and OSU Grower visits at ValleyVineyards and WineryOGIC and OSU Vineyard Research TourOGIC and OSU OGIC MeetingOGIC/OSUGrape and Wine AnalysisWorkshopLocationClient/Organiza Purposetion2Piketon, OHPiketon, OHPiketon, OHPiketon, OHPiketon, OHReynoldsburg, OHPiketon, OHLondon, OHMorrow, OHPiketon, OHReynoldsburg, OHPiketon, OHLocation

2/2/20172/6&7/2017OGIC and OSUOGIC and OSU2/20-21/2017 OGIC and OSU2/25/2017OGIC/OSU2/27-28/2017 OGIC/OSUFruit pigment researchFruit grower visits andpresentationsOhio Grape and WineConferenceGrape GrowingPresentation at theDispatch Home andGarden ShowGrape grower visits andpresentationsFruit PresentationRussell Klein NutritionSymposiumVineyard tourGrower visits andpresentationCane Fruit and WineGrape PruningWorkshopFruit Growing WebinarFruit grower visitsColumbus, OHLoveland andMorrow, OHDublin, OHColumbus, OHAvon Lake andMansfield, OHDelaware, OHColumbus, 4/26/20175/2&4/2017Client/OrganizationOGIC and OSUOGIC and OSUOGIC and OSUOGIC/OSUNew grower visitVineyard visitOGIC MeetingGrape Team 5/25/20176/7&8/2017OGIC/OSUOGIC/OSUOGIC/OSUNew grower visitFruit Productionpresentation andvineyard visitOGIC MeetingVineyard toursGrower visits andpresentationColumbus, OHAvon Lake, OHReynoldsburg, OHWooster/Columbus,OHEdgerton, OHPleasant Plain, OHOGIC/OSU3Piketon, OHWooster, OHPiketon, OHColumbus, OHCircleville, OHReynoldsburg, OHPiketon, OHGeneva on the lakeand Avon Lake, OH

OSU South Centers’ Wine Grape VineyardOur newly planted Aromella, Frontenac, Frontenac Blanc, Frontenac Gris,Marquette, and Traminette look very good this year. Japanese beetles were amajor pest in 2016 while diseases were kept in check with our fungicide program.We had a moderate harvest of Chambourcin, Noriet, Traminette, and Vidal. Weshipped some of our grapes to a local winemaker for winemaking and qualityassessment.The construction process of our new vineyard under high tunnel was processingwell. Two cultivars of red wine grape cultivars, Cab Franc and Regent, wereplanted in 2016. The vines look quite good so far. Trellis and wire were installedin September, 2016. Our research crew added bows and anchors to the hightunnel. Plastic film was installed in November and December, 2016. High tunnelwine grape production, though expensive, can be a good way to produce grapesfor estate wine production.4

Wayne Lewis and Ryan Slaughter installed the plastic film on our high tunnelover the new wine grape vineyard in November and December, 2016. Photo byGary Gao, OSU South Centers.This winter has been quite mild. The grapevines seemed to have receivedenough chilling hours even though there were many warm days from January toMarch. Wayne Lewis and Ryan Slaughter had to open up and close our grapehigh tunnel numerous times to keep grapevines from getting too much heat.Grapevines look good so far.Grapevines under high tunnels look very good from April to June. Both endswere left open from April to June. A strong windstorm ripped the plastic film fromone of the bays. Wayne Lewis and Ryan Slaughter were able to repair it. Strongwinds are a constant issue for high tunnel production. A much stronger hightunnel (four-season) may be needed so that we would not have to deal with winddamages on a regular basis. The high tunnel that we have at Piketon is a 3season one. It may help us in the short term to test the feasibility of high tunnelgrape production for premium estate wine production. ‘The construction process of our new vineyard under high tunnel was processingwell. Two cultivars of red wine grape cultivars, Cab Franc and Regent, wereplanted in 2016. The vines look quite good so far. Trellis and wire were installedin September, 2016. Our research crew continues to add bows and anchors to5

the high tunnel. Plastic film should be installed in November, 2016. High tunnelwine grape production, though expensive, can be a good way to produce grapesfor estate wine production.Wayne Lewis and Ryan Slaughter install the wire on the trellis of our newvineyard under high tunnel. Photo by Gary Gao, OSU South Centers.Shown here is our new grape high tunnel. Photo was taken by Gary Gao, OSUSouth Centers.6

Shown here is our research and demonstration vineyard at OSU South Centersin Piketon. Photo was taken by Gary Gao on May 12, 2017.Shown here is our research and demonstration vineyard at OSU South Centersin Piketon. Photo was taken by Gary Gao on May 12, 2017.7

Our grapevines have done well so far. Ryan Slaughter and Wayne Lewis put ina lot of work in our vineyards. Diseases seem to be under control. Japanesebeetles caused some damage even after several insecticide applications. Therewas a lot of rain. Weed control was a big issue. We were lucky that we did notget the devastating spring freezes that quite a few other growers got in otherparts of southern Ohio.Ohio Super Berry and Winegrape Field NightGary Gao, Ryan Slaughter and Dave Scurlock hosted an “Ohio Super Berry &Winegrape Field Night” at the OSU South Centers in Piketon on July 7, 2016.There were 25 grower attendees from around the state. Topics included varietyselection, summer vineyard management practices, and bird net trellisconstruction.8

Dave Scurlock demonstrated summer vineyard management practices to theattendees of Ohio Super Berry and Wine Grape Field Night at OSU SouthCenters in Piketon. Photos by Gary Gao, OSU South Centers.25th Anniversary Celebration of OSU South CentersWe hosted the 25th Anniversary Celebration of OSU South Centers in Piketon onSeptember 15, 2016. Many public officials and agency representatives offeredtheir warm wishes in person. It was great to have our Christy Eckstein there asone of the VIPs. As a result, wine grape industry turned into hot topic that day.Our wine grape research and extension programs received a lot of attention.Christy Eckstein gave an update about OGIC and ODA. Photo by Gary Gao.We also offered wagon tours of our research plots in the evening. About 150attendees toured our research and demonstration vineyard.9

Grape and Wine Analysis WorkshopGary Gao, Ryan Slaughter, Dave Scurlock, Todd Steiner, and Patrick Pierquethosted a “Grape and Wine Analysis Workshop” at the OSU South Centers inPiketon on December 15, 2016. There were 21 attendees from around the state.Program AgendaCommercial Grape and Wine Workshop – A Practical ApproachThursday, December 15, 20169:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.9:00 a.m.Registration and Refreshments9:30 a.m.Introduction and WelcomeDr. Gary Gao, Dr. Gary Gao, Extension Specialist and AssociateProfessor, OSU South Centers9:35 a.m.2016 Growing Season in ReviewDave Scurlock, Outreach Specialist, Department of Horticulture and CropScience, OARDC, OSU10:10 a.m. Grapevine Winter Protection TechniquesDr. Gary Gao, Extension Specialist and Associate Professor, OSU SouthCenters10:50 a.m. Tour of the Research and Demonstration Vineyards (Cultivars andHigh Tunnel)Ryan Slaughter, Research Assistant and Wayne Lewis, Farm Manager,OSU South Centers11:30 a.m. Enology Season in Review - Todd Steiner, Enology ProgramManager, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, OARDC, OSU12:00 p.m. Lunch (included in the registration fee)1:00 p.m.Sensory Evaluation of New and Traditional Wines - Todd Steiner2:00 p.m.Rosé and Cryo-extraction production from Traditional andAlternative VarietiesPatrick Pierquet, Enology Lab Manager, Department of Horticulture andCrop Science, OARDC, OSU3:00 p.m.Grape and Wine Analytical Tools, Techniques and ReferencesGary Gao, Dave Scurlock, Patrick Pierquet, and Todd Steiner3:30 p.m.AdjournWe extend our sincere appreciation to the Ohio Grape Industries Programfor its financial support.http://tasteohiowines.comThanks a lot for your attendance and have a safe drive home!10

Cane Fruit and Wine Grape Pruning WorkshopGary Gao, Ryan Slaughter, and Dave Scurlock hosted a “Cane Fruit and WineGrape Pruning Workshop” at the OSU South Centers in Piketon on March 16,2017. There were 22 attendees from around the state. Dave Scurlock gave afield demonstration of grapevine pruning.A Mini Celebration of Dave Scurlock’s Upcoming RetirementDave Scurlock announcement his retirement from OSU and his last day at OSUwill be April 28. In honor of his highly distinguished at OSU, we held a minicelebration at our Cane Fruit and Wine Grape Pruning Workshop on March 16. Itis hard to imagine what Ohio grape industry will be like without Dave. Dave hasbeen a wonderful colleague, a friend, and more importantly “a brother fromanother mother,” as Dave always calls him when he talks about him and me.Dave, you will be missed!!!11

Shown here are Dr. Tom Worley, Dave Scurlock and Dr. Gary Gao. Photo byGarg Gao, OSU South Centers.AcknowledgementsWe thank Ms. Christy Eckstein, Executive director of the Ohio Grape IndustryProgram and the Ohio Grape Industries Committee for the support of our winegrape research projects and Extension programs at OSU South Centers. Ourappreciation also goes to Dr. Tom Worley, Marsha Amlin, Joe Bauman, JenniferDunn, Charissa Gardner, Wayne Lewis, Beth Rigsby, Duane Rigsby, DaveScurlock, Ryan Slaughter, and Sarah Strausbaugh for their support throughoutthe year.12

Professor, OSU South Centers 9:35 a.m. 2016 Growing Season in Review Dave Scurlock, Outreach Specialist, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, OARDC, OSU 10:10 a.m. Grapevine Winter Protection Techniques Dr. Gary Gao, Extension Specialist and Associate Professor, OSU South Centers