2018/2019 Nova Scotia Wine Grape Bud Hardiness Report no. 9: February 18 – 20

A wine grape bud hardiness report is generated and distributed to the Grape Growers of Nova Scotia (GGANS) membership on a bi-weekly basis throughout the dormant season. The bi-weekly survey is performed on 3 vinifera cultivars (‘Chardonnay’, ‘Riesling’, ‘Pinot Noir’) and 2 hybrid cultivars (‘L’Acadie Blanc’, ‘Marquette’) and involves 10 grower collaborators for a total of 23 varietal blocks in total. Each report uses a table to show the latest low temperature exotherm (LTE) levels for the present and past weeks. The report also includes comments highlighting observations over the last reporting period, a plot showing the change in LTE values throughout the season, the historical 100 year minimum values and the present year’s minimum values. Three times throughout the season (early, middle, late) 11 “extra” varieties (‘Baco Noir’, ‘Chenin Blanc’, ‘Geisenheim’, ‘Leon Millot’, ‘Lucie Kuhlman’, ‘New York Muscat’, ‘Pinot Gris’, ‘Sauvignon Blanc’, ‘Seyval Blanc’, ‘Seyval Blanc’, ‘Vidal Blanc’, ‘Ortega’) from 22 additional varietal blocks are also reported.

Bud hardiness values are trending deeper by approximately 1 °C compared to the last survey 2 weeks ago. This is welcome news given the below seasonal temperatures we are forecast to receive over the next few days. The table below shows the varieties that are part of our biweekly survey as well as some additional varieties which we also sampled in December. We are hoping to sample these additional varieties once again in late March and are seeking un-pruned vines for sampling. I am currently looking for growers that would be willing to keep a single panel of vines, not pruned, until the end of March from one of the following varieties: ‘Baco Noir’, ‘Chenin Blanc’, ‘Geisenheim’,
‘Leon Millot’, ‘Lucie Kuhlman’, ‘New York Muscat’, ‘Pinot Gris’, ‘Sauvignon Blanc’, ‘Seyval Blanc’, ‘Vidal Blanc’ or ‘Ortega’. If you would like to participate in this one-time bud hardiness survey please contact me.