Growing Grapes

Table of Contents:

1. Growing Wine Grapes in the Puget Sound AVA
By Steve Snyder, Hollywood Hill Vineyard

2. Cultivar and Rootstocks List 2011
By Tom Thornton, Cloud Mountain Farm

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Growing Wine Grapes in the Puget Sound AVA
By Steve Snyder
Owner/Grower/Winemaker
Hollywood Hill Vineyards

Many parts of the Puget Sound region are ideally situated for growing premium wine grapes. The Puget Sound basin is a maritime climate with wet, mild winters and dry summers. Temperatures are moderated by the ocean and the Puget Sound so the Puget Sound basin doesn’t have the extreme temperature swings you might find in other parts of the country. Also, the Puget Sound region is further north than most of the growing regions in Europe, giving us very long growing days during the summer helping us ripen our grapes successfully. Because of the abundant sunshine, relatively cool temperatures and dry summers, Puget Sound grapes attain a purity of varietal flavors found almost nowhere else in the world.

Climate

The Puget Sound AVA is a part of cool climate growing region that stretches from southern British Columbia to Eugene, Oregon. On average, SeaTac Airport has about 2050 Growing Degree Days (over the last 57 years) and 37" of rain annually. In the Puget Sound, this is good benchmark to start from since it seems to fall in between the warmer southern areas and the cooler northern ones and rainfall is also in the middle. There will be variations in your local microclimate that will dictate what you can grow. A good comparison in Europe to the Puget Sound might be the Loire valley, near Nantes (Muscadet), the Northern Rhine valley in Germany, Champagne or Chablis.

Rain

There is a general misconception that the Puget Sound is rainy and gray throughout the year. This is not true, since the Puget Sound receives less rain annually than many other well known grape growing regions, and we get less than most during the most important growing time of the year (April-October). Rainfall averages for the Puget Sound range anywhere from 16" in Sequim, to 66" in Concrete. Keep in mind that less rainfall doesn't always mean a better place to grow grapes. Generally, it's much cooler in the areas that have less rain than those that have more.

Sunshine

As mentioned above, the Puget Sound region is supposedly a gray, rainy climate, but it's not really at least not when we need to grow grapes. Let have a look at how Western Washington compares to other well known growing regions when it comes to sunshine. Seattle gets more sunshine during the growing season than many regions in France, including Burgundy and Bordeaux. All this sunshine, combined with the lack of rain during the growing season is probably the main reason why we can ripen some of the later ripening grapes mentioned below.

Grapes

Because of the great climate in the Puget Sound basin, we have an abundance of choices for high quality grapes to choose from. Many of the grapes are well known, but some are not widely planted. The most widely planted grapes in the Puget Sound region are Madeleine Angevine, Siegerrebe, Muller-Thurgau, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. There are smaller plantings of Melon, Chasselas, Regent and Chardonnay.

Research continues to uncover new earlier ripening grape varieties and new areas west of the Cascades to grow grapes. With time and more growers planting every year, we'll uncover the optimal grapes and locations to grow grapes in the Puget Sound AVA.

The WSU Mt. Vernon research station has many grape varieties on trial. You can see more information about those grape trials at this link: Mt. Vernon Research Station

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WASHINGTON STATE CERTIFIED

WHITE WINE CULTIVARS
Alvarinho (Albarinho) Possibly a Riesling clone. Produces a citrusy, fruity wine. Needs more than 1900 GDD to ripen. Very thick skin, makes this grape maybe one of the regions’ most disease resistant grapes. This grape will continue to ripen at temperatures above 52 degrees.
Chardonnay 69 (French 76) One of the most promising clones of Chardonnay for the Northwest, ripening well in our grape trials in warmer sites. Best with more than 1900 GDD.
Gruner Veltliner A white-wine grape used to create fresh, fruity wines. Widely grown in Austria. Has ripened well in our test vineyards, mid October. Thick skin that provides some disease resistence. Best in sites with more than 1900 GDD.
Melon 01 A cultivar also known as Melon de Bourgogne or Muscadet de Bourgogne. Makes a light, dry, fruity wine.
Meynieu 6 A Sauvignon Blanc hybrid used to make White Bordeaux styled dry white wine.
Mueller Thurgau Heavy producer ripening in mid-October. A vigorous vine producing medium compact clusters of distinctively spicy grapes.
Pinot Gris 01 Ripens late October. Pinkish gray berries have a rich fruity flavor and produce a clear golden dry wine of excellent quality. Adapts well to microclimates.
Sauvignon Blanc-Gist This Sauvignon Blanc clone ripens early enough to do well in the Northwest. Even in a cool, wet fall, the grapes reached 18 brix, which is what is being used to make outstanding Sauvignon wines in New Zealand. Clusters have been easy to keep clean from botrytis even in years like 2010. Flavor profiles have been a nice blend of grassy-mineral qualities in cool years and ripe fruit flavors in warm years. Maybe my top pick for a white for this area. The Gist clone may be the same clone as 01.
Siegerrebe Ripens in early September. Pink wine grape, good quality, low-acid maturity. Small bunches, makes excellent white wine. Moderately productive, medium vigor. Needs less than 1600 GDD to ripen.

RED WINE CULTIVARS
Meunier 01 (Pinot Meunier) A variant of Pinot Noir, early ripening and more disease resistant.
Pinot Noir 115 Clone of Pinot Noir grown for a long time in the maritime NW. Needs careful pruning and bunch thinning for quality. 1900 GDD. Also listed as Pinot Noir 73.
Pinot Noir 71(777) One of the most promising clone of Pinot Noir in our trials so far, ripening before the Wadenswill and Dijon clones.
Pinot Noir 72( 667) A full flavored, early ripening clone of Pinot Noir. A classic red wine grape with intensely flavored deep red berries. 72 may be slightly earlier than Pinot Noir 71 (French 777). Needs 1600-1900 GDD to ripen.
Pinot Noir 73(115) Clone of Pinot Noir grown for a long time in the maritime NW. Needs careful pruning and bunch thinning for quality. 1900 GDD. Also listed as Pinot Noir 115.
Pinot Noir 97(Swan) Another clone of Pinot Noir suitable for warmer sites in the Northwest. Needs 1900 GDD or more to ripen well.

ROOTSTOCKS
101-14 Millardet de De Grasset Moderately vigorous, prefers heavy soils, has moderate drought tolerance and relatively high tolerance for wet feet. Moderate to strong influence on early ripening.
Couderc 3309 Moderately vigorous, prefers deep, well drained soils, has low drought tolerance and relatively high tolerance for wet feet. Moderate influence on early ripening.
Riparia Gloire Prefers deep, fertile soils, with low drought tolerance and relatively high tolerance for wet feet. The lowest vigor rootstock, giving the most compact vine. Strong influence on early ripening.
Oppenheim 4 A moderate vigor rootstock preferring deep, fertile loam soils. Moderate influence on ripening.
Schwarzmann 01 Moderate vigor preferring deep fertile soils. Moderate drought tolerance.
Teleki 5C Moderate vigor preferring deep, fertile loam soils. Strong influence on early ripening.
Kober 5BB Moderate vigor, preferring fertile loam or clay soils, low tolerance of wet feet, some drought tolerance. Moderate influence on early ripening.

NON-CERTIFIED

WHITE WINE CULTIVARS
Aligote Early ripening white wine grape successful in warmer regions of the Northwest. Usually used to make a dry white wine.
Auxerrois Promising white variety, originating in the Alsace region of France. Has shown some disease resistence in our trials.
Burmunk A very early ripening white wine grape that originated in Armenia. This is the earliest ripening grape in our trials. It is a very aromatic grape with flavors of melon and peach. Less than 1600 GDD needed to ripen. Thin skin.
Chardonnay 69(French 76) One of the most promising clones of Chardonnay for the Northwest, ripening well in our grape trials in warmer sites. Best with more than 1900 GDD.
Chasselas A white wine grape widely grown in the Northwest, used mainly for blending. Large, somewhat disease resistant clusters, also grown as a table grape.
Ehrenfelser A Reisling x Silvaner hybrid. Used for making Reisling style wine. Earlier ripening than Reisling clones.
Gruner Veltliner A white-wine grape used to create fresh, fruity wines. Widely grown in Austria. Has ripened well in our test vineyards, mid October. Thick skin that provides some disease resistence. Best in sites with more than 1900 GDD.
Iskorka Originating in Russia (the name means “sparkle”), it makes an extremely fruity wine with orange and honeysuckle notes. Needs 1600-1900 GDD to ripen.
Madeleine Angevine A mid-September ripening, very worthwhile grape giving heavy crops of green-white berries that yield large quantities of juice for wine, and may also be enjoyed fresh. Bunch rot and mildew susceptible. Makes an outstanding white wine.
Mueller Thurgau Heavy producer ripening in mid-October. A vigorous vine producing medium compact clusters of distinctively spicy grapes. Susceptable to mildew and botrytis.
Ortega An early ripening white wine grape, with high sugar levels and low acidity, grown for years on Vancouver Island. Makes a light, fruity wine. Very productive. Cross between Muller-Thurgau and Siegerrebe. 1600-1900 GDD.
Pearle de Csaba Vinifera derived grape propagated mainly for table use. Very early ripening, (usually late August), it has a light Muscat flavor. As a table grape, it is somewhat seedless.
Phoenix Hybrid. Bacchus x Seyve Villard 12-375 (Villard Blanc). A recent cross and one of a new generation of hybrid varieties bred for quality and disease resistance. Wines from Phoenix are also quite Bacchus-like, sometimes Sauvignon Blanc in character. Flavor profile of this grape has been unimpressive in Puget Sound.
Pinot Gris-Ruelander Ripens late October. Pinkish gray berries have a rich fruity flavor and produce a clear golden dry wine of excellent quality. Adapts well to microclimates. In our trials it appears this is clone 146. Has ripened beautifully here in this past cool wet season.
Pinot Gris-146 Ripens late October. The known earliest clone of Pinot Gris. Pinkish gray berries have a rich fruity flavor and produce a clear golden dry wine of excellent quality. Adapts well to microclimates.
Sauvignon Blanc-01 This Sauvignon Blanc clone ripens early enough to do well in the Northwest. Even in a cool, wet fall, the grapes reached 18 brix, which is what is being used to make outstanding Sauvignon wines in New Zealand. Clusters have been easy to keep clean from botrytis even in years like 2010. Flavor profiles have been a nice blend of grassy-mineral qualities in cool years and ripe fruit flavors in warm years. Maybe my top pick for a white for this area.
Siegerrebe Ripens in early September. Pink wine grape, good quality, low-acid maturity. Small bunches, makes excellent white wine. Moderately productive, medium vigor. Needs less than 1600 GDD to ripen.
Reislaner Riesling X Silvaner cross variety. Grown in Germany, for limited amounts of quality sweet white wine production.
Riesling Muscat Very aromatic white wine that grows with a Pinot Gris like bunch. Ripens right after Siegerrebe. A little known grape that is proving itself in our maritime climate. Needs 1600-1900 GDD to ripen.

RED WINE CULTIVARS
Agria A red wine grape originally from Hungary. For an early ripening red, this one is quite tannic, with flavor similar to Cabernet Sauvignon. Good producer. A very promising grape for our cooler, maritime climate. Also very ornamental with great fall color.
Dolcetto Usually used for young, fruity red wines. The regions of Italy where this is widely grown has a very similar heat unit profile to warmer areas of the Northwest. Probably too cool and wet in the Puget sound region. In slightly drier and warmers regions of PNW, this grape will thrive.
Dornfelder Moderately early ripening red wine grape from Germany. Deep red color and notes of spice and earth make it good for blending.
Dunklefelder A deep red-fleshed teinturier cultivar from Germany, fairly early ripening, good for blending; adds color and body.
Gamaret This is a Pinot type of Swiss origin with good quality and more body than Pinot Noir, probably best mixed with Garanoir.
Garanoir A very early ripening red, of Swiss origin. This cross of Gamay Noir and Reichensteiner does not gain high sugars, but has low acids when ripe, making it an excellent grape for blending with higher sugar, high acid juice. Under 1600 GDD needed to ripen.
Golubok Russian origin; an early teinturier with a lot of potential for a unique full-bodied red wine. One of the most promising early reds in our trial; requires less than 1600 GDD to ripen. Some Cabernet Sauvignon in its genetics. Very smoky flavors with quite a bit of body, will round out numerous blends of Puget Sound reds.
Muscat of Norway An early ripening red grape, large berries in big clusters. This has performed well in the Northwest. This seeded grape is excellent for eating and also produces a fruity white wine.
Pinot Noir 2-A (Wadenswil) Ripens late October. A warm site will provide the best results. Plant canopies must be well managed and cluster thinned to achieve quality in all Pinot clones grown in this region. Ripens early with larger berries. 1900 GDD needed to ripen well.
Pinot Dijon 115 Clone of Pinot Noir grown for a long time in the maritime NW. Needs careful pruning and bunch thinning for quality. 1900 GDD. Also listed as Pinot Noir OSU clone 73.
Pinot Noir Pomard Clone of Pinot Noir that has a long history in the Pacific Northwest. Excellent flavor; needs careful pruning and thinning for quality. 1900 GDD or more needed to ripen.
Pinot Noir 71(777) One of the most promising clone of Pinot Noir in our trials so far, ripening before the Wadenswill and Dijon clones.
Pinot Noir 72(667) A full flavored, early ripening clone of Pinot Noir. A classic red wine grape with intensely flavored deep red berries. 72 may be slightly earlier than Pinot Noir 71 ( 777). Needs 1600-1900 GDD to ripen.
Pinot Noir Precoce An early ripening sport of Pinot Noir that is showing much promise in our grape trials. This clone of Pinot Noir can ripen up to 3 weeks earlier than other Pinot Noir clones. Acid will drop into very acceptable levels every year in our trials
Regent A recent German cross. Bred mainly for the German Organic wine industry. Regent is extremely resistant to diseases. Ripens at least a week ahead of Pinot Noir. Promising in our grape trials, clearly disease resistant to botrytis infections. Nutrient management is critical for the development of full cluster and solid yields. Makes a full bodied red in warm years.
Rondo Very early ripening red wine grape of German origin. Full bodied with deep red color. Very winter hardy. Less than 1600 GDD needed to ripen.
St.Laurent Related to and similar to Pinot Noir, often used for blending to produce a full-bodied wine of an attractive, dark-red color and fruity aroma.
Zweigelt-Rebe A recent Austrian cross. Very vigorous and highly productive, with very dark grapes. Ripens a few days before Pinot Noir. Excellent for blending or as a varietal. This grape has been able to continue its ripening process in even the coldest summers. Must be thinned heavily and will still produce 6 tons to the acre. One of our favorite reds for the region.

TABLE GRAPES
Canadice Ripens mid-late September. Pink seedless, with spicy flavor. The most consistent producer in cool summer climates. Has well filled, loose clusters of medium sized berries. Very hardy.
Interlaken Ripens mid-September. Golden clusters are medium in size, berries small. Bunching tends to be uneven in some years. Fruit quality is outstanding.
Reliance Ripens late September. Sweet flavored red seedless grape, a popular favorite at our fall tasting. Clusters are full and berries large for the maritime. Very productive.
Lakemont Ripens mid-October. A Thompson seedless cross. Large clusters of white seedless grapes, firm fruit with excellent flavor. Needs a warm site.
Venus Ripens late September. Large bunches of blue-black berries, most years seedless but with an occasional soft seed. Excellent flavor, consistant producer.
Lynden Blue (concord juice type) Ripens mid-late September. Developed in Mission, British Columbia, 20+ years ago. Now easily found in gardens throughout Lynden, Washington. Medium to large bunches, very large berries, dark blue-black, sweet mild flavor slipskin with seeds. Good fresh and excellent juice. Very compact vine.
Jupiter(pat) Ripens mid-September. Large bunches of blue-black berries, most years seedless but with an occasional soft seed. Excellent flavor, crisp berries.
Saturn(pat) Ripens early October. Productive variety with crisp, seedless red berries of excellent flavor. Has been very productive in local fruit test plots.
Neptune(pat) Ripens mid-October. Crisp, seedless, white berries, excellent flavor and good disease resistance. Huge light green bunches up to two pounds.

ROOTSTOCKS
101-14 Millardet de De Grasset Moderately vigorous, prefers heavy soils, has moderate drought tolerance and relatively high tolerance for wet feet. Moderate to strong influence on early ripening.
Couderc 3309 Moderately vigorous, prefers deep, well drained soils, has low drought tolerance and relatively high tolerance for wet feet. Moderate influence on early ripening.
Riparia Gloire Prefers deep, fertile soils, with low drought tolerance and relatively high tolerance for wet feet. The lowest vigor rootstock, giving the most compact vine. Strong influence on early ripening.

WINES & VINES of PUGET SOUND

Puget Sound Wine Growers

WASHINGTON STATE CERTIFIED

NON-CERTIFIED