98 growers from El Dorado and Amador counties attended the Foothill Grape Day meeting held at the Plymouth fairgrounds on June 14. 28 attendees (roughly 28%) responded to a survey in order to gauge the success of the meeting and to give feedback to help plan for next year’s Foothill Grape Day meeting.
Of the survey respondents:
- 46% said their mealybug knowledge was minimal or non-existent prior to the meeting and 65% said their ability to identify mealybugs in the field was greatly improved;
- 54% said the topic of vine balance and rootstock selection will help them with existing vineyards and 28% said it would help them plan for new vineyards;
- 93% said the topic of leafroll spread provided them with new, useful information;
- 82% said the topic of extended ripening provided them with new information; and
- 75% thought the heritage Zinfandel topic was useful.
Regarding meeting logistics and expense:
- 93% said they were “very likely” to attend another, similar meeting;
- 97% thought the lunch was an important component and should continue and 89% thought the wine tasting was an important component and should continue (4% said no);
- 39% said the cost of the meeting ($25) was worth it but wouldn’t spend more;
- 61% said they would spend up to $30 for the same quality meeting;
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and the majority of respondents said JUNE, followed by MAY, were the best months for the meeting to be held.
Topics and suggestions for future meetings included:
- provide DPR continuing education hours
- more on vine balance
- irrigation, reducing water use (several comments)
- organic farming practices
- mite control
- clone comparisons
- Eutypa and mildew
- Production costs and economics for growing grapes in the foothills
- Fertility (several comments)
- Growing Syrah in the foothills
- More on cultural practices: Pruning, suckering, etc.
Much thanks to the sponsors of Grape Day (the $25 charge did not cover all expenses): Mid Valley Ag. for our wine glasses, El Dorado and Georgetown Resource Conservation Districts, Heritage Zinfandel wine donations, wine donations from the Amador Winery Association as well as other wineries and the support of the Amador Grape Growers Association. Thank You!
I am already thinking about next year’s meeting, which will be held in El Dorado county and I look forward to seeing each of you there. I am always open to topic and speaker suggestions. Feel free to drop me an email at lrwunderlich@ucdavis.edu.
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