Rotating clusters on the vine?
- PeterJ
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Rotating clusters on the vine?
So I’m looking at a bottle of Stolpman Roussane and the bottle note says the clusters are rotated on the vine. That’s a new thing for me and Google isn’t helping. Does it refer to turning the clusters for more sun or moving the canopy, or what?
Peter J@ckel
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Re: Rotating clusters on the vine?
No clue. Sounds like marketing bullsh_t to me.
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- PeterJ
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Re: Rotating clusters on the vine?
Found this on their website for this wine:
“A month prior to forecasted harvest, every grape cluster is rotated 180 degrees to facilitate an even sun-tan.”
It follows this statement: “Most notably, in late July we pull leaves away from the fruit to allow direct sun penetration.”
I wonder how unusual this treatment is.
“A month prior to forecasted harvest, every grape cluster is rotated 180 degrees to facilitate an even sun-tan.”
It follows this statement: “Most notably, in late July we pull leaves away from the fruit to allow direct sun penetration.”
I wonder how unusual this treatment is.
Last edited by PeterJ on March 16th, 2019, 5:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Peter J@ckel
Re: Rotating clusters on the vine?
180 degree rotation. Wouldn't that do at least some damage to stems, and most likely a lot? Its not like twisting a cotton twine, stems are hard fiber.PeterJ wrote: ↑March 16th, 2019, 10:48 am Found this on their website firvthis wine:
“A month prior to forecasted harvest, every grape cluster is rotated 180 degrees to facilitate an even sun-tan.”
It follows this statement: “Most notably, in late July we pull leaves away from the fruit to allow direct sun penetration.”
I wonder how unusual this treatment is.
I don't buy it.
G r e g P i a t i g o r s k i
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Re: Rotating clusters on the vine?
Boy that's being pretty fussy about sun tanning the grapes. Not buying the importance of doing this. Are trying to drive down the overall acidity ?
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Re: Rotating clusters on the vine?
If it weren't $30/btl I might give them benefit of the doubt. I worked at one place that would look at the day's weather, and if it were going to be >95dF, they would move the catch wires out 10" on the trellis to shade the grapes; if it were going to be <95dF they would move the catch wires in to allow more direct sun to the clusters. We were making a $250/btl of cab, however.
If I had an intern with nothing to do before harvest, I might tell them to go do something like that on a row or two, but I don't know how one would secure the cluster so it didn't just flip back around...
If I had an intern with nothing to do before harvest, I might tell them to go do something like that on a row or two, but I don't know how one would secure the cluster so it didn't just flip back around...
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Re: Rotating clusters on the vine?
I work for Stolpman, and can confirm that, yes, we do hand rotate each cluster. Our vineyard crew is year round, and this practice has been going on for years. For what its worth, both the L'Avion and Estate Roussanne, are blended with a small percentage of Chardonnay to help balance out the richness
Re: Rotating clusters on the vine?
I do this when possible in the vineyard, especially with large bunches that tend to stack on top of each other like Dolcetto or Nebbiolo. Must be careful to not hurt the rachis though. We could never do direct sun exposure (except early morning or late evening) in Lake County though - that is for coastal regions only...
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