Rotating clusters on the vine?

Message

PeterJ · #1 Post by **PeterJ** » March 15th, 2019, 6:07 pm

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?

#2 Post by **Casey Hartlip** » March 15th, 2019, 7:26 pm

No clue.

#3 Post by **Casey Hartlip** » March 15th, 2019, 7:27 pm

No clue. Sounds like marketing bullsh_t to me.

PeterJ · #4 Post by **PeterJ** » March 16th, 2019, 10:48 am

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.

GregP · #5 Post by **GregP** » March 16th, 2019, 12:18 pm

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.

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.

I don't buy it.

#6 Post by **Gary Schulte** » March 16th, 2019, 4:51 pm

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 ?

#7 Post by **Casey Hartlip** » March 16th, 2019, 7:01 pm

And therefore I claim bullshit!

BenjaminL · #8 Post by **BenjaminL** » March 18th, 2019, 9:33 am

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...

S c o t t S h u t e · #9 Post by **S c o t t S h u t e** » July 3rd, 2019, 9:18 am

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

Rotating clusters on the vine?

Rotating clusters on the vine?

Re: Rotating clusters on the vine?

Re: Rotating clusters on the vine?

Re: Rotating clusters on the vine?

Re: Rotating clusters on the vine?

Re: Rotating clusters on the vine?

Re: Rotating clusters on the vine?

Re: Rotating clusters on the vine?

Re: Rotating clusters on the vine?