Vineyard Site Selection
| Author: |
Ken Slingerland
- Tender Fruit and Grape Specialist/OMAFRA
|
| Creation Date: |
November
2002
|
| Last Reviewed: |
13 February
2007
|
Table of Contents
- Vineyard Site Selection (for potential winery)
- Selected Weather Data - NAWN
- Other Considerations for a Vineyard and Winery
- Site Selection for Grapes in the Niagara
Peninsula
- Things You Can Do To Improve Your Site
- Best Mangement Practices
- OMAFRA Establishment and Production Costs
for Grapes in Ontario - 2005 Economic Report
- Related Links
Vineyard Site Selection (for
potential winery)
Step 1 - Ask yourself:
What type of wine do you want to sell ?
- VQA - Vinifera - Merlot, Cabernets, Chardonnay, or
- Larger Selection - VQA Vinifera, Hybrids, Ice Wine
Step 2 - Ask yourself:
How are you going to sell your wine?
- Your own wine boutique, then consider
- Location
- High traffic
- Grouping with other wineries
- Direct to restaurants
- LCBO
Consider:
- Climate
- Temperature - extremes, critical timing, swings
- Heat units
- Rainfall
- Topography - all affect micro climate
- Bodies of open water
- Slope for air drainage
- South facing slopes, bad-winter and spring, good summer
and fall
- Windbreaks, air traps
- Water
- Soil
- Land leveling
- Sandy loam - too much vigour
- Clay Loam - not enough vigour
- Grapes will grow on almost any soil type
- Soil maps available from OMAF
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Selected Weather Data - Niagara
Area Weather Network (NAWN)
- Sample minimum temperatures on a given day in Niagara Peninsula
- Base your site decision on some historical weather data
Minimum Temperature °C - January 9, 2001
| NOTL - Parkway |
- 13.5
|
Jordan - Escarpment |
- 19.9
|
| NOTL - Queenston |
- 13.4
|
HRIO - Cherry |
- 18.8
|
| NOTL - Virgil |
- 14.7
|
Vineland Escarpment |
- 19.2
|
| NOTL - Lakeshore |
- 13.4
|
Beamsville Bench |
- 17.3
|
| W. St.Catharines - Pelham |
- 17.7
|
Grimsby |
- 21.3
|
| Jordan - HWY #8 |
- 17.1
|
Winona |
- 19.9
|
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- Sample of moderated temperatures near Lake Ontario versus large
temperature swings 15 km from Lake Ontario
Temperature Swings °C - March 7, 2001
| Time (a.m.)
|
NOL - Lakeshore
Temperature |
Queenston
Temperature |
|
600
|
- 0.9
|
- 9.2
|
|
615
|
- 1.1
|
- 10.2
|
|
630
|
- 1.0
|
- 9.7
|
|
645
|
- 1.1
|
- 9.4
|
|
700
|
- 0.9
|
- 9.9
|
|
715
|
- 0.4
|
- 9.6
|
|
730
|
- 0.1
|
- 8.7
|
|
745
|
0.2
|
- 7.4
|
|
800
|
0.7
|
- 5.3
|
|
815
|
0.9
|
- 2.8
|
|
830
|
1.2
|
- 1.4
|
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Other Considerations for a Vineyard
and Winery
Other Considerations for the Winery
- Services - Water, Hydro, Roads, etc.
- Land Prices
- $$$$ - Bench, Lakeshore
- $$ - Flat Zone B
- $ - On top of escarpment
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Site Selection for Grapes in
the Niagara Peninsula - Niagara Grape Climatic Zones
By Dr. Helen Fisher, University of Guelph, and Ken Slingerland,
OMAFRA
This map explains:
- Detailed climatic explanation of each zone
- General Cultivar Recommendations
- Guide only
To order contact the OMAFRA Vineland Resource Centre by email
or phone (905) 562-4147.
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Things You Can Do To Improve Your Site = $$$$
- Improve Drainage
- Add Irrigation
- Wind Machines
- Smudge Pots
- Change Cultivars - Merlot to Baco Noir
- Use Best Management Practices
Or
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Best Management Practices
- Reconsider trellis system to control vigour
- Add organic matter
- Petiole analysis to maintain correct nutrient levels
- Avoid chicken manure which is usually too high in nitrogen for
vinifera grapes
- Consider permanent cover crop
- Thin heavy crops
- Canopy management (leaf pulling or hedging)
- Improve spray coverage and IPM
- Use a qualified vineyard consultant if you are unable to monitor
the vineyard yourself
- Reduce stress for you and your vineyard!
Remember: Reducing stress is different than controlling vigour!
OMAFRA Establishment and Production
Costs for Grapes in Ontario - 2005 Economic Report
To order a paper copy contact the OMAFRA Vineland Resource Centre
by email or phone (905)
562-4147. Also available on the OMAFRA website.
Site determines what you can grow.
Market determines what you can sell!
There is always risk involved, try to reduce it with
the proper Vineyard Site Selection!
"You can grow grapes anywhere in the province
of Ontario,
at least for one season!" - Ken Slingerland,
OMAFRA
Related Links
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For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
Local: (519) 826-4047
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
|