2014 Nebbiolo

Tasting notesProduction notes

2014 Virginia Commercial Grape Report Season Summary

Virginia was spared some of the extreme cold that impacted grape-growing regions to our north and west over the 2013/2014 winter. Nonetheless, a number of Virginia vineyardists reported some degree of vine cold injury, especially in northern Virginia, into the western Piedmont and into southwest Virginia, where some of the state’s lowest temperatures occurred on 7 and 23 January 2014. The injury was greatest on those varieties that we recognize as being relatively cold tender, such as Tannat, but even some of the more “moderately” hardy vinifera varieties, such as Cabernet
Franc and Viognier, experienced some bud and trunk injury. The roller-coaster temperatures of winter continued into March and April, with some frost affecting southwest and Shenandoah Valley vineyards on the mornings of 15-16 April.

Although we have seen an advance of budburst over the past 15 years, budburst of Chardonnay at the AHS AREC (24 April) was close to average recorded in the 90’s. The growing season was unusually wet in May and June, unusually dry in September until mid-October, and cooler overall than in recent years. There were exceptions, but wildlife such as deer, bear, squirrels and raccoons did not cause the grape depredation that many vineyards witnessed in 2013. Some of this likely related to more abundant primary food sources such as acorns. Pests that were present at greater-than-normal pressure included Japanese beetle and mites;
mite populations often spike as growers attempt to combat Japanese beetles. Some growers, particularly in central Virginia, reported “stalled” ripening rates with certain varieties, including Merlot and Chardonnay. While the causes of this delayed ripening were not always apparent and likely varied from vineyard to vineyard, a common observation was cloudy, cool weather in late summer. Harvest generally went well. As with 2013, the 2014 period of September and early October was generally very favorable for ripening. Many growers reported that their 2014 crop levels were greater than those of 2012 and 2013. Thus, the state’s crop losses due to winter injury and spring frost injury would be offset somewhat by greater crops in uninjured vineyards. Sugar levels were somewhat depressed and acidity levels somewhat increased for many. The consensus, however, was that the favorable weather in the final 30 to 50 days before harvest was associated with very high-quality fruit, and great wine potential.

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