Protecting Grape Vines from a Hail Storm

TO: Owner

FROM: Joseph Smith, Manager

DATE: October 12, 2015

SUBJECT: Plans to Save the Crops

    With hail on the way this week we have to save our crops in order to be successful and able to have a harvest. Hail is a form of frozen rain. With hail in the climate that means wind, frost, and rain come through and can destroy the winery crops. Wind can be hazardous because if it is too powerful it can knock the fruit off the vines or knock the entire vines all over (Schmid, 2013). Frost kills green tissue on the vines and too much rain can prevent pollination of the flowers or over saturate the fruit (Schmid, 2013). If no actions are taken we can lose our crops and profit.

The World Atlas of Wine, 7th Edition

    What can we do to try and protect our crops from the hail storm? Some preventions can be made to protect the crops from getting damaged by the hail. A tent like product can be placed over the entire crop to reflect the hail from actually hitting the vines themselves. By having a tent structure over the crops, it can also protect the vines from huge gusts of wind, ripping the vines out of their place or knocking off grapes. If the tent is built on a conveyer belt structure, the protective structure can be used year after year. Also, another way to help heat up the vines to prevent frost is to have 2 helicopters circling the vineyard to warm the air (MSNBC, 2012). The movement from the helicopter's blades moves the air, warming it due to the friction it causes from the air hitting the helicopter blades. By doing these tactical steps, it can help to prevent damage to the crops.


References

MSNBC. (2012). Vinyard uses helicopters to save grape crop. Retrieved from: http://article.wn.com/view/2012/04/12/Vineyard_uses_helicopters_to_save_grape_crop/
Schimid, Albert W.A., and Laloganes, John P. (2013). The Beverage Manager's Guide to Wines, Beers, and Spirits. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

The 1976 Judgment of Paris

TO: Waitstaff
FROM: Joseph Smith, Manager
DATE: October 5, 2015
SUBJECT: Understanding the 1976 Judgment of Paris

    The 1976 Judgment of Paris was a wine tasting event that made a defining statement for the American wine industry (Schmid, 2013). The event was held in Paris where ten French and California Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines were judged. The winners were both from the United States, beating the French components.

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     The winning wines were Warren Winiarski's Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag's Leap and Mike Grigich's Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena (Schmid, 2013).     Warren Winiarski's grapes are overseen in Napa Valley. They are grown under their impeccable canopy until perfectly ripened. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' Cabernet Sauvignon is selling for about $150 a bottle. (Emert, 2004).

    Mike Grigich's Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena was originally crafted in 1973. He owns 366 acres of naturally raised grapes. No artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. The taste of Mike's Chardonnay displays tastes such as tart apple, honeysuckle and tropical fruits.  According to Grgich Hills offical website2, Mike Grigich's Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena retails for about $91 a bottle. (Wine Business, 2014).

References

Emert, Carol. (2004). SFGate: THE WINIARSKI WAY / In 1976, Warren Winiarski's Cabernet bested Bordeaux, and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars became famous. At age 76, he's still in control. Retrieved from: http://www.sfgate.com/wine/article/THE-WINIARSKI-WAY-In-1976-Warren-Winiarski-s-2800232.php

Schmid, Albert W. A., and Laloganes, John P. (2013). The Beverage Manager's Guide to Wines, Berrs, and Spirits. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

Wine Business. (2014).  1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay Crafted by Milijenko “Mike” Grgich Named to Smithsonian's “101 Objects That Made America”. Retrieved from: www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataid=130926