Spring Frosts in the Vineyard – 2010
Spring Frost are always a problem for grape growers. As the days in Spring advance the chance of a frost becomes less – but as the buds develop they get increasingly more sensitive to cold.
When the buds break and shoots develop, any green tissue will be severly damaged by freezing temperatures.
I always liked to have our vineyard pruned before Mothers Day, before the buds get too large and may be damaged by brush pulling.
This year we had nice warm weather that felt great but caused the bud growth to advance a little more than normal.
We had a pretty hard freeze around Mothers Day that burned much of the green growth off of the vines.
The only good part of this scenario is that we have been doing a lot of hedge pruning that leaves on a lot of extra buds. This was good for us this year and we will still have a somewhat normal crop.
Two years ago we had a devastating freeze on Memorial Day, by then the vines were very advanced and much damage was done.
May 16, 2010
Posted in: Vineyard & Grape Growing, Winemaking 
No Comments
Good wine was tasted over the Christmas Holidays
Pat leans more to the white wines and I prefer the reds.
Our local Meijers store had a great collection of Michigan wines – I like to try wines that are very similar to the ones that can be made from the grapes at our farm.
Here is a collection of some interesting wines that we had:
- Good Harbor Winery – “Harbor Red” – Lake Leelanau, Michigan — “A blend of Marechal Foch, Chambourcin, DeChaunac and other red grapes.” We grow most of these and the wine is finished with a very slight “roundness” (sweetness) that makes it a very drinkable wine for any occasion.
- Grand Traverse Winery – “Sweet Harvest Riesling” – Traverse City, Michigan —A very nice sweeter white wine made from Michigan Riesling Grapes. Riesling is a high quality white vinifera grape that grows better in their unique climate in Traverse City area. Our Niagara or St. Peppin can make a wine in this style.
- Tabor Hill Winery – “Classic Demi-Red” – Buchanan, Michigan —- A nice light bodied red wine with a hint of sweetness – Similar to our Foch, Dechaunac, Frontenac blends.
- St. Julien Winery – Paw Paw, Michigan —- St. Julien Winery always makes very nice wines that are similar to grapes from our vineyard. The “Simply Red” is a blend of Foch, DeChanauc, Rougeon & Chancellor – a nice soft red wine. We just tried the “White Heron” – the aroma immediately told me that it had a lot of Niagara grapes in it – very nice! The “ST. J Red” was a very nice blend of Chancellor, Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon. They also have a very nice “Concord” wine.
We had very pleasant wines to drink over the Holidays, but now 2010 reality sets in and I realize I am getting too fat and re-joined my weight-watchers class. Wine is on the program but you have to limit it somewhat.
January 16, 2010
Posted in: Vineyard & Grape Growing, Winemaking No Comments
Honey Prices 2010
Our honey crop last winter was not as good as we had hoped for and honey in our area is getting a little hard to find.
The bulk honey price on our Website and at our Sales Stand in the fall will be increasing to $2.75/lb. The article below is from the view of the commercial honey producing industry.
USA – 2009 WAS THE WORST HONEY CROP ON RECORD
Info from Bee Culture Magazine
Each October Bee Culture magazine surveys our 100 or so regular honey
producer/reporters from all parts of the U.S. By October 10 or so much of the U.S. crop has been harvested, and beekeepers have a pretty good feel for what they will be making, even if some is still in the field. The rest of the article…
January 13, 2010
Tags: Honey, prices Posted in: Honey No Comments
Welcome to the Honeyflow Farm Blog!
The new year – 2010 – brings many things to Honeyflow Farm.
New this year is this Blog, a Forum where you can ask questions and find lots of answers, and a New Facebook page.
I will try to post regularly on farm issues regarding grapes, vineyard, winemaking, honey, beekeeping and beeswax candles.candles
Please make any comments you wish.
Bill & Pat Schnute – I – (Bill) will be making most of the posts)
January 3, 2010
Tags: beekeeping, Beeswax Candles, Farm Operations, grapes, Honey, vineyard, Winemaking Posted in: Beeswax Candles, Honey, Honeyflow Farm, Vineyard & Grape Growing, Winemaking No Comments