news
09.20.12
HARVEST 2012: WRAPPING UP EARLY
Doyle Vineyard Management
It is without a doubt, that folks in the Finger Lakes are wrapping up grape harvest unusually early this year. The last few days of grape harvest here at Doyle Vineyard Management are in sight. With some spring frost damage and an extremely dry summer, most grape varieties did not produce nearly the yields that were expected. On average, yields seem to be down 30%, and up to 50% in some varieties. Quality on the other hand has been outstanding! The dry hot weather this summer set some of the best fruit that we've ever picked! Kudos, as always, to the flexibility and long days put in by our employees to get the job done this year.
12.10.11
The Young Generation Gears Up
The Wine Press
There are lots of metrics showing the success of the New York grape and wine industry--growth in the number of wineries, multiplication of tourist visits, increasing reputation for quality wines--but perhaps none is more important than the number of young people who are jumping or diving into this business.
This is quite rare among agricultural businesses, where the younger generation has gone to college and left the farm to pursue other professions. But the grape and wine industry shows great future promise as the next generation gets its feet wet and hands dirty in the business that outsiders see as "romantic" but in reality is lots of hard work and high risk--but with really good people and products as the reward.
Some of the younger generation came from families already in the business like Brittany Bagley, Jason and Pindar Damianos, Matt Doyle, Jason Hazlitt, Jonathan Hunt, Peter Martini, Kareem Massoud, Evan Miles, Jonathan Oakes, Rob Smith, Ben Stamp, and Greg Tones. Others like Justin Boyette, Jeffrey Dill and Matt Whalen have entered from different routes. And some (Peter Martini, Rob Smith, Greg Tones) are graduates of the superb LEAD NY program training the agricultural leaders of tomorrow.
This is just a quick, top-of-the-head list, and we are working on identifying the many other young people who will carry this industry forward. The fact that they have cast their lot with the grape and wine industry is a strong vote of confidence in the future.
I hope to publish an extensive list of the new generation in the near future, and don't want to leave anyone out, so please feel free to let me know of others that I may not know about. Email jimtrezise@nywgf.org
10.11.10
Harvest 2010: Grapes Galore!
A beautiful hot summer proved to be fantastic grape growing conditions in upstate New York. In a complete contrast to last year's grape growing season, this year's harvest began two weeks early due to the warm growing conditions. The last grapes of the season are expected to be picked and delivered this week!
12.27.09
Keuka: Growing Grapes Is An All-Year Job At Doyle Vineyard Management
Stargazette.com | Star-Gazette by Thomas Pellachia
I spotted a lonely tractor in a barren Keuka vineyard, showing me that Doyle Vineyard Management (Doyle Vineyard Management) workers were out there in the frigid air during Christmas week because growing grapes is an all-year job.
It wasn't a mound of snow the plow was getting ready to tackle - it's lime, a necessary mineral in Keuka soil.
Gardeners among us know the value of proper soil pH. When out of balance, soil pH can hinder nutritional development in plants.
Keuka soil is generally acidic and so, local grape growers need to keep up with proper soil pH levels, especially after a wet season like 2009, which carries with it acid rain and all that it can do to increase the soil's acidity.
High acidity usually interprets into low pH. Lime is alkaline and it raises pH.
During the week of Dec. 21, Doyle Vineyard Management workers were in the frigid Catawba vineyards that lie between county Route 76 and Middle Road to apply lime.
Early winter is a good time to spread lime, since it allows the mineral to be covered with snow and then slowly infiltrate the soil during the spring melt.
But these fellows were out there during a nasty, cold week, one which got me thinking fondly of retirement to maybe Cartegena, Columbia, and I am sure, they had similar thoughts.
10.28.09
2009 Harvest Season Comes To A Successful Close!
A cold wet fall posed unique challenges to Doyle Vineyard Management during this year's grape harvest season. Despite the weather, grape quality remained high and yields were average. Satisfaction of clients and grape customers continued to be our highest priority as we worked diligently to meet the ever-changing needs of all.
5.19.09
CCE 2009 Spring Grape IPM Meeting!
Cornell Cooperative Extension held their annual Spray Grape Integrated Pest Management Meeting at Doyle Vineyard Management's Dresden location. Attendees received an annual update on a number of IPM topics and were eligible to receive pesticide recertification credits, followed by dinner and conversation with fellow growers. We had a great turnout!
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