Cabernet Sauvignon - Chicago

A few updates from the patch of garden/flower beds in southeast Logan Square. The Cabernet Sauvignon vines that were transplanted from pots to soil earlier in the summer went through a period of shock, in other words they simply just held. Such behaviour didn't surprise me as the plants were moved into a new living environment. At times more than a few leaves seemed to reveal plants that were struggling. These pieces of evidence began to worry as this year I have not had the best track record with bringing cuttings through the critical first 10-12 weeks after Bud Break.   The following photographs of the vines were taken on Friday July 9 2010

As a comparison, I took a few photographs (featured below) of the vines this morning Wednesday August 25, 2010. I am pleased to see the results of 7 weeks of heat, water, and sun affecting, for the better, these young Cabernet Sauvignon cuttings that were lopped off of my parents' Cabernet Sauvignon vine in St. Louis, Missouri late one Friday Feb 26 2010 during late-winter pruning.

The final vine that I photographed is one that I simply wanted to get in the ground before Sept 1, 2010. I must've planted it on Wednesday Aug 18, 2010. It is another cutting from my parents' vine in St. Louis, MO. I just wanted to experiment by getting it in the ground earlier than I put the Syrah vines in the ground last year, which I am almost certain I did after Sept 1, 2009 (and by that measure I mean it may well have been Sept 10th or 15th, I wasn't as good about documenting back then). What I hope to discover next spring is that this 3rd cutting will grow and have vigor. When such activity occurs I will then have a better sense of what the parameters are for planting late in the summer in Chicago, IL. It is entirely possible that last year's Syrah cuttings just didn't have adequate time to get situated before the cool air came around. Even this morning at 6AM the air was quite cool in Chicago when I was outside. All of these details are important to consider.

Grapevines in the ICU

This is the rough crew that made their way up to Grayslake, IL for a layover prior to reaching their permanent nesting grounds in Southeastern Indiana

This photo taken to emphasize the growth (Bud Break) on the Cabernet Sauvignon in the middle.

This is Cabernet Franc 01-2010 Chicago, fresh out of ICU in Grayslake, IL.  This vine suffering from Powdery Mildew, but on the mend.

Earlier on Friday July 23 2010 I had dropped off a few grape vines to a friend that will be taking them down to southern Indiana in the coming days. I dropped off (4) plants all told: (2) already-growing Cabernet Sauvignon cuttings, and (2) Cabernet Franc cuttings [1 is already growing but was apparently over-watered by me- big "Oops!" by a fella that claims himself as an amateur gardener].

The longitude for this particular town in Indiana is 39.3 degrees North. These plants are going to be under the careful watch of science-minded individuals, I believe there are even a few Purdue University alum in the household.  Think: engineering and science, procedure, format, building, planning, blueprints, etc. Purdue University's Cooperative Extension Service has provided many wonderful resources on the World Wide Web for amateur gardeners to reference, of which I have partaken many a time already, there is a document to reference at the bottom of this posting.  You get the idea though.  These plants will be whipped into shape in no time. It has been told to me that there will be a plan of action and there will be a program for these vines. Already, the vines have undergone early treatment from their temporary home/staging area in Grayslake, Illinois.  That is correct, these vines will be friends with the La Crescent vine (03-2010 Grayslake). 

Above this writing one will note an early photograph of the 4 vines in their existing staging area in Grayslake, Illinois (longitude is 42.344 degrees N).  For those interested, there is a soil survey that I found of Franklin County, Indiana.  This will give an indication of what kind of soil these vines will be going into.  The link for such a PDF is:

http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/manuscripts/IN047/0/franklin.pdf

The surrogate and now permanent parent for these vines provided a detailed account of how they provided early treatment to the ragtag vines that were delivered in Grayslake, IL on early Friday July 23 2010.  Here are the notes that I received by way of e-mail:

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The Cabernet Franc vines were watered too much and didn't have enough drainage. The Cabernet Franc without any greenery was transplanted to a different compost soil, similar soil that the La Crescent grape vine is thriving in (La Crescent 03-2010 Grayslake, IL). Removed saucer on both Cab Francs to improve drainage. The Cab Franc vine that had sprouted a bud break eventually lost it, it was revealed upon further examination of the cutting on the surgery table.  The cause of the loss was pinned on Powdery Mildew a by-product of having such a wet foot. Spraying both Cab Francs with mild soap and water mix to combat the Mildew. For these two vines I also lightly scraped the bark with a small wire brush, especially the bud areas to encourage growth. Did not replant the barren Cab Franc vine just as yet, didn’t want to disturb what little root system it has going.

The Cabernet Sauvignon vine (the smaller of the two in the pictures) that had recently experienced bud break did so with a bud that was situated below the grade of the soil in the pot in which it sat, so I removed some soil to expose break point to air. The heartier of the two Cab Sauvignon vines looking good but both Cab Sauv vines had dead wood that needed to be pruned. Careful to clean pruners with rubbing alcohol between working on each plant so as not to transfer disease (i.e. Powdery Mildew & anything else) from plant to plant. Made clean cuts at an angle to encourage run off and treated each cut with a little Elmer’s Glue to seal it from exposure to disease and pests.

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So there we go.  I am always learning a bundle from everyone and I definitely learned alot from this transaction and this description provided by the permanent owner of these lovely vines.  Signing off just a little embarrassed, but encouraged.

Here's a nice little document from Purdue University regarding growing grapes in Indiana:

  http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/ho-45.pdf

Cabernet Sauvignon 01-2010 St. Louis???????

That headline tells the story.

Upon arrival at my parents' backyard, dare I say (vineyard?), my mom informed me of two success stories. Let's look at the photos.

This photo above is a snap of a very young vine from my parents' backyard. The story is that my mom dug out some Peonys from just north of the existing Cabernet Sauvignon 01-2008 vine. There was nothing planted there in March 2008 during the planting of the original 2 vines, I planted the 2nd vine cutting just south of the site of the now live Cabernet Sauvignon 01-2008 St. Louis. In going through the flower bed by the garage this past weekend, which is where my mom re-planted the Peonys that were originally under the shady grapevine, my mom came across something that seemed to resemble a vine with leaves that were very, very familiar to her. After pulling out weeds from the garage flower bed, it was determined by my mom and my brother that, indeed, it was a grape vine. I have no idea how this happened, they have no idea how this happened. Did my mom grab some grape vine roots in the process of pulling the Peonys out of their original bedding? I haven't the experience to suggest one way or the other as I have not propagated grape vines using such a method prior. Regardless, this is an unexpected birthing of a vine that did not exist when the Peonys were transferred. Here we have Cabernet Sauvignon 02-2010 St. Louis!!!!


This photo above reveals a vine cutting that I just took a chance with around the time of March 10 2010. I remember this because I came back to St. Louis for a funeral during that time. When I the original Cabernet Sauvignon 01-2008 St. Louis vine was pruned on 02/26/10 we kept a few cuttings with the notion of possibly planting a few to see if they would take off (I took nearly 15 cuttings to Chicago, IL). The photo reveals what resulted from my just simply taking a gamble and putting two vine cuttings into the ground around March 10 2010 to see if they would take off on their own. I did this experiment because if cuttings can take off in flower pots inside my apartment in Chicago, IL during the month of March (still a pretty chilly month in that region - think air leaking through windows, sun still at a southern slant, etc.), then surely they can grow if actually put directly into soil (novel idea, eh?). And here is what we have, a real vine actually growing 4 months and 2 days later. Here I present Cabernet Sauvignon 01-2010 St. Louis.

It's all madness.

Naming of the Vines

I made a decision yesterday regarding the silly little vines I have growing.  I think some refer to classification as Taxonomy.   Either way, this is what I came up with (I'll do my best to refer to all vines as such from here on out):

Cabernet Sauvignon vines

Cabernet Sauvignon 01-2008 (St. Louis, Missouri vine)
Cabernet Sauvignon 01-2010 (Chicago, IL vine) - planted as a cutting in a pot this late winter/early spring 2010.
Cabernet Sauvignon 02-2010 (Chicago, IL vine) - same
Cabernet Sauvignon 03-2010 (Chicago, IL vine) - same
Cabernet Sauvignon 04-2010 (Chicago, IL vine) - same

Syrah vines

Syrah 01-2009 (Chicago, IL vine) - planted in September 2009
Syrah 02-2009 (Chicago, IL vine) - planted in September 2009
Syrah 03-2009 (St. Louis, MO vine) - located at family home in St. Louis, Missouri

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I hope to be able to do the same for the Cabernet Franc, La Crescent, and Frontenac vines, but time will tell if I have success in getting them to grow.  Also, I have been quite remiss by misspelling the La Crescent grape vines (been wrongly spelling it as 'Le Crescent').  I am embarrassed I didn't catch that earlier, I need a Copy Editor, I guess.

Ideally, I'd like to be able to report the following:

Cabernet Franc 01-2010 (Chicago, IL vine)
Cabernet Franc 02-2010
Cabernet Franc 03-2010
Cabernet Franc 04-2010

Frontenac 01-2010 (Glen Ellyn, IL vine)
Frontenac 02-2010

La Crescent 01-2010 (Glen Ellyn, IL vine)
La Crescent 02-2010
La Crescent 03-2010 (Grayslake, IL vine)

Last night I had occasion to look at Syrah 01-2009 and it came up with another 3 leaves or so.  I meant to take a yardstick out to measure how tall it is at the current.  Best guess would put the young vine at nearly 14 inches tall already.  As I walked away and went back into the apartment I couldn't help but be grateful that I have been documenting this with the lens because I immediately go back to that photo nearly 2 months ago in early April 2010 when I noticed bud break.  

And, on another incredible update, a friend offered to play host to the final La Crescent grape vine that was purchased from Double A Vineyards in Fredonia, NY.  This last La Crescent is already in the soil and resides in Grayslake, Illinois (Lake County Illinois).  It will receive plenty of southern facing sunlight and I hear the drainage will be exceptional.  It might turn out to be the best grower of the batch.  I am thrilled, this will be La Crescent 03-2010, if it gets established.



60 degrees this morning.  Yesterday, actually, nearing 7:15PM, it was just like a typical autumn day in the Midwest.   The sunlight was pristine, as were the skies.  Shame I wasn't out enough.  Bloody current job!!!!

Since we are doing maps, here is one of Glen Ellyn, IL, as well.



That's all for now!  Have a grand weekend.

May 27 2010 update - Thursday

Southeast Logan Square has seen a series of 80-degree days this week. The lows did not even get into the 50's. The urban/residential garden is progressing very well and impressively. I don't have any photo updates because my camera battery charger is at a friend's house, actually in Glen Ellyn, IL.

Listening to the Dwight Yoakam channel on www.Pandora.com right now.

Rudy McClain created the documentary 'Merlove' and he recently sat down with Gary Vaynerchuk from WineLibrary TV last autumn 2009 to talk about his film, which was a response to the movie 'Sideways' featuring Paul Giamatti. Here is a link to the conversation with Gary V:

http://tv.winelibrary.com/2009/11/25/merlove-episode-775/


Here's a link to one of the more popular scenes from the movie 'Sideways', the one referred to above:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiOuroHPxRQ

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Rudy McClain also sat down with a fella from the website, www.winecast.net.   A link to that podcast is here:

http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podshows/7374386

The author of www.winecast.net is Tim Elliott, a bit of information about him can be found at:

http://winecast.net/about/


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Side Note:  I determined a few days back that Louie, the black dog in St. Louis isn't capable of eating the grapes.  I have zero acquaintance with Louie's personality, but I thought I would mention another great vineyard dog, from Canada - Mr. Bones (Newmicon's dog):

http://www.youtube.com/user/Newmicon#p/u/23/m9IYMTRnlY4

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The impulse to mention the doc 'Merlove' was realizing that there are a good many wonderful podcasts available for FREE on iTunes, and I don't even own an iPod.  It is great.  Check the iTunes download location the next time you think of wine podcasts.  That is where I originally came upon the interview between Tim Elliot and Rudy McClain from WineCast.

Also, in re-listening to the podcasts from www.winemakingradio.com, I listened more closely to one rascal from North Dakota, named Gary Cook, he runs The Valley Vine - an online newsletter featuring updates from the Red River Valley in northwestern Minnesota/eastern North Dakota.  I enjoyed his insight into many matters involving wine making and wine tasting.  A link to that conversation, again, is:

http://www.winemakingradio.com/wmr/Episode22.asx


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As far as growth goes, it appears that new leaves are arriving at a rate of two new leaves every four days, from what can be observed thus far.  Perhaps there will be an increase for the next 40 days and then a plateau.  Great progress moving forward despite the worst of locations for plantings.

One final mention is that I now have a fourth Cabernet Sauvignon cutting that has experienced bud break in the past 56 hours or so, this is the batch cut from my parents' vine in St. Louis MO.  This one will be called Cabernet #4.  It was great news to hear from my roommate as she informed me the old way - by us having a conversation through the window as I was in the garden.

Happy growing!

Something is eating the grapes in St. Louis MO - Cabernet Sauvignon vine

Just got off the horn with my folks in St. Louis, Missouri. They have the parent Cabernet Sauvignon grape vine. The report is that even with the netting up over the vines and shoots, to ward off the appetite of the local avian species, still there is something eating the grapes. I didn't have time to follow-up as the call was brief. Not sure if the leaves are also affected, or just the fruits/flowers. Could be a squirrel, could be a pest that I still have yet to learn about.

Today I also came across a fabulous piece from a fellow at Virginia Tech, Fritz Westover. Excellent little presentation on Pruning, Anatomy of a Vine, other questions, etc.

LINK:

http://connect.ag.vt.edu/westover1/


In Southeast Logan Square it is already 90 degrees Fahrenheit!!! Yikes. Lots of growth from what I can tell in the garden. All is well.


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The wine of the Evening - Pinecroft - Cabernet Sauvignon

Just an update on the wine of the evening. I had a couple of glasses from a bottle of Pinecroft tonight. I had never heard of it prior, but a co-worker gave me a bottle a few days back. This was a Cabernet Sauvignon. Took a few photos. The co-worker said it was very in-expensive, so much so that he bought a case. Having said that, it gives you a notion of about how much it might have cost. The price is right for folks like me that work in Social Services. I don't have any notes to speak of when drinking this, I just want to live until I am 97 years old for having enjoyed wonderful wines for the rest of this life.

It is a bit late in the evening. I'd love to provide a website for this vineyard, however nothing is listed on the back label of the bottle. And, with a Google search nothing is coming up. One reviewer seemed to link this wine to Concannon Vineyards in Livermore, CA. When you go to their website, they have a wonderful video collage of photos covering the history of the vineyard. They seem, also, to be pretty savvy with getting their information on the internets and are seemingly very accessible with the technology available. I'll definitely come back to their website soon.

Enjoy!

3rd Cabernet Sauvignon cutting - quick update

Short on time. Here are a few update photos from this morning. This is post bud break on Cabernet Sauvignon cutting #3.

The weather is supposed to warm up in the coming 24 hours, with an expected high of 81 degrees on Saturday. Right now I am going back to get update photos of the vines back at the ranch. That update is coming later today.

Thanks for reading.

Bud Break!!!!!! Cabernet Sauvignon bud break!!!!

What we have here folks is bud break on my 3rd Cabernet Sauvignon cutting this spring.  Time to dance everyone!  Grab a partner, turn the music up, put on your shoes (or, for Woody Woodpecker fans, take your shoes off for the Sock Hop!), throw on your best dancing clothes.  Time to celebrate another success for this amateur gardener.  I am feeling pretty good about this.  The leaves are remarkable as they are shaped as simply smaller versions of what will come to be very large leaves on the formed vine.

As a matter of fact, I think listening to the song 'Going the Distance' by Cake will be a great way to begin the dance party.  This vineyard is going the distance.  Not too sure about going for speed. We want this to be an endurance effort.  Distance running for this vineyard and these vines.

Very, Very encouraging news.  Also, I received a catalogue from Double A Vineyards out of Fredonia, NY.  Excellent information in that little book.  The folks at Double A have been in the business for 20 years. 

Yesterday I shared a bottle of Pinot Noir with my roommate.  I tried to take some cheezy photos for use as a banner for this blog.  See the photos just beneath.  Totally not done well as there are two glasses of Pinot Noir and two cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon on the hardwood floor.  The Pinot was a Gallo selection. I purposely tried it because recently I came upon an interview featuring Kai Ryssdal from NPR's Marketplace and Joseph Gallo. Follow the link to listen to the interview:

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/11/16/growing_up_in_the_wine_industry/

68 degrees Fahrenheit for a high, 45 degrees for tonight's low

We may have shaken the Sucker Punch Frost Blues after all. Today I woke up and took a couple of snaps of the day's sky. The weather didn't require that I wear shirtsleeves. Brilliant, as yesterday's matters were so turbulent almost all throughout.

Also, after watering the Cabernet Sauvignon cutting that surprised me yesterday, this morning it appears that development of the bud has advanced. I can actually see the variegation of the leaf that will be arriving on the scene when bud break occurs. I attempted a few photos of what I see today, but my camera is not getting a good focus. The readers will just have to trust me on this one.





And back at the garden in Southeast Logan Square, there is another set of leaves coming out on the first of the Syrah vines to grow this year. Things are looking up. I was also listening to the local news on the television (read that with a Spanish voice in your head, ok.?), and I learned that parts of the area received upwards of 3 1/2 inches of rain when the last storm cluster rolled on through the territories here.