So I sent out the first newsletter for ThreeDog Winery this past week announcing our first ever event. I must say that I was totally overwhelmed with the response. This planting party planned for Saturday June 8, is turning out to be a BIG PARTY. We are looking at triple digits of you guys on the end of a shovel. So first let me say a BIG THANK YOU!
As it stands right now we have my buddy Mike from Seed to Sausage www.seedtosausage.ca coming by with some of his amazing wares. We have our neighbours down the road Fiddlehead Farms www.fiddlehead-farm.ca bringing the veggies. Neighbours from around the corner Pyramid Farms and Ferments www.pyramidfarmandferments.com bringing a side. Retired Chef Suzanne Lafrance who now runs Moonlight on the Lake B and B, www.bbcanada.com/11205.html putting together some of her amazing deserts.
The party is coming together, but still working on a few things. So stay tuned for more details. and if you haven't yet booked your spot there is still a few vines for you to plant.
You can RSVP to: wine@threedogwine.com
Follow us on twitter @ThreeDogWine
Facebook Three Dog Winery
Or just use that old method our website; www.threedogwine.com
Cheers
and stay tuned.
John
Monday, April 15, 2013
Friday, April 5, 2013
In January we had a blast of cold weather. The coldest it got down to was -26, cold enough to kill the primary buds on Vinifera. There could be a good side to that cold weather that invaded Prince Edward County, (Remember its always better to look at the glass as half full that way you never go thirsty.) it has made pruning decisions simple on all Vinifera. Everything above the dirt is done.
-23 Celsius is the killing temperature for all Vinifera. That means that here in the County all buds that were exposed have been severely damaged if not killed. If the buds produce anything from the secondaries, the chances are it will not produce any fruit. The fruit for this year was produced last year and is held in the dormant bud that is formed at the base of every leaf along the growing shoot. Inside this little bump along the cane is the leaves, shoot, and the fruit cluster for this coming growing season. All of this is held in the primary bud. Damage to the primaries can start at -15 Celsius.
Although the dormant bud looks like a simple structure, it is actually a compound bud consisting of three growing points, sometimes referred to as the primary, secondary, and tertiary buds within one bud. The distinction between secondary and tertiary buds is sometimes difficult to make when observing the bud visually and is often of little importance, so it is common to refer to both of the smaller buds as secondary buds. These three buds are packaged together within a group of external protective bud scales within the compound bud.
The dormant bud is the focal point during dormant pruning, since it contains cluster primordia (the fruit-producing potential for the next season). It is called dormant to reflect the fact that it does not normally grow out in the same season in which it develops. The dormant bud initiates the year prior to its growth as a shoot. During that prior season, it undergoes considerable development. The three growing points of the compound bud each produce a rudimentary shoot that ultimately will contain the same basic components that comprise the current season’s fully grown shoot: leaves, tendrils, and in some cases flower clusters. The primary bud develops first; therefore it is the largest and most fully developed by the time the bud goes dormant. If it is produced under the right growing conditions, and it will contain a flower cluster primordia before the end of the growing season. The flower cluster primordia thus represent the fruiting potential of the bud in the following season. Reflecting the sequence of development, the secondary and tertiary buds are progressively smaller and less developed. They generally will be less fruitful (have fewer and smaller clusters) than the primary bud. Bud fruitfulness (potential to produce fruit) is a function of the varietal and vineyard management practices. Dormant buds that develop under unfavorable conditions (shade of a dense canopy, poor nutrition, disease etc.) produce fewer flower cluster primordia for the following season.
In most cases, only the primary bud grows, producing the primary shoot in the following season. The secondary bud can be thought of as a “backup system” for the vine; normally, it grows only when the primary bud or young shoot has been damaged, oftentimes from freezing County cold or late frosts in spring. Such as what happened April 2012. Tertiary buds provide additional backup if both the primary and secondary buds are damaged, but they usually have no flower clusters and therefore no fruit. If only the primary shoot grows, the secondary and tertiary buds remain alive, but dormant at the base of the shoot.
The protection of the primary buds is the reason that we here in beautiful Prince Edward County, "tie down" and bury canes every fall on our Vinifera. So that is the reason when we get a cold snap of -26 Celsius, our pruning decision is easy. The fruit this year is going to come from that cane that we buried last fall.
-23 Celsius is the killing temperature for all Vinifera. That means that here in the County all buds that were exposed have been severely damaged if not killed. If the buds produce anything from the secondaries, the chances are it will not produce any fruit. The fruit for this year was produced last year and is held in the dormant bud that is formed at the base of every leaf along the growing shoot. Inside this little bump along the cane is the leaves, shoot, and the fruit cluster for this coming growing season. All of this is held in the primary bud. Damage to the primaries can start at -15 Celsius.
Although the dormant bud looks like a simple structure, it is actually a compound bud consisting of three growing points, sometimes referred to as the primary, secondary, and tertiary buds within one bud. The distinction between secondary and tertiary buds is sometimes difficult to make when observing the bud visually and is often of little importance, so it is common to refer to both of the smaller buds as secondary buds. These three buds are packaged together within a group of external protective bud scales within the compound bud.
The dormant bud is the focal point during dormant pruning, since it contains cluster primordia (the fruit-producing potential for the next season). It is called dormant to reflect the fact that it does not normally grow out in the same season in which it develops. The dormant bud initiates the year prior to its growth as a shoot. During that prior season, it undergoes considerable development. The three growing points of the compound bud each produce a rudimentary shoot that ultimately will contain the same basic components that comprise the current season’s fully grown shoot: leaves, tendrils, and in some cases flower clusters. The primary bud develops first; therefore it is the largest and most fully developed by the time the bud goes dormant. If it is produced under the right growing conditions, and it will contain a flower cluster primordia before the end of the growing season. The flower cluster primordia thus represent the fruiting potential of the bud in the following season. Reflecting the sequence of development, the secondary and tertiary buds are progressively smaller and less developed. They generally will be less fruitful (have fewer and smaller clusters) than the primary bud. Bud fruitfulness (potential to produce fruit) is a function of the varietal and vineyard management practices. Dormant buds that develop under unfavorable conditions (shade of a dense canopy, poor nutrition, disease etc.) produce fewer flower cluster primordia for the following season.
In most cases, only the primary bud grows, producing the primary shoot in the following season. The secondary bud can be thought of as a “backup system” for the vine; normally, it grows only when the primary bud or young shoot has been damaged, oftentimes from freezing County cold or late frosts in spring. Such as what happened April 2012. Tertiary buds provide additional backup if both the primary and secondary buds are damaged, but they usually have no flower clusters and therefore no fruit. If only the primary shoot grows, the secondary and tertiary buds remain alive, but dormant at the base of the shoot.
The protection of the primary buds is the reason that we here in beautiful Prince Edward County, "tie down" and bury canes every fall on our Vinifera. So that is the reason when we get a cold snap of -26 Celsius, our pruning decision is easy. The fruit this year is going to come from that cane that we buried last fall.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Friday on the Tractor, or Foch this.
Spent the this past Friday on the back of the John Deere, going back and forth and back and forth across a field. This wasn't because I was bored, nor was it because I was just looking for something to do. You see I have this soft spot for a lovely little French Hybrid, that I want to plant, grow and make wine, to share with all of you.
So in order to plant next spring, you start to prep the ground at the very least the fall before. Ideally if you have all the time in the world, you would prep a year or more in advance. This way you could plow it in the fall. Disc it the next spring. Cultivate to get rid of the weeds and trash. (Trash is basically the dead weeds and grasses.) Grow a cover crop to smother the weeds that are always growing. Cut the cover crop and plow it under to increase the organic matter. Then repeat the whole process as many times as possible before you plant your vines. In my case, because I have a day job, I have to squeeze things in when I can, and this sometimes means leaving things till the very last minute. So I must say thank you for a mild and relatively dry week before the winter solstice.
Now that the field is plowed, the winter snow, and the freeze and thaw cycles will break down the furrows. Then come the spring I can run over the field with the disc, and hopefully if there is time the cultivator a few times and get it ready for you guys to come out and help me plant some vines. That's right, you guys can come and help plant vines. RSVP to wine@threedogwine.com.
Back to that lovely little French Hybrid. The one that I fell in love with many years ago is Kuhlmann 188-2. Most of you probably know it as Marechal Foch (pronounced "mar-esh-shall-fosh"). Us lovers of the little grape just call Foch. Foch was bred in the Alsace region of France, by Eugene Kuhlmann (1858-1932). Basically it a cross of Millardet et DeGrasset 101-14 x Goldriesling. Although one reference, (The Brooks and Olmo Register of Fruit & Nut Varieties. Third Edition. 1997) states that it could be a hybrid of Oberlin 595 x Pinot Noir. That could explain my love affair with it, because it shares that same earthy/gaminess that Pinot has. That wonderful stick your nose in the glass and get a snoot full of some wonderfully delicious and different every time.
Foch is a great grape to grow in Ontario. It is hardy to -30 Celsius, ripens by the end of September or early October, even in cold crappy summers. That said there is very few wineries producing Foch in Prince Edward County or even Ontario. Sandbanks Winery www.sandbankswinery.com and Malivoire www.malivire.com are really the only 2 producing it regularly. BC seems to have more producers, Quails Gate www.quailsgate.com is where I was introduced and fell in love with it. If you can get your hands on the Family Reserve Old Vines Foch, I guarantee you will love it.
Again we look forward to seeing you out, getting your hands dirty helping us plant a few vines. We are planning on June 8, 2013 for the planting party. Please rsvp to wine@threedogwine.com.
Visit our website www.threedogwine.com to find out more.
So in order to plant next spring, you start to prep the ground at the very least the fall before. Ideally if you have all the time in the world, you would prep a year or more in advance. This way you could plow it in the fall. Disc it the next spring. Cultivate to get rid of the weeds and trash. (Trash is basically the dead weeds and grasses.) Grow a cover crop to smother the weeds that are always growing. Cut the cover crop and plow it under to increase the organic matter. Then repeat the whole process as many times as possible before you plant your vines. In my case, because I have a day job, I have to squeeze things in when I can, and this sometimes means leaving things till the very last minute. So I must say thank you for a mild and relatively dry week before the winter solstice.
Now that the field is plowed, the winter snow, and the freeze and thaw cycles will break down the furrows. Then come the spring I can run over the field with the disc, and hopefully if there is time the cultivator a few times and get it ready for you guys to come out and help me plant some vines. That's right, you guys can come and help plant vines. RSVP to wine@threedogwine.com.
Back to that lovely little French Hybrid. The one that I fell in love with many years ago is Kuhlmann 188-2. Most of you probably know it as Marechal Foch (pronounced "mar-esh-shall-fosh"). Us lovers of the little grape just call Foch. Foch was bred in the Alsace region of France, by Eugene Kuhlmann (1858-1932). Basically it a cross of Millardet et DeGrasset 101-14 x Goldriesling. Although one reference, (The Brooks and Olmo Register of Fruit & Nut Varieties. Third Edition. 1997) states that it could be a hybrid of Oberlin 595 x Pinot Noir. That could explain my love affair with it, because it shares that same earthy/gaminess that Pinot has. That wonderful stick your nose in the glass and get a snoot full of some wonderfully delicious and different every time.
Foch is a great grape to grow in Ontario. It is hardy to -30 Celsius, ripens by the end of September or early October, even in cold crappy summers. That said there is very few wineries producing Foch in Prince Edward County or even Ontario. Sandbanks Winery www.sandbankswinery.com and Malivoire www.malivire.com are really the only 2 producing it regularly. BC seems to have more producers, Quails Gate www.quailsgate.com is where I was introduced and fell in love with it. If you can get your hands on the Family Reserve Old Vines Foch, I guarantee you will love it.
Again we look forward to seeing you out, getting your hands dirty helping us plant a few vines. We are planning on June 8, 2013 for the planting party. Please rsvp to wine@threedogwine.com.
Visit our website www.threedogwine.com to find out more.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Been Awhile. How have you been?
OK, I know its been a very long time since I did a posting. We had hoped to have our doors wide open by now and be able to share our passion with all of you. But as most of you know sometimes life can give a you kick where you don't want it, or to be a little more subtle you can be dealt a bad card. The best thing to do when this happens is to take a moment collect your breathe and thoughts and start again. Now that I have that out of the way, lets move on.
In the last post I talked about my hunt for Pinot Noir clone 828. Well the search has been over for awhile now. In June 2011, we planted 800 Pinot clone 828, on Riperia rootstock. We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the 2013 growing season, and the harvest of all 4 clones. Pay attention for your invite to come and help us harvest! Can you say Harvest Party.
Talking about parties. We are planning a little Planting Party for the spring. June 8th we are looking for those people who want to get down and dirty with us. A little gardening, a little fun and a little getting to know your neighbors. RSVP to wine@threedogwine.com.
This will give you an opportunity to see what we have been working on and what we have planned. Currently we are in discussions with a couple of contractors to build our winery. As always dealing with contractors is fun and stimulating. We hope to break ground in the New Year and we will be able to give you a tour and talk to you more about our plans in June.
Stay tuned for more posts, now that I am motivated I think I can keep this up on a much more regular basis. Shouldn't be hard since the last one was a year and a half ago.
Time for a glass.
Cheers.
John
In the last post I talked about my hunt for Pinot Noir clone 828. Well the search has been over for awhile now. In June 2011, we planted 800 Pinot clone 828, on Riperia rootstock. We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the 2013 growing season, and the harvest of all 4 clones. Pay attention for your invite to come and help us harvest! Can you say Harvest Party.
Talking about parties. We are planning a little Planting Party for the spring. June 8th we are looking for those people who want to get down and dirty with us. A little gardening, a little fun and a little getting to know your neighbors. RSVP to wine@threedogwine.com.
This will give you an opportunity to see what we have been working on and what we have planned. Currently we are in discussions with a couple of contractors to build our winery. As always dealing with contractors is fun and stimulating. We hope to break ground in the New Year and we will be able to give you a tour and talk to you more about our plans in June.
Stay tuned for more posts, now that I am motivated I think I can keep this up on a much more regular basis. Shouldn't be hard since the last one was a year and a half ago.
Time for a glass.
Cheers.
John
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Pinot Noir
Aahh, Pinot, that seductive little mynx of a grape. So many different personalities, each one a little different, each one a little more seductive. Pinot is described as "sex in a glass" by Master Sommelier Madelaine Triffon. This is the reason that people become so passionate about Pinot. It gets under your skin, into your blood, and when you smell its heady aromas in the glass it stimulates something in your mind, you know right away that its Pinot.
When I say Pinot, I am of course talking about Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir over the centuries has mutated into hundreds of different clones, and varietals such as Pinot Gris/Grigio, Pinot Blanc/Blanco, and Pinot Meunier.
At Three Dog we have currently three different Pinot Noir clones planted, 115, 667, and 777. All are planted, for that matter all of our Vinifera are planted on Riperia rootstock. We will get into rootstocks at some other date. We hope to get some Pommard clone from our friends over at Lailey this spring, depending on the damage from the cold. http://www.laileyvineyard.com/ This is the clone that is used their Old Vines Pinot, a great Pinot. This clone will be custom grafted by Grapevale Nursery http://www.grapevale.ca/. We have be been attempting to hunt down other clones to plant this spring, 828 and/or 943 both on Riperia, but no luck yet.
Why all this concern over different clones? Does it really matter when its all Pinot anyway? Here is some details on the clones that we have in the ground now, I will chat about a few others in the very near future.
Clone 115: Bud burst, flowering, and ripening are all fairly early. Clusters are small like little hand grenades, not that I have ever held one. Makes wine with a good strong purple colour, people have said to mean when made as a stand alone wine that it is to much colour for a Pinot. Great nose, elegent, soft cherry notes.
Clone 667: Bud burst, flowering, and ripening are a little later than 115. Clusters are larger than 115. Makes wine with a brilliant bright colour. Always an interesting nose, with different layers and less fruit than 115. Wine seems to also be more tannic than 115.
Clone 777: Bud burst, flowering, are later than both 115 and 667, but ripening are in line with them. Clusters are smaller than 667, more like 115 but looser. Wines with a intensley coloured. Nose matches the colour, strong cherry and berry notes. By itself I find it a stronger Pinot, more intense than the softer feminine style that I love.
Blending the different clones is an attempt to tease the best out of each clone. Also it is fun, believe it or not, tasting the different clones and figuring out what the best blend is.
In case you need another reason to drink Pinot Noir, it seems to be three to four times higher in resveratrol than other varietals, especially when grown in cooler climates like Prince Edward County. So raise a glass to our health.
Cheers
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When I say Pinot, I am of course talking about Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir over the centuries has mutated into hundreds of different clones, and varietals such as Pinot Gris/Grigio, Pinot Blanc/Blanco, and Pinot Meunier.
At Three Dog we have currently three different Pinot Noir clones planted, 115, 667, and 777. All are planted, for that matter all of our Vinifera are planted on Riperia rootstock. We will get into rootstocks at some other date. We hope to get some Pommard clone from our friends over at Lailey this spring, depending on the damage from the cold. http://www.laileyvineyard.com/ This is the clone that is used their Old Vines Pinot, a great Pinot. This clone will be custom grafted by Grapevale Nursery http://www.grapevale.ca/. We have be been attempting to hunt down other clones to plant this spring, 828 and/or 943 both on Riperia, but no luck yet.
Why all this concern over different clones? Does it really matter when its all Pinot anyway? Here is some details on the clones that we have in the ground now, I will chat about a few others in the very near future.
Clone 115: Bud burst, flowering, and ripening are all fairly early. Clusters are small like little hand grenades, not that I have ever held one. Makes wine with a good strong purple colour, people have said to mean when made as a stand alone wine that it is to much colour for a Pinot. Great nose, elegent, soft cherry notes.
Clone 667: Bud burst, flowering, and ripening are a little later than 115. Clusters are larger than 115. Makes wine with a brilliant bright colour. Always an interesting nose, with different layers and less fruit than 115. Wine seems to also be more tannic than 115.
Clone 777: Bud burst, flowering, are later than both 115 and 667, but ripening are in line with them. Clusters are smaller than 667, more like 115 but looser. Wines with a intensley coloured. Nose matches the colour, strong cherry and berry notes. By itself I find it a stronger Pinot, more intense than the softer feminine style that I love.
Blending the different clones is an attempt to tease the best out of each clone. Also it is fun, believe it or not, tasting the different clones and figuring out what the best blend is.
In case you need another reason to drink Pinot Noir, it seems to be three to four times higher in resveratrol than other varietals, especially when grown in cooler climates like Prince Edward County. So raise a glass to our health.
Cheers
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Winter has come to the County
The killing temperature of Vinifera, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay etc...is -23 degrees Celsius. Hybrids such as Baco Noir are hardier than Vinifera. Although the killing temperature is -23 for Pinot Noir, damage starts to occur at -12 or even warmer if there is damage from mildew or other diseases. This damage can limit next years crop, by killing or injuring the Primary buds on the cane. Baco Noir and Vidal are hardy to about minus 27. While Marechel Foch is hardy to -30, Minnesota hybrids, such as Frontenac and Frontenac Gris, which were bred by the University of Minnesota are hardy, to about -40.
To avoid the damage caused by the winter cold, here in the County we bury some of the canes. Essentially with Vinifera we bury or lay down 1 or 2 canes each way from the vine. These canes are then "hilled up". Hilling up is completed after harvest, obviously, and before the ground freezes. Basically the same you do to roses to protect them from the cold, but on a much larger scale. This is done with a grape hoe on the side of the tractor and a vplow off the back of the tractor. The higher the hill, the more dirt on the canes, therefore the more protection on the canes. This dirt then needs to come off in the spring which we will cover when its warmer.
So now lets sit back by the fire and enjoy a glass of County Pinot.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Welcome to the Three Dog Whine
Welcome to the first Three Dog Whine Blog. We will attempt to keep you up to date on the growth, development, and eventual opening of Three Dog Wines. Three Dog Wines, is located in beautiful Prince Edward County, the newest and fastest growing wine region in Canada. We hope to soon join the ranks of the other 30 plus wineries in the "County".
Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Baco Noir, and Vidal, plus some exciting blends will becoming your way as soon as we can wean the wines.
You can visit our website http://www.threedogwine.com/.
Sign up for our newsletter at wine@threedogwine.com . We promise not bombard your mailbox, but you will be the first to know about some special treats we plan to throw your way.
Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Baco Noir, and Vidal, plus some exciting blends will becoming your way as soon as we can wean the wines.
You can visit our website http://www.threedogwine.com/.
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