Modern Viticulture
Introduction
The materials gathered in this section were written as a collaboration between Charles Kamins, a Napa Valley wine maker and publisher and Richard Nagaoka, a St. Helena based viticulturalist well known in all the wine growing regions of Northern California.
Some of these articles were first published in the Wine Country Weekly Real Estate Reader [1] a weekly periodical distributed in the nine counties of the San Francisco Bay Area. The original purpose of these articles was to provide information helpful for readers interested in developing vineyard land. Topics cover evaluation of existing vineyards as well as evaluation of undeveloped land for vineyard potential.
There is a great deal of literature available on the subject of viticulture (see External Links below). What is unique about the articles presented here is they represent an introduction for laymen in simple language that's easy to understand and helpful for non-scientists with an aim to invest in the vineyard business or develop vineyard land as a hobby. The reader will also find the practices outlined here, in some cases, are specific to the wine growing regions north of the San Francisco Bay and reflect a uniquely "home-grown" philosophy of vineyard development.
The area north of the San Francisco Bay has been known for over a century as an ideal environment for cultivation of high-quality wine grapes. Whereas farmers have grown grapes in the area for over a century, it is only recently, since the 1960s, that a viable economic model has allowed the advanced development of a wine industry based in the New World.
Articles
Vineyard Development
Introduction to Wine Growing
Vineyard Development Costs
Evaluating an Existing Vineyard for Purchase or Redevelopment
Evaluating Undeveloped Land for Vineyard Potential
Viticultural Profiles
Merlot - The most forgiving of the red grapes
Pinot Noir Challenges California Wine Makers
California Chardonnay - How to grow the most popular varietal
Zinfandel - California's Native Grape
Cabernet Sauvignon - the King of Wine Grapes
The Density Debate
High density planting - Is it really worth the incredible expense?
Lost in Space - High density vineyard spacing revised
Arriving at Optimum Vineyard Density
Miscelaneous Topics
How I once planted a vineyard in nothing but rock
Grape Brokers play an important role
Sparkling wine production from Champagne to the North Coast
External Links
Viticulture [2]
History of Wine [3]
History of California Wine [4]
Napa Valley AVA [5]
Sacramental Wine [6]
Health Effects of Red Wine [7]