trying to idenafy the graps ? - Ask Extension
Hi My name is Randy, we have grape vines at our place we just moved into.. we don't know anything about these grapes.. when to pick and what kind of w...
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trying to idenafy the graps ? #262170
Asked July 15, 2015, 1:38 PM EDT
Hi My name is Randy, we have grape vines at our place we just moved into.. we don't know anything about these grapes.. when to pick and what kind of wine they are for ? hope you can help ? thank you
Thurston County Washington
Expert Response
Hi Randy,
Without much planting history and not knowing what the final ripened fruit looks like, it is exceedingly hard to ID these varieties. I recommend sending me some pictures of the fruit this fall (likely mid-September) to help with the identification (please send these to my WSU address rather than "Ask an Expert"). It is likely a hybrid variety, or one of the cool-climate selections that are commonly grown in Western WA. Given the shape of the leaf, I think it is a hybrid variety.
Alternatively, if you want to know ASAP, UC-Davis offers a grape genetic test (http://fps.ucdavis.edu/dnamain.cfm). Since grapes are pleomorphic (express different leafshapes depending on age and environmental conditions ), we recommend genetic testing for an absolute id. If you aren't that concerned, then the general response is yes it is a wine grape variety, and likely a hybrid.
We have a lot of information on grape production on our website: wine.wsu.edu/research-extension, which articles specific to western Washington noted by the "WESTERN WA" tag. You might find our publication guide titled "Growing Winegrapes in Maritime Western Washington" (EM068e) useful. It also has information on when to harvest fruit in the area. It's generally based on taste, sugar and acid development in the fruit; most fruit in your area is harvested when sugar reaches around 18 Brix, as measured by a refractometer. A traditional hand-held, or a simple digital refractometer is all you would need if you plan on making wine. You will need additional materials for winemaking (generally, a pH meter to help measure just pH and titratable acidity, which are important numbers in understanding how to get a healthy fermentation going). Most grapes, if it is an appropriate selection for your county (not all grapes grow well in Thurston), will ripen between end of September to beginning of November. If it is an inappropriate selection (one of the standard wine grape varieties that you most likely recognize), then it may not ripen enough for wine production.
While most of our resources are geared towards commercial grape production, we do have a page for backyard/ hobby growers that you also might find helpful: http://wine.wsu.edu/research-extension/backyard-vineyard/
Cheers,
Michelle
Without much planting history and not knowing what the final ripened fruit looks like, it is exceedingly hard to ID these varieties. I recommend sending me some pictures of the fruit this fall (likely mid-September) to help with the identification (please send these to my WSU address rather than "Ask an Expert"). It is likely a hybrid variety, or one of the cool-climate selections that are commonly grown in Western WA. Given the shape of the leaf, I think it is a hybrid variety.
Alternatively, if you want to know ASAP, UC-Davis offers a grape genetic test (http://fps.ucdavis.edu/dnamain.cfm). Since grapes are pleomorphic (express different leafshapes depending on age and environmental conditions ), we recommend genetic testing for an absolute id. If you aren't that concerned, then the general response is yes it is a wine grape variety, and likely a hybrid.
We have a lot of information on grape production on our website: wine.wsu.edu/research-extension, which articles specific to western Washington noted by the "WESTERN WA" tag. You might find our publication guide titled "Growing Winegrapes in Maritime Western Washington" (EM068e) useful. It also has information on when to harvest fruit in the area. It's generally based on taste, sugar and acid development in the fruit; most fruit in your area is harvested when sugar reaches around 18 Brix, as measured by a refractometer. A traditional hand-held, or a simple digital refractometer is all you would need if you plan on making wine. You will need additional materials for winemaking (generally, a pH meter to help measure just pH and titratable acidity, which are important numbers in understanding how to get a healthy fermentation going). Most grapes, if it is an appropriate selection for your county (not all grapes grow well in Thurston), will ripen between end of September to beginning of November. If it is an inappropriate selection (one of the standard wine grape varieties that you most likely recognize), then it may not ripen enough for wine production.
While most of our resources are geared towards commercial grape production, we do have a page for backyard/ hobby growers that you also might find helpful: http://wine.wsu.edu/research-extension/backyard-vineyard/
Cheers,
Michelle
trying to identify the grapes ?
Hi Randy,
I do not fully understand your question "trying to identify the grapes?"....
As mentioned in my last response, the variety is likely a hybrid, but identification based on plant development is limited, and really cannot happen until the fruit start to ripen. Even then, it may not be exact, as hybrids are exceeding difficult to identify.
Alternatively, as described in my last email, you can send samples to UC Davis, and they can ID the plants using genetics. The link for that was in the last response.
I do not fully understand your question "trying to identify the grapes?"....
As mentioned in my last response, the variety is likely a hybrid, but identification based on plant development is limited, and really cannot happen until the fruit start to ripen. Even then, it may not be exact, as hybrids are exceeding difficult to identify.
Alternatively, as described in my last email, you can send samples to UC Davis, and they can ID the plants using genetics. The link for that was in the last response.
