Growers Alerted to Vine Malady ‘Red Blotch’ UC Davis researchers report to Napa Viticulture Group

by Paul Franson

Napa, Calif.—In its ongoing fight against grapevine pests, the Napa Valley Technical Viticultural group brought in the big guns from the University of California, Davis, last week. Andy Walker from the viticulture and enology department gave an update on recent findings about phylloxera, and Jim Wolpert presented evidence of a mysterious new scourge; he asked grapegrowers at the meeting to let him know if they’ve encountered it. A new threat to vines? Called “red blotch” for its distinctive appearance, Wolpert said the new malady is not caused by known viruses or other plant diseases. He said that plants at the Oakville Experimental Station show the condition, and that it seems to be spreading there. It may be localized, but he has also noticed similar symptoms elsewhere in Napa Valley. “I don’t mean to be alarmist,” he said, but admitted, “We don’t know what it is yet.” He added that it could be due to unique nutritional or other conditions. Instead of the deep purple of leafroll virus, red blotch causes red leaves with pink/red veins on the reverse side. The reddening appears primarily at the base of the shoots. Of great concern—particularly in a cool year like this one—is that affected vines accumulate lower sugar levels: They have at least 2º Brix less than healthy, green vines. This condition is consistent across the affected vines. The Napa Valley Grapegrowers is working with UC Davis to identify Napa Valley vineyards that may have red blotch. Growers there—or elsewhere—observing these symptoms in their vineyards should contact Wolpert at jawolpert@ucdavis.edu or (530) 754-6245 . Update on phylloxera The major part of the session was devoted to an update by Andy Walker, who reported recent findings about phylloxera, the bug that devastated European grapevines planted on their own roots until growers learned to use resistant rootstocks with grafted vinifera scions. Some of the findings were surprising. First, many new varieties of phylloxera have evolved and been identified; Walker and others have been testing their impact on popular rootstocks and vines. They gathered many on a trip from Boston to Texas, stopping every 50 miles to collect samples from vines. “Grapevines grow everywhere, if you know where to look,” he said. He found phylloxera to be prevalent everywhere, too, and expects it will also eventually be found in places where it’s not now considered a problem—including some emerging wine regions. Walker said it’s not clear how the louse is evolving, since it’s generally considered to reproduce asexually. Recent studies, however, suggest that it may have a sexual stage, which could help explain the new strains. It also develops wings, which could explain some dispersal. Imported rootstocks and vines, some imported illegally, may be another source of new phylloxera strains. Foliar phylloxera Of late, many rootstock nurseries in Yolo and Solano counties (also at UC Davis and the USDA Clonal Germplasm Repository) have been infected with a strain of bacteria that causes small galls in their leaves. These are most severe where the rootstocks are grown on the ground without trellises: Rootstock suckers act as a conduit to the vinifera leaves, but very few galls form on vinifera varieties. This foliar phylloxera can reduce nursery production, but doesn’t seem to affect vineyard production. Walker added that phylloxera is rarely seen above ground. The forms of phylloxera that feed on leaves and those that feed on roots seem distinctive, however. Interestingly, phylloxera lives on and feeds on the root tips of even some rootstocks considered resistant, but it doesn’t necessarily damage the vine. Some rootstocks seem particularly resistant to strains of phylloxera to which others are susceptible. The popular 1103 rootstock is susceptible to root tip feeding, but not damaging feeding to established roots. The rootstock has such large root systems that it seems able to compensate. The bugs feed on St. George, but don’t seem to affect it significantly, perhaps for the same reason. The original strains of phylloxera that in the past devastated California vineyards planted on their own roots are still here, but new ones seem to have evolved or have been imported. Phylloxera doesn’t kill plants by feeding on them but by causing wounds that allow various fungi into the plant. These fungi cause galls that girdle the roots and cut them off. Ironically, phylloxera can live on the severed roots and may even find them a superior food source. Disking fields can also sever roots with the same impact: Infected roots can live as long as seven years. Walker and his colleagues are searching for improved rootstocks resistant to new strains of phylloxera, with special interest in V. berlandieri. Unfortunately, resistance to phylloxera isn’t the only consideration: Drought tolerance and resistance to salinity are important, and nematodes and viruses are other increasing threats. Walker pointed out that growers break cardinal rules of agriculture by not rotating crops or leaving fields fallow for long periods, and they tend to use the same rootstocks over and over, increasingly the likelihood of pests developing resistance. Walker recommended the text Wine Grape Varieties in California as a current guide to rootstocks. An audience member put him on the spot by asking for his recommendations. He said that if he were planting his own vineyard in a virgin site, he’d prob ably use a clean stock of 110R, but warned that it’s susceptible to viruses and has no nematode resistance.

http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=news&content=94145&htitle=Update%20on%20Winegrape%20Pests

Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.

Things to do in Clark Philippines and Pampanga: do a little wine shopping at the famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

Residents of Pampanga Angeles City, Subic, Tarlac and Clark Philippines know of this wine shop as one of the best places in Clark, a good night out place and simply the best place to hang out, enjoy some good wine with cheese on the roof deck with good atmosphere, or just relax and unwind with friends and family in a cool place. This wine shop in Clark Pampanga is recognized by many to be one of the best places to buy fine vintage wine in the Philippines. Located near Mimosa Leisure Estate surrounded by golf courses, resorts and a casino, this well known wine shop is frequently visited for its good selection of wine not available in Manila or Subic. Clark Wine Center is open 7 days a week from 10am to 8pm. Private dinners, wine tastings and group gatherings can be organized by advanced reservation.

Foodies and wine lovers travel north from Manila to wine and dine at Philippines’ best fine dining restaurant in Pampanga Clark Freeport worth the 60-minutes drive for a memorable evening of good food with vintage wine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most guests would stop by this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center to bring home a few good bottles of fine vintage wine also. Other visitors may find the wine selections in some of the restaurants in Angeles City Pampanga to be less than interesting, so they stop by this wine shop near Angeles City Pampanga Clark Philippines, buy some good wines and bring these bottles of good vintage wines to the restaurants so they can enjoy the dinner.

Wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Alsace, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Chile and Argentina etc. are well represented in this Clark Wine Shop.

This is one of the frequently visited places for wine lovers from Manila and Angeles City to buy international wines in Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com