Winemaker’s Bookshelf
LomRombough’s book reminds us that a typical grapevine can outlive any grower, but only if given a supportive environment.
I
n recent years, my experience has been that many new entrants into the wine industry prefer to operate “organically” as first choice. There is no question about it. Pesticides have fallen from grace and in many cases it’s with good reason.
I’ve had a copy of Lon Rombough’s
book The Grape Grower: A Guide to Organic Viticulture for about five years, but it’s been gathering dust (metaphorically) in my computer files. (ISBN 978-1-60358-082-3). Kindle edition $23.90, paperback $27.27. Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing. Unfortunately Dr. Rombrough died of a heart attack several years ago. I tend to pick up books impulsively, even though I know I don’t have enough time to read them. In this case, I have an e-pub copy that I finally loaded onto my phone and had no further excuse for not reading, whenever I have a few minutes. I figured that I pretty much knew what he was going to say, but I wasn’t prepared for how he was going to say it.
I like the author’s down-to-earth style. He’s modest but very knowledgeable. His topics are easy to read and retain. He covers a great deal of up-to-date scientific material without going into the details of endless citations that break up the flow of information. He often reinforced his points by using personal anecdotes, such as his grandmother’s experience with an immortal grapevine behind the house.
It’s an average-sized textbook, 472 pages, with 13 chapters and a glossary. It opens with a description and diagrams of grapevine parts and then talks about the things you ought to know if you decide to grow grapes. He reminds us that a typical grapevine can outlive any grower, but only if given a supportive environment: a grape variety matched to the local climate and season
20 British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Winter 2016-17
By Gary Strachan Down to earth guide to organics
length, well drained soil, and good air drainage.
I like that he not only tells you what to do but why and how to it. The book is filled with good practical advice. Rombrough was a grape breeder and his book reflects the idea
that especially in marginal areas, the choice of an appropriate grape variety can determine success or failure of viticulture. For example, choice of a longer season variety that doesn’t ripen fully every year, will assure eventual failure. The risk is that your small crop of immature grapes will be mostly unattractive to buyers or the vineyard will gradually have to be replaced because of plants eliminated by winter injury. A detailed site assessment prior to planting is the best vineyard insurance that you can purchase. This book outlines how to do it.
After leading the grower through the factors affecting a new vineyard, the book details how to deal with the various infestations of grapes. The systemic, non-organic solutions are mentioned but don’t receive the
emphasis of organic solutions such as soluble oil, sulphur, or nurturing predatory insects.
The list of organic strategies is comprehensive and up-to-date. Even though the book was published over 10 years ago, there is a good discussion of items such as mycorrhizae, which are just now becoming mainstream and widely utilized. Regional differences throughout North America are discussed with regard to the differences in pest
management required by local climactic conditions, always with an eye to use of non toxic controls.
Predictably, the book has a
good discussion about the inherent pest resistance of native grape species and their progeny. There have been several waves of grape breeding with the intention of improving disease resistance and hardiness in grapes. Nineteenth-century researchers introduced North American phylloxera and mildews to Europe while crossing
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