I will be planting 80 Zinfandel vines this spring.
I live in the Green Valley appelation of Sonoma (a cool area within the
Russian River Valley appelation).
Does anyone have suggestions, recomendations for clone and rootstock?
Thanks in advance.
Emilio

Emilio,

You might consider Pinot Noir or Chardonnay out there in that cool climate
instead of Zin. And unless you're grafting your own, you might have to
select from what the nurseries have left; the selection gets slim by this
time of the year. See what they recommend, and what your neighbors are
growing (most likely Pinot & Chard).

Furthermore, the rootstock really depends on your soil type/conditions, and
to some extent the irrigation, trellising, and canopy management you plan to
use. Check with the U.C. Cooperative Extension County Farm Advisor:

2604 Ventura Ave., Room 100, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Phone: (707) 565-2621 Fax: (707) 565-2623

Web site: <http://cesonoma.ucdavis.edu/>

If you do go with Zin, I imagine they'd suggest a vigorous rootstock such as
St. George or 100R.

Good Luck! -Rob

"Emilio Castelli" > wrote in message
...
> I will be planting 80 Zinfandel vines this spring.
> I live in the Green Valley appelation of Sonoma (a cool area within the
> Russian River Valley appelation).
> Does anyone have suggestions, recomendations for clone and rootstock?
> Thanks in advance.
> Emilio
>
>

I have lots of input from locals. Most of them telling me I should not plant
Zinfandel at all.
But I have planted Sangiovese because my favorite wine is Brunello, Nebbiolo
because it is the grape grown where I was born and now I am going to plant
Zinfandel because my wife's roots are in Croatia.

Actually I will also be getting some Jackass Hill clippings soon and I am
going to plant them w/o grafting. Some might make it.
Thanks.
E

butlercellars > wrote in message
...
> Emilio,
>
> You might consider Pinot Noir or Chardonnay out there in that cool climate
> instead of Zin. And unless you're grafting your own, you might have to
> select from what the nurseries have left; the selection gets slim by this
> time of the year. See what they recommend, and what your neighbors are
> growing (most likely Pinot & Chard).
>
> Furthermore, the rootstock really depends on your soil type/conditions,
and
> to some extent the irrigation, trellising, and canopy management you plan
to
> use. Check with the U.C. Cooperative Extension County Farm Advisor:
>
> 2604 Ventura Ave., Room 100, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
>
> Phone: (707) 565-2621 Fax: (707) 565-2623
>
> Web site: <http://cesonoma.ucdavis.edu/>
>
> If you do go with Zin, I imagine they'd suggest a vigorous rootstock such
as
> St. George or 100R.
>
> Good Luck! -Rob
>
> "Emilio Castelli" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I will be planting 80 Zinfandel vines this spring.
> > I live in the Green Valley appelation of Sonoma (a cool area within the
> > Russian River Valley appelation).
> > Does anyone have suggestions, recomendations for clone and rootstock?
> > Thanks in advance.
> > Emilio
> >
> >
>
>

Emilio,

I have to say that while there may be a stylistic norm for zinfandel in
California that makes for super strong and very heavy fruit-forward Zins, I
think Sonoma will proove to be much better suited to the variety for the
production of fine Zins with ageworthiness. One of the best California
Zinfandel's I've tasted was Sebastiani's
Sonoma valley Old Vines Zinfandel. The wine showed a depth of character and
complexity that is simply absent from Zins made from fruit grown in hot
areas. One thing to note with respect to Zinfandel is that "old vines" have
often been recognized for production of superior wines. While you obviously
cannot purchase 80 year old vines for your vineyard, you may want to
consider more open spacing and training to a larger perennial structure.
Some believe (and I think I may be one of them!) that some of the "old vine"
quality comes from the fact that old vines are simply larger relative to
their perennial wood. In any event, open spacing of 8-9 feet between vines
and 3-5 inches betwen shoots would provide a large perennial structure and
plenty of sunlight and air circualation around the fruit....

MAN! I AM JUST RAMBLING ON AND ON..... My apologies.

As to your question.... I suggest contacting Sebastiani and find out what
they have. Maybe they would even spare you some cuttings??

CHEERS and good luck!!

Aaron



"Emilio Castelli" > wrote in message
...
> I have lots of input from locals. Most of them telling me I should not
plant
> Zinfandel at all.
> But I have planted Sangiovese because my favorite wine is Brunello,
Nebbiolo
> because it is the grape grown where I was born and now I am going to plant
> Zinfandel because my wife's roots are in Croatia.
>
> Actually I will also be getting some Jackass Hill clippings soon and I am
> going to plant them w/o grafting. Some might make it.
> Thanks.
> E
>
> butlercellars > wrote in message
> ...
> > Emilio,
> >
> > You might consider Pinot Noir or Chardonnay out there in that cool
climate
> > instead of Zin. And unless you're grafting your own, you might have to
> > select from what the nurseries have left; the selection gets slim by
this
> > time of the year. See what they recommend, and what your neighbors are
> > growing (most likely Pinot & Chard).
> >
> > Furthermore, the rootstock really depends on your soil type/conditions,
> and
> > to some extent the irrigation, trellising, and canopy management you
plan
> to
> > use. Check with the U.C. Cooperative Extension County Farm Advisor:
> >
> > 2604 Ventura Ave., Room 100, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
> >
> > Phone: (707) 565-2621 Fax: (707) 565-2623
> >
> > Web site: <http://cesonoma.ucdavis.edu/>
> >
> > If you do go with Zin, I imagine they'd suggest a vigorous rootstock
such
> as
> > St. George or 100R.
> >
> > Good Luck! -Rob
> >
> > "Emilio Castelli" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I will be planting 80 Zinfandel vines this spring.
> > > I live in the Green Valley appelation of Sonoma (a cool area within
the
> > > Russian River Valley appelation).
> > > Does anyone have suggestions, recomendations for clone and rootstock?
> > > Thanks in advance.
> > > Emilio
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Emilio,
Your primary problem is going to be getting the fruit to ripen. For at least
the first five years limit them to no more than one fruit cluster per shoot,
two shoots every fist width on the cordon arms, and remove everything else.
If you have good sun exposure you might be able to up the production on warm
years after the vine is fully mature, 7+ years.

Since it's a home operation you should do ok with just planting vineyard
cuttings. Get them now while they are pruning, wrap them in burlap and store
them in a cool, slightly damp environment. Make 18" cuttings from pruned
canes, 45 degree angle at the top and leave 2 buds, shave off the lower buds
otherwise you will have suckers galore for many years to come. You are
susceptible to frost where you are, especially if on flat ground or low
area, so plant no sooner than the third or fourth week of April. Otherwise I
would recommend contacting one of the local vineyard nurseries NOW to hold
any dormant benchgrafts they may have left over. Your selection for this
years plantings will be very limited.

Good Luck
Frank

"Emilio Castelli" > wrote in message
...
> I will be planting 80 Zinfandel vines this spring.
> I live in the Green Valley appelation of Sonoma (a cool area within the
> Russian River Valley appelation).
> Does anyone have suggestions, recomendations for clone and rootstock?
> Thanks in advance.
> Emilio
>
>

I agree with most of what you are saying; however, don't overlook the fact
that here in Sonoma and Napa, we have very diverse areas of climate and
terrior. While Sonoma Valley, and even parts of the Russian River Valley,
can produce some excellent old vine Zins, they may not do so well in Green
Valley, which is cooler, densely forested, influenced by marine air, and
gets heavy fog and rainfall. We have 100+ year old head trained Zin vines in
RRV that do exceptionally well, but they are farther inland and North, where
it's warmer, dryer, and much sunnier

There are varieties better suited to Emilio's area than Zin, but he
certainly can't hurt anything trying to grow it. I'd say go for it and lets
us know how it goes!

-Rob


"Aaron Puhala" > wrote in message
...
> Emilio,
>
> I have to say that while there may be a stylistic norm for zinfandel in
> California that makes for super strong and very heavy fruit-forward Zins,
I
> think Sonoma will proove to be much better suited to the variety for the
> production of fine Zins with ageworthiness. One of the best California
> Zinfandel's I've tasted was Sebastiani's
> Sonoma valley Old Vines Zinfandel. ...

I agree with most of what you are saying; however, don't overlook the fact
that here in Sonoma and Napa, we have very diverse areas of climate and
terrior. While Sonoma Valley, and even parts of the Russian River Valley,
can produce some excellent old vine Zins, they may not do so well in Green
Valley, which is cooler, densely forested, influenced by marine air, and
gets heavy fog and rainfall. We have 100+ year old head trained Zin vines in
RRV that do exceptionally well, but they are farther inland and North, where
it's warmer, dryer, and much sunnier

There are varieties better suited to Emilio's area than Zin, but he
certainly can't hurt anything trying to grow it. I'd say go for it and lets
us know how it goes! -Rob

Emilio -

While I love zin, I worry for you putting these heat-loving grapes out
there. Not that they won't grow, but that you'll be trying to figure
out why they still aren't ripe at Christmas.

Here's an idea - You could grow "colder" grapes (such as Pinot,
Chardonnay, or even Sauv Blanc or Riesling) where you are, and get a
trade arrangement with someone out there with a backyard vinyard in a
warmer area (such as Alexander Valley, Upper Sonoma or Napa Valley,
Lodi or Livermore) that has zin going.

Maybe that would help.

Rob

Also check out the following link.
http://www.invinoveritas.com/bestof/2002/dg.shtml

Frank

"Frank" > wrote in message
news:0ydXb.30982$uV3.52429@attbi_s51...
> Emilio,
> Your primary problem is going to be getting the fruit to ripen. For at
least
> the first five years limit them to no more than one fruit cluster per
shoot,
> two shoots every fist width on the cordon arms, and remove everything
else.
> If you have good sun exposure you might be able to up the production on
warm
> years after the vine is fully mature, 7+ years.
>
> Since it's a home operation you should do ok with just planting vineyard
> cuttings. Get them now while they are pruning, wrap them in burlap and
store
> them in a cool, slightly damp environment. Make 18" cuttings from pruned
> canes, 45 degree angle at the top and leave 2 buds, shave off the lower
buds
> otherwise you will have suckers galore for many years to come. You are
> susceptible to frost where you are, especially if on flat ground or low
> area, so plant no sooner than the third or fourth week of April. Otherwise
I
> would recommend contacting one of the local vineyard nurseries NOW to hold
> any dormant benchgrafts they may have left over. Your selection for this
> years plantings will be very limited.
>
> Good Luck
> Frank
>
> "Emilio Castelli" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I will be planting 80 Zinfandel vines this spring.
> > I live in the Green Valley appelation of Sonoma (a cool area within the
> > Russian River Valley appelation).
> > Does anyone have suggestions, recomendations for clone and rootstock?
> > Thanks in advance.
> > Emilio
> >
> >
>
>

Another link to this Green Valley Zin

http://www.duttongoldfield.com/acrobat/01MorZn.pdf

Frank


"Emilio Castelli" > wrote in message
...
> I will be planting 80 Zinfandel vines this spring.
> I live in the Green Valley appelation of Sonoma (a cool area within the
> Russian River Valley appelation).
> Does anyone have suggestions, recomendations for clone and rootstock?
> Thanks in advance.
> Emilio
>
>