Advances in modern
viticulture (the farming of grapes) have led to dramatic improvements in wine
quality in the Lodi Wine Region. Through the extensive efforts of the
Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission, local growers, and vintners, Lodi has led
the industry in funding and implementing many of the most progressive
viticultural practices. These efforts have resulted in vast improvements in
quality that will continue well into the future.
Canopy
Management
The leaf and fruit bearing portion of the grapevine is
called the canopy. Ensuring that the grapes receive the proper amount of
sunlight is essential for producing quality wines. Ongoing advances in
trellising the vines, positioning the shoots, and manipulating the canopy has
resulted in a greater intensity of fruit flavor in the finished wines.
Irrigation
In
drier climates, such as Lodi, the grower has precise control over how much
water to administer to the vine. Extensive research in Lodi has demonstrated
that deficit irrigation (limiting the amount of water at a precise time) leads
to dramatic increase in quality.
Technology &
Mechanization
Recent advances in technology and mechanization have
had a profound effect on how winegrapes are farmed. Whether it's satellite
imagery that detects vine deficiencies or a mechanical harvester that leaves
underripe berries on the vine; whether it's a weather station in the vineyard
or an electrostatic sprayer that limits the amount of pesticide applied; Lodi
growers now have the most sophisticated tools and information at their disposal
for producing world-class wines.
Rootstock & Clonal
Selection
Advances in the research and selection of rootstocks and
clones have aided growers in the development of new vineyards in the Lodi
region. With a wealth of new information, growers can now appropriately match
the rootstock and clonal selection to the soil type and microclimate of their
vineyard.
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