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18 W i n e s & V i n e s O C T O B e R 2 0 1 4 S E P T E M B E R N E W S O C T O B E R N E W S A lbany, N.Y.—From Iowa to New Eng- land, the winter of 2014 was unusually cold. New York was no exception, and it endured a series of low-temperature epi- sodes in January and February that resulted in significant bud injury in many vineyards. Cold-sensitive vinifera grape varieties were damaged across the state, and the extreme cold affected even cold-hardy northern variet- ies such as the Minnesota and Cornell hybrids grown in the Thousand Islands region of northern New York. The table "2014 Winter Injury" shows the low temperatures during the past winter in three regions in New York. In late August, state agriculture commis- sioner Richard A. Ball announced that New York's farm wineries would be permitted to purchase grapes and juice from outside the state because "a loss of grapes of 40% or more has occurred for the 15 grape varieties, due to adverse weather conditions during the winter of 2013-14." The specific varieties that are covered by commissioner Ball's announce- ment include vinifera varieties Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gamay Noir, Gewürztraminer, Lemberger, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Syrah as well as the cold-hardy hybrids Bri- anna, Frontenac, La Crescent and Noiret. Commissioner Ball based his decision on two surveys conducted by Cornell Coopera- tive Extension (CCE). First, CCE sent out a brief online survey to New York grapegrowers, asking for an estimate of the reduction in yield from a "normal" crop, the acreage of each va- riety and a three-year average tonnage from their vineyards by variety. A total of 65 re- sponses were received, representing 209 vinif- era and 159 hybrid blocks. The results for cold-sensitive vinifera cultivars showed aver- age crop reduction of more than 40% for 10 varieties. More severe injury was reported in the Lake Erie region, while Long Island grow- ers noted little or no winter injury-related crop reduction. Growers estimated crop reduction of more than 40% for six of 33 hybrid culti- vars, all of which were cold-climate varieties grown in the North Country region. To supplement the online grower surveys, CCE agents visited 188 vineyard blocks across New York, including 91 blocks in the Finger Lakes, 18 blocks in the Hudson Valley, 63 blocks in the Lake Erie region and 16 in the North Country. The Long Island region was not surveyed, as the region did not have any significant winter injury. In each block, extension agents did a 30-vine sample, esti- mated the number of clusters for each vine and then rated each vine on a zero to five scale. The ratings were then used to calculate the percentage of a full crop. The table "Statewide 30-Vine Survey Esti- mates" shows the results of the statewide sur- vey for the 15 varieties that had the most winter damage and the estimated percentage of crop reduction. tOP StORY New York OKs Out-of-State Grapes Region Low temperatures Finger Lakes -5.8º to -22º F Lake Erie (Niagara) -8º to -10º F Lake Erie (Chatauqua) -10º to -15º F North Country (Clayton) -26º to -34º F North Country (Black Lake, Philadelphia) down to -40º 2014 Winter Injury CORNELL COOPERATIVE ExTENSION