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Blaufränkish/Lemberger

Blaufränkish/Lemberger in Erie County

Blaufränkisch is a dark-skinned variety of grape used for red wine. Blaufränkisch, which is a late-ripening variety, produces red wines which are typically rich in tannin and may exhibit a pronounced spicy character. In America the grape is also known as Lemberger, Blauer Limberger or Blue Limberger and grown in Pennsylvania, Washington state, Michigan, New Jersey, Idaho, New York, Colorado, Ohio, Virginia, and California.

The Blaufränkisch vine is known as an early budding variety that can be susceptible to early spring frost. It is a late ripening variety, and tends to be planted in warmer vineyard sites. Among the viticultural hazards that Blaufränkisch is most prone to are powdery and downy mildews. Blaufränkisch is considered a high productive vine capable of producing high yields fairly easily. In some parts of Europe it is not uncommon to see it harvested at 100 hectolitres per hectare (4,300 US quarts per acre). However over-cropping the vine has a tendency to produce thin wines with many green, weedy notes. Wikipedia

Counties Grown:

General Details

Blaufränkish/Lemberger growers in Erie

5

out of 9 participants across PA

Years Grown

10 to 15 years

most common response   more details

10 to 15 years
60.0% (3)
Less than 5 years
20.0% (1)
More than 20 years
20.0% (1)

Acres Grown in this County

4.6 acres

total for Blaufränkish/Lemberger in Erie County

Acres Grown in this County

0.92 acres

average per participant   more details

0.8
40.0% (2)
1
20.0% (1)
1.9
20.0% (1)
0.1
20.0% (1)

Acres Grown in PA

9.4 acres

total

Planting Properties

Spacing between rows

9 ft

most common response   more details

9 ft
80.0% (4)
10 ft
20.0% (1)

Spacing between vines

6 ft

most common response   more details

6 ft
60.0% (3)
5 ft
20.0% (1)
4 ft
20.0% (1)

Pruning Method

Cane pruning

most common response   more details

Cane pruning
71.4% (5)
Spur pruning
28.6% (2)

Trellis System(s)

Vertical shoot positioning (VSP)

most common response   more details

Vertical shoot positioning (VSP)
100.0% (5)

Growth Habit

Upright

most common response   more details

Upright
80.0% (4)
Semi-upright
20.0% (1)

Growth Vigor

Moderate

most common response   more details

Moderate
60.0% (3)
Low
40.0% (2)

Crop Yield

Average Crop Yield In This County

3.46 tons/acre

without aggressive shoot/cluster thinning   more details

4
20.0% (1)
3.8
20.0% (1)
3.4
20.0% (1)
3.5
20.0% (1)
2.6
20.0% (1)

Average Crop Yield Across Pennsylvania

2.86 tons/acre

without aggressive shoot/cluster thinning   more details

2
30.0% (3)
4
10.0% (1)
5.1
10.0% (1)
0.2
10.0% (1)
3.8
10.0% (1)
3.4
10.0% (1)
3.5
10.0% (1)
2.6
10.0% (1)

Cold and Frost Sensitivity

Bud Break Timing

Mid

most common response   more details

Mid
60.0% (3)
Early
40.0% (2)

Cold Injury of Permanent Vine Structures

Moderate susceptibility

most common response   more details

Moderate susceptibility
60.0% (3)
Unsure/Don't know
20.0% (1)
Low susceptibility
20.0% (1)

Cold Injury of Buds

Low susceptibility

most common response   more details

Low susceptibility
60.0% (3)
Unsure/Don't know
20.0% (1)
Moderate susceptibility
20.0% (1)

Crop/Disease Resilience

Difficulty controlling Downy Mildew

Moderate

most common response   more details

Moderate
60.0% (3)
Difficult
20.0% (1)
Very difficult
20.0% (1)

Difficulty controlling Powdery Mildew

Moderate

most common response   more details

Moderate
40.0% (2)
Difficult
20.0% (1)
Very difficult
20.0% (1)
Easy
20.0% (1)

Difficulty controlling Black Rot

Moderate

most common response   more details

Moderate
60.0% (3)
Difficult
20.0% (1)
Easy
20.0% (1)

Difficulty controlling Phomopsis

Moderate

most common response   more details

Moderate
80.0% (4)
Easy
20.0% (1)

Difficulty controlling Anthracnose

Easy

most common response   more details

Easy
60.0% (3)
Moderate
40.0% (2)

Difficulty controlling Sour Rot

Moderate

most common response   more details

Moderate
80.0% (4)
Difficult
20.0% (1)

Difficulty controlling Botrytis Bunch Rot

Easy

most common response   more details

Easy
60.0% (3)
Difficult
20.0% (1)
Moderate
20.0% (1)

Sulfur/Copper Sensitivity

Not Sensitive

most common response   more details

Not Sensitive
50.0% (5)
Not sensitive
30.0% (3)
Unsure/Don't know
20.0% (2)

Grape Maturity and Composition

Brix at Harvest

21.00

avg response   more details

20
40.0% (2)
21
40.0% (2)
23
20.0% (1)

Chance the fruit will reach desired maturity

80%

in a given year, measured over the last 10 years   more details

80%
40.0% (2)
Does not apply
20.0% (1)
100%
20.0% (1)
70%
20.0% (1)

Harvest Timing

Late

most common response   more details

Late
75.0% (3)
Mid-season
25.0% (1)

Juice Yield, Processing and Chemistry

Juice Yield

166 to 180 gallons

per ton, most common response   more details

166 to 180 gallons
66.7% (2)
151 to 165 gallons
33.3% (1)

Processing Challenges

No processing challenges

most common response   more details

No processing challenges
100.0% (3)

Clarification Challenges

No clarification challenges

most common response   more details

No clarification challenges
100.0% (3)

Chemistry: Brix

20.50

avg response   more details

20
50.0% (1)
21
50.0% (1)

Chemistry: pH

3.33

avg response   more details

3.5
66.7% (2)
3
33.3% (1)

Chemistry: Titratable Acidity

6.00

avg response   more details

5
33.3% (1)
6
33.3% (1)
7
33.3% (1)

Wine Production

Years Experience Producing this Cultivar

5 to 10 years

most common response   more details

5 to 10 years
66.7% (2)
Less than 5 years
33.3% (1)

Barrels

French oak

most common   more details

French oak
66.7% (2)
Oak staves
33.3% (1)

Desirable Attributes

Flavor/aroma

most common   more details

Flavor/aroma
33.3% (2)
Brix
16.7% (1)
Acidity
16.7% (1)
pH
16.7% (1)
Versatility
16.7% (1)

Style

Table/still

most common   more details

Table/still
100.0% (3)

Sweetness

Dry (RS:<1%)

most common   more details

Dry (RS:<1%)
100.0% (3)

Consumer Demand

Did you begin making wine with this cultivar because of customer requests?

No, we did not begin making wine with the cultivar because of customer requests

most common response   more details

No, we did not begin making wine with the cultivar because of customer requests
100.0% (3)

Over the past three years, have sales for wine made from the following cultivars increased, stayed the same, or decreased?

Sales have increased

most common response   more details

Sales have increased
66.7% (2)
Sales have stayed the same
33.3% (1)

Do you have plans to, or would you like to, increase the volume of wine you have available for consumers to purchase?

Yes, I plan to/would like to increase the volume of wine made with the cultivar

most common   more details

Yes, I plan to/would like to increase the volume of wine made with the cultivar
66.7% (2)
No, I do not plan to increase the volume of wine made with the cultivar
33.3% (1)