General Details

Merlot growers in Pennsylvania

19

out of 58 participants across PA

Years Grown

5 to 9 years

most common response   more details

5 to 9 years
36.8% (7)
10 to 15 years
26.3% (5)
16 to 20 years
15.8% (3)
More than 20 years
15.8% (3)
Less than 5 years
5.3% (1)

Acres Grown

32.9 acres

total for Merlot in the State of PA

Acres Grown

1.83 acres

average per participant   more details

0.5
27.8% (5)
1
16.7% (3)
1.5
16.7% (3)
2
5.6% (1)
3
5.6% (1)
0.6
5.6% (1)
4.3
5.6% (1)
0.1
5.6% (1)
9.3
5.6% (1)
3.6
5.6% (1)

Planting Properties

Spacing between rows

8 ft

most common response   more details

8 ft
36.8% (7)
9 ft
36.8% (7)
7 ft
21.1% (4)
6 ft
5.3% (1)

Spacing between vines

6 ft

most common response   more details

6 ft
31.6% (6)
3 ft
31.6% (6)
4 ft
26.3% (5)
7 ft
5.3% (1)
5 ft
5.3% (1)

Pruning Method

Cane pruning

most common response   more details

Cane pruning
60.0% (12)
Spur pruning
40.0% (8)

Trellis System(s)

Vertical shoot positioning (VSP)

most common response   more details

Vertical shoot positioning (VSP)
94.7% (18)
Other
5.3% (1)

Growth Habit

Upright

most common response   more details

Upright
73.7% (14)
Semi-upright
21.1% (4)
Unsure/Don't know
5.3% (1)

Growth Vigor

Moderate

most common response   more details

Moderate
63.2% (12)
Low
21.1% (4)
High
15.8% (3)

Crop Yield

Average Crop Yield Across Pennsylvania

2.92 tons/acre

without aggressive shoot/cluster thinning   more details

3
22.2% (4)
1
16.7% (3)
2.5
16.7% (3)
2.3
11.1% (2)
2
5.6% (1)
5
5.6% (1)
7.6
5.6% (1)
3.5
5.6% (1)
5.5
5.6% (1)
1.8
5.6% (1)

Cold and Frost Sensitivity

Bud Break Timing

Mid

most common response   more details

Mid
79.0% (15)
Early
15.8% (3)
Late
5.3% (1)

Cold Injury of Permanent Vine Structures

High susceptibility

most common response   more details

High susceptibility
63.2% (12)
Moderate susceptibility
21.1% (4)
Low susceptibility
10.5% (2)
Not susceptible
5.3% (1)

Cold Injury of Buds

Moderate susceptibility

most common response   more details

Moderate susceptibility
42.1% (8)
High susceptibility
42.1% (8)
Low susceptibility
10.5% (2)
Not susceptible
5.3% (1)

Crop/Disease Resilience

Difficulty controlling Downy Mildew

Moderate

most common response   more details

Moderate
47.4% (9)
Difficult
26.3% (5)
Very difficult
10.5% (2)
Easy
10.5% (2)
Very easy
5.3% (1)

Difficulty controlling Powdery Mildew

Easy

most common response   more details

Easy
36.8% (7)
Moderate
36.8% (7)
Very easy
15.8% (3)
Very difficult
5.3% (1)
Difficult
5.3% (1)

Difficulty controlling Black Rot

Easy

most common response   more details

Easy
42.1% (8)
Moderate
26.3% (5)
Very easy
15.8% (3)
Difficult
10.5% (2)
Very difficult
5.3% (1)

Difficulty controlling Phomopsis

Moderate

most common response   more details

Moderate
42.1% (8)
Easy
36.8% (7)
Difficult
10.5% (2)
Very easy
5.3% (1)
Very difficult
5.3% (1)

Difficulty controlling Anthracnose

Easy

most common response   more details

Easy
42.1% (8)
Moderate
36.8% (7)
Very easy
21.1% (4)

Difficulty controlling Sour Rot

Moderate

most common response   more details

Moderate
47.4% (9)
Easy
26.3% (5)
Very easy
15.8% (3)
Difficult
10.5% (2)

Difficulty controlling Botrytis Bunch Rot

Moderate

most common response   more details

Moderate
36.8% (7)
Easy
36.8% (7)
Very easy
15.8% (3)
Difficult
10.5% (2)

Sulfur/Copper Sensitivity

Not Sensitive

most common response   more details

Not Sensitive
44.4% (16)
Unsure/Don't know
33.3% (12)
Not sensitive
22.2% (8)

Grape Maturity and Composition

Brix at Harvest

21.11

avg response   more details

22
26.3% (5)
21
21.1% (4)
20
15.8% (3)
23
15.8% (3)
17
5.3% (1)
18
5.3% (1)
19
5.3% (1)
24
5.3% (1)

Chance the fruit will reach desired maturity

80%

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

80%
31.6% (6)
90%
21.1% (4)
60%
10.5% (2)
70%
10.5% (2)
30%
10.5% (2)
Does not apply
5.3% (1)
100%
5.3% (1)
50%
5.3% (1)

Harvest Timing

Mid-season

most common response   more details

Mid-season
50.0% (9)
Late
38.9% (7)
Very late
5.6% (1)
Early
5.6% (1)

Juice Yield, Processing and Chemistry

Juice Yield

151 to 165 gallons

per ton, most common response   more details

151 to 165 gallons
50.0% (6)
135 to 150 gallons
16.7% (2)
166 to 180 gallons
16.7% (2)
Less than 135 gallons
16.7% (2)

Processing Challenges

No processing challenges

most common response   more details

No processing challenges
58.3% (7)
High pH
41.7% (5)

Clarification Challenges

No clarification challenges

most common response   more details

No clarification challenges
100.0% (12)

Chemistry: Brix

21.00

avg response   more details

22
40.0% (4)
20
20.0% (2)
21
20.0% (2)
23
10.0% (1)
Lower than 17
10.0% (1)

Chemistry: pH

3.68

avg response   more details

4
45.5% (5)
3.5
45.5% (5)
3
9.1% (1)

Chemistry: Titratable Acidity

6.11

avg response   more details

7
33.3% (3)
5
22.2% (2)
6
22.2% (2)
8
11.1% (1)
Lower than 4
11.1% (1)

Wine Production

Years Experience Producing this Cultivar

5 to 10 years

most common response   more details

5 to 10 years
46.1% (6)
16 to 20 years
38.5% (5)
11 to 15 years
15.4% (2)

Barrels

French oak

most common   more details

French oak
50.0% (10)
American oak
25.0% (5)
Hungarian oak
15.0% (3)
Oak chips
10.0% (2)

Desirable Attributes

Flavor/aroma

most common   more details

Flavor/aroma
35.7% (10)
Versatility
14.3% (4)
Acidity
14.3% (4)
pH
14.3% (4)
Brix
10.7% (3)
Easy to stabilize
10.7% (3)

Style

Table/still

most common   more details

Table/still
81.3% (13)
Rosé
18.8% (3)

Sweetness

Dry (RS:<1%)

most common   more details

Dry (RS:<1%)
100.0% (13)

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
91.7% (11)
Yes, we began making wine with this cultivar because of customer requests
8.3% (1)

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

Sales have stayed the same

most common response   more details

Sales have stayed the same
61.5% (8)
Sales have increased
38.5% (5)

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
50.0% (6)
No, I do not plan to increase the volume of wine made with the cultivar
50.0% (6)