1997 GRAPE SUMMARY


    Grape production rebounded in 1997 from the disastrous 1996 crop year. Virginia's grape producers harvested 2,957.7 tons of commercial grapes in 1997, up 68 percent from the 1,763.5 tons produced in 1996 but five percent below 1995. Vineyard acreage totaled 1,565.4, an eight percent increase from a year ago. Non-bearing acres accounted for the largest increase due to several new vineyards entering into the market. Also adding to the increase in non-bearing acreage was replanted vines that replaced mature vines destroyed by freeze damage. Bearing acres totaled 1,277, up fractionally from 1996. This slight increase is due to the normal maturation of younger vines. The Chardonnay variety makes up 40 percent of Virginia's total production of all the Vinifera varieties. Also, Virginia's most popular variety accounts for 37 percent of all the Vinifera variety acreage and 28 percent of the total vineyards statewide.

    Although weather conditions were favorable for a vintage year, some vines had not recovered from previous winter damage and a late spring freeze which further reduced production potential. In addition to freeze damage, some producers reported severe bird and deer damage. Producers were fighting powdery mildew infestation along with other fungous diseases in some localities. Also Black Rot and Bunch Rot from last year's wet spring and summer conditions destroyed some White Riesling acreage. Several producers abandoned their vineyards due mostly to disastrous weather damage from previous years. .

Production and Acreage by Variety, 1997 1/
Variety Production Current Acreage
Bearing Non-bearing
-Tons-
-Acres-
-Acres-
VINIFERA:
Chardonnay 837 .0 392 .1 47 .1
Cabernet Sauvignon 357 .7 175 .6 34 .6
Cabernet Franc 190 .0 64 .6 38 .0
Gewurztraminer 19 .3 14 .6 1 .2
Meriot 124 .2 73 .4 20 .0
Pinot Noir 43 .6 25 .5 4 .9
Sauvignon Blanc 22 .0 11 .7 5 .2
White Riesling 225 .0 119 .2 7 .6
Other White Vinifera ** 145 .9 46 .5 53 .9
Other Red Vinifera ** 134 .5 41 .7 22 .3
HYBRID:
Seyval 206 .2 83 .3
*
Vidal Blanc 285 .0 87 .5 21 .2
Chambourcin 63 .0 31 .3 10 .3
Other White Hybrid ** 41 .6 21 .3 8 .5
Other Red Hybrid ** 57 .5 31 .8 3 .7
AMERICAN:
Concord 103 .1 28 .5
*
Seedless Table (all) 4 .3 3 .1 0 .3
Other Red/Black American ** 73 .4 12 .7 4 .3
Other White American ** 24 .4 12 .6
*
TOTAL: 		2,957 .7 1,277 .0 288 .4
1/ "Commercial" grape producers, as used here, includes producers of at least one acre of grapes primarily for sale or use in their own licensed winery. * Some varieties not published to avoid disclosing individual operations. Production and acreage are included in "state totals." ** White Hybrids: Cayuga, Rayon D'Or, Aurore, Chardonel. Red Hybrids: Foch, Villard Noir, Chancellor, Rougeon. White Vinifera: Malvasia, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Villard Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Symphony, Viognier, Chasselas. Red Vinifera: Carnelian, Barbera, Sangiovese, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Carmine. Red/Black American: Delaware, Steuben, Sheridan, Fredonia, Norton, Worden White. White American: Melody, Vignoles, Niagara.

Virginia Agricultural Statistics Service . (800) 772-0670