May 20, 2024
Andy Walkers’ Pierces Disease-Resistant Grapes are a Success at Ojai Vineyard
In the 1880s, Pierce’s disease caused a devastating, total collapse of the Southern California grapevine industry. Today, growers have hope for the future thanks to new varieties. Adam Tolmach, owner of Ojai Vineyard, planted four of these new varieties as a field trial on a plot of land where Pierce's disease wiped out his grapes in 1995.
Pierce’s disease is a bacterium spread by insects, typically a sharpshooter. One bite and the vine dies within two to three years. To develop resistant varieties, Andy Walker of the University of California at Davis crossed the European grape Vitis vinifera with Vitis arizonica. 20 years later, commercial growers have access to three red and two white varieties.
Listen in to learn how Tolmach’s experiment is a success both in the vineyard and with customers. Plus get tasting notes for the new varieties.
Resources:
- REGISTER: The Ins & Outs of Developing a New Vineyard Site
- 89: New Pierce’s Disease Vaccine (podcast)
- 137: The Pierce's Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board
- 2021 Pierce’s Disease Research Symposium session recordings
- Anita Oberholster, UC Davis Viticulture and Enology Webpage
- Office Hours with Dave and Anita, Episode 11: Pierce’s Disease-Resistant Winegrape Varieties
- Ojai Vineyard
- Pierce’s Disease resistant winegrape varieties overview
- UC breeds wine vines resistant to Pierce’s disease
- UC Davis releases 5 grape varieties resistant to Pierce’s disease
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