MATT LAMBORNPacific Geodata, LLC / Lamborn Family Vineyards

TOWLE MERRITTWalsh Vineyards Management

V I N E YA R D C O O L I N G S T U D Y

STUDY PARTICIPANTS & SPONSORS

• Diageo / Beaulieu Vineyard• Walsh Vineyards Management• Pacific Geodata• Edwards Engineering• Jain Irrigation• Nelson Irrigation• Advanced Viticulture• Fruitfly Wine Sciences• Vinquiry• Additional funding sponsors (Phases II/III)

• Close Pegase• Cuvaison• Price Family Vineyards• Silverado Farming Company• Sonoma County Water Agency

V I N E Y A R D C O O L I N G S T U D Y

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

• Increase in mean temperatures / extreme heat events• Seeking to protect fruit / vines from heat• Minimize water use• Little to no formal research on vineyard cooling

V I N E Y A R D C O O L I N G S T U D Y

EFFECTS OF EXTREME HEAT ON VINES & FRUIT

• Limited research on the subject, but a few common themes emerge:

• ↑ sunburn and dehydration• ↓ harvest weights• ↓ acids while ↑ pH• ↓ photosynthesis• ↓ anthocyanins

V I N E Y A R D C O O L I N G S T U D Y

POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF VINEYARD COOLING

• ↓ temperatures (air, leaf, fruit, and soil)• ↑ relative humidity• ↓ transpirational stress• greater acid/pH balance• ↓ direct solar radiation while ↑ diffuse solar radiation (which

enhances photosynthesis) through the use of misting or fogging microsprayers

• Possible retention/balance of anthocyanins and other phenolics

V I N E Y A R D C O O L I N G S T U D Y

V I N E Y A R D C O O L I N G S T U D Y

STUDY LOCATION

• BV2 vineyard in Rutherford

V I N E Y A R D C O O L I N G S T U D Y

SPRAYERS

• Tested numerous misters & microsprayers• Criteria for successful sprayer:

• Pattern / size of spray relative to flow rate• Susceptibility to plugging

• Chose a microsprayer from Jain Irrigation• Converted from a drip emitter• 1 GPH flow rate• Self-flushing & pressure compensating

• Also looked at Nelson R5 pop-up sprayer• ~16’ spray radius

V I N E Y A R D C O O L I N G S T U D Y

COOLING SYSTEM DESIGN

• Vineyard planted to CS in 1996• 8’ x 8’ spacing, VSP• 3 test plot configurations:• Control (no cooling)• 2 microsprayers per vine above canopy• 1 Nelson R5 pop-up @ 16’ x 16’

• 2nd drip hose supplied water to sprayers• Sprayers connected to 2nd drip hose using

spaghetti line

• Microsprayer flow rate: 1,484 GPH/ac• Pop-up flow rate: 1,531 GPH/ac

V I N E Y A R D C O O L I N G S T U D Y

TEST PLOT LAYOUT

V I N E Y A R D C O O L I N G S T U D Y

TEMPERATURE MONITORING

V I N E Y A R D C O O L I N G S T U D Y

WHEN TO RUN THE SYSTEM?

02468

101214

1618202224262830

90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100

Trigger temperature ( ºF)

Num

ber o

f eve

nts

Maximum

Minimum

Median

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100

Trigger temperature ( ºF)

Dura

tion

(hou

rs)

Maximum

Median

V I N E Y A R D C O O L I N G S T U D Y

COOLING SYSTEM OPERATION

V I N E Y A R D C O O L I N G S T U D Y

COOLING SYSTEM OPERATION

Nelson R5 Pop-Up Jain Microsprayer

V I N E Y A R D C O O L I N G S T U D Y

COOLING RESULTS (2011)

Canopy Cordon Cluster0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

8.4

7.0

12.5

6.3 6.5

4.7

Over-Vine Microsprayers vs R5 Pop-Up Sprinklers

Over-the-vine microsprayers R5 pop-up sprinklers

COO

LING

EFFE

CT(d

egre

es fa

renh

eit)

COOLING TREATMENTS REVIEW

V I N E Y A R D C O O L I N G S T U D Y

flowrate

(gph) spacing (ft) # per acre

flowrate per acre

(gph)

R5 pop-up 9 16 x 16 170 1,531

Microsprayers 1.09 4 x 8 1,361 1,484

THANK YOU!

V I N E Y A R D C O O L I N G S T U D Y

PAC I F I CGEODATA