Nova Scotia Grape Blog

Upcoming Evets and Vineyard Observations

2026-06-03T16:04:38.726-03:00

Hello Dear Growers and Happy Wednesday!

I hope you have all gad a good start to the week.

The first spray should already be down. Most have also either seeded their cover crops or will do shortly.

The weather this weeks looks promising, so the little lag of unseasonably cool weather is hopefully on its way out.

We had several growers around the province send in photos over the last couple of weeks; the start of the season is looking good so far. If you are noticing any pests/ diseases in your vineyards, please send in photos and tell us what you notice. I have already observed Erineum Mite activity at a few vineyard sites this season. Kumulus and Purespray Green are both effective management options. When using sulphur products such as Kumulus, please note that certain hybrid varieties may be sensitive and could exhibit phytotoxicity. Be sure to consider varietal susceptibility before application.

Upcoming Events

Vineyard Readiness: Soil, Cover Crops & Seasonal Strategy

Event Details

June 16, 2026
10:30AM – 2:00PM 
Jost Vineyards, 48 Vintage Lane, Malagash

Session Description

Join us for a hands-on vineyard learning day where growers will have the opportunity to compare vineyard practices, discuss seasonal management strategies and learn directly in the field. We’ll discuss cover crop benefits and challenges in vineyard systems, soil health and vineyard floor management, early-season pest and disease management strategies, canopy management approaches for cool climate vineyards, and compare practices across different vineyard sites and conditions.

This event is designed to encourage practical discussion, peer learning and knowledge sharing among growers in the region. Walk the vineyard, ask questions and gain insight into management decisions being made throughout the growing season. Join us in the vineyard and take part in the conversation!

Guest Speakers

Yvonne Schoening and Sven VonKintzel, Managers of Jost Vineyards
Gina Haverstock, Winemaker at Jost Vineyards and Winery
Stephane Badet, Agriculture Economist from Bordeaux, France

Sign up here: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/vineyard-readiness-soil-cover-crops-seasonal-strategy/edate/2026-06-16/

Rooted in Terroir:

We’re bringing together grape growers, wineries and industry partners on this special industry field day.

Sign up here: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/rooted-in-terroir-identity-collaboration-growth-in-nova-scotia-wine-sector/edate/2026-06-18/

If you have any questions regarding the events, please don't hesitate to reach out. I look forward to seeing you there.

Thank you all for your time this week. Looking forward to seeing you in the field this vintage.

Cheers!

Katarina

Bud Break is Here! Event and Lab Services Information

2026-05-15T16:09:10.957-03:00

Hello Dear Growers, and Happy Long Weekend!

This week has been focused on planning several upcoming summer events, and I am pleased to share that the week of June 15–19 will feature a series of vineyard visits and learning opportunities across Nova Scotia.

As mentioned during the GGANS AGM, we will be welcoming Stephane Badet, an Agriculture Economist from Bordeaux, for a week of industry discussions and site visits focused on cool climate viticulture, sustainability, and regional development. Throughout the week, we will explore topics including:

Canopy Management
Disease Management
Cover Cropping
Sustainability
Diversification

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 | 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

JOST Field Day

Vineyard and cellar visit at Jost Vineyards
Visit to Fox Harb'r Resort Vineyards

Discussion themes will include cover cropping, canopy management, and pest and disease management.

Participants are welcome to remain on-site for lunch at the Jost Café following the field day.

Thursday, June 18, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Ellslea Vineyard Field Day

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Discussion led by Stephane Badet on viticultural diversification, co-operation, and resilience within the wine sector.

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Steve Ells will host a vineyard tour and discuss vineyard management practices at Ellslea Vineyard.

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Nova Scotia: “The Cool” in Cool Climate Terroir presentation and discussion.

Registration pages for both events will be available shortly. I wanted to share these opportunities in advance and hope you will be able to join us for one or both events.

Warmer weather is officially here!

This weekend, we are expecting temperatures in the low 20s. I visited several sites last week and captured Osceola at budbreak.

Lab Services:

Perennia Now Offering Analytical Testing

Effective May 1, 2026, Perennia is fully operating the former Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture (NSDA) Analytical Lab at the Harlow Institute Building, 176 College Road in Truro.

In addition to mineral and bacteria water testing, we are conducting the same tests as previously offered:

Soil analysis for lawn, garden and field samples

Soil amendment analysis

Greenhouse soil, nutrients and water + field, milk house water, etc.

Feed analysis

Digest samples

Plant tissue analysis

We are also continuing to offer the 50 per cent discount on the same tests as when the lab was operated by NSDA for farmers with a current farm registration number. Our service fees also haven’t been changed and the overview PDF is available at https://www.perennia.ca/analytical-lab

For drinking water samples, Perennia is referring and transporting these daily Monday to Thursday to an accredited lab in the HRM. NSDA’s ISO accreditation for this testing was not transferrable to Perennia. Thus, we are doing all the extensive paperwork required for a new ISO accreditation for Perennia and anticipate taking drinking water samples after a successful audit this summer. We will keep everyone updated. For now, water samples for these tests can only be accepted at the Harlow Building in Truro.

All other samples can continue to be dropped off at:

NSDA Digby, Antigonish and Kentville offices (Kentville will be phased out as a drop off location in the coming weeks)

Nova Scotia Department for Natural Resources and Renewables Strathlorne Nursery in Inverness

Harlow Building in Truro

Perennia office in Kentville (28 Aberdeen Street – drop off will be at the entrance at the back of the building facing the side of the Independent grocery store. Parking is available – feel free to park in the space directly in front of the door for quick drop off.)

Soil collection supplies can also be obtained at these locations along with submission forms and resources.

All drop-off dates and times, locations, submission forms, how-to resource forms and interpretation guides, payment methods and fee listing are all available at www.perennia.ca/labservices where you can also order tests from our Plant Health Lab.

For more information or questions please contact labs@perennia.ca

Thank you all for your time this week. I hope you have a lovely long weekend, and enjoy the sunshine!

Cheers!

Katarina

Upcoming Events and Refreshers

2026-04-30T15:10:00.000-03:00

Hello Dear Growers!

I hope you have had a good start to the week.

There are several points to emphasize this week, but first, I would like to thank Bruce and Steve for sharing their knowledge at our webinar titled: Shared Pressures, Different Approaches: Vineyard Pest and Disease Management Round-Table Discussion.

The permanent link will be available as soon as I receive it from our Marketing team. For now, I would appreciate it if the viewers to attended last week's session would use this QR code and answer the short survey on the quality of the information presented.

As spring quickly approaches, I would also like to link here a little refresher on Early Season Pest Management: Early Season Vineyard Pest Management - YouTube

This is the webinar Kevin Ker presented a short while ago on the products to use and their efficacy on various pests and diseases. In his presentation, Kevin also comments on the timing on those sprays. This is a great review prior to our first application this spring.

As I mentioned at the GGANS AGM, we will be hosting a guest this June- agriculture economist- Stephane Badet. I am currently finalizing his agenda, and will post here several public learning sessions I would encourage you to attend. He will be visiting us from the 15th to 22 June.

Lastly, our team has been hard at work organizing the Atlantic Agronomy and Extension Conference scheduled for 15-16 July 2026. Please see the graphic here and register on the link below.

Atlantic Agronomy & Extension Conference – Perennia

If you have any questions, please contact our team.

Lastly, in preparation for the season ahead, I have been finalizing the pesticide efficacy table for our Pest Management Guide. It will be posted shortly to assist in your product selections and control of various pests.

Thank you all for your time this week, and I look forward to seeing you in the field soon.

Cheers!

Katarina.

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Last Call to Register for Webinar: Shared Pressures, Different Approaches: Vineyard Pest and Disease Management Round-Table Discussion

2026-04-20T16:11:00.005-03:00

Hello Dear Growers!

A quick reminder this week for the upcoming webinar:

Wednesday, 22 April 2026 @ 12pm-1pm

Shared Pressures, Different Approaches: Vineyard Pest and Disease Management Round-Table Discussion

Please register here: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/shared-pressures-different-approaches-vineyard-pest-and-disease-management-round-table-discussion/edate/2026-04-22/

Once the session is completed, we would appreciate it if you would scan the QR code and complete a short survey.

I would like to thank our panelists- Bruce Ewert (L'Acadie Vineyards and Winery) and Steve Ells (Ellslea Vineyards) for participating in the webinar and sharing their knowledge and expertise. I anticipate this to be an excellent discussion and I hope you will join us.

Thank you all, and I look forward to seeing you this Wednesday at 12 noon.

Cheers! and Happy Monday!

-Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Away Notice 1st to 12th April

2026-03-30T14:53:00.000-03:00

Hello Dear Growers!

I hope you enjoyed the Cost of Production webinars and found them useful. If you need the live viticulture excel sheets, please email me. They are also posted in PDF on the Grapes section of the Perennia website.

If you would like to view the webinars again, please see the 2026 Webinar section of the Grapes page of the Perennia website.

Upcoming Events:

April 22, 2026

12:00PM – 1:00PM

Shared Pressures, Different Approaches: Vineyard Pest and Disease Management Round-Table Discussion

Session Description

Join Steve Ells and Bruce Ewert for a facilitated grower roundtable discussion. We bring together vineyard operators using different management systems to discuss how they manage pest and disease pressure in their own vineyards. We’ll focus on practical decision-making, operational constraints and trade-offs, highlighting shared challenges rather than comparing or debating production systems.

Please register here: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/shared-pressures-different-approaches-vineyard-pest-and-disease-management-round-table-discussion/edate/2026-04-22/

Notice of absence:

Please note that I will be away from the 1st to 12th April. If a matter is urgent please contact the Perennia office and one of our specialists will reach out to you. I hope you all have a lovely long weekend and enjoy your Easter weekend.

Thank you for your time this week, and I look forward to seeing you upon my return.

Cheers!

-Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

2026-03-17T10:09:00.002-03:00

Hello Dear growers,

Happy Tuesday!

I hope you attended and enjoyed the webinar by Andrew Moon. I have already received several comments that it was very useful and practical- which is exactly what we intended.

If you would like a copy of his excel spread sheets please email me. They will also be saved as PDFs and posted on the "Grapes" section of the Perennia website. The webinar itself will be available after editing- within the week.

There are two other webinars this week related to cost of production tracking:

Horticulture Grower Cost of Production Panel

March 18, 2026

12:00PM – 1:00PM

Here, Yvonne Schoening of Jost Vineyards and Winery will be presenting her tracking methodology with other horticulture growers. The session is an hour long in total, with three other speakers from other commodities joining the panel. Please catch this webinar to learn about how other commodities track their expenses as it may give you ideas for the future.

Please look for Session 6 and Sign up Here: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/gettingintotheweeds2026/

Winery Economics 101: From Production Costs to a Winery Budget

March 19, 2026

1:00PM – 2:00PM 

Building on the Vineyard Economics 101 webinar, guest speaker Geoff McIntyre will present practical approaches to tracking winery production costs and translating them into an effective, working budget. This session will explore key cellar expenses, along with cost management strategies and tools to support planning, informed decision-making, and overall profitability.

Sign up here: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/winery-economics-101-from-production-costs-to-a-winery-budget/

Shared Pressures, Different Approaches: Vineyard Pest and Disease Management Round-Table Discussion

April 22, 2026

12:00PM – 1:00PM 

Join guest speakers Steve Ells and Bruce Ewert for a facilitated roundtable discussion as they share how they manage pest and disease pressure within their own vineyard operations. The session will focus on practical decision-making, operational constraints, real-world trade-offs, and the challenges they encounter—along with the approaches and strategies they use to address them, offering valuable insights growers can apply in their own vineyards.

Sign up here: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/shared-pressures-different-approaches-vineyard-pest-and-disease-management-round-table-discussion/edate/2026-04-22/

Summer Visits and Learning Opportunities:

Stephane Badet Visit 13-22 June

Further expanding learning opportunities around cost of production, Stéphane—an agricultural economist from Bordeaux—will be visiting as part of a knowledge exchange, delivering a masterclass on cooperatives, growth opportunities, diversification, and building a long-term, sustainable strategy for success.

I will keep you informed as to our visits and discussion topics as we get closer to his arrival.

Markus Keller Visit- Early August

Markus Keller is a leading viticulture researcher and professor at Washington State University, will be visiting Nova Scotia in early August for a three-day program of masterclasses and vineyard visits. Renowned for his work on grapevine physiology and sustainable vineyard management, he will share his expertise on how environmental factors like climate, water, and nutrients influence vine growth, yield, and fruit quality, providing valuable insights for growers and industry professionals.

Do keep an eye on other learning opportunities throughout the season. I will be posting reminders and registration links as well.

If you have any questions or would like a vineyard visit, please email or call me to set up an appointment.

Thank you all for your time and I look forward to working with you.

Cheers!

Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Upcoming Events

2026-02-26T13:29:00.000-04:00

Hello Dear Growers!

I hope you have all had a good week so far.

We are inching toward spring (finally), so I would like to draw your attention to a few events coming up that would be useful to attend.

1. Getting Into the Weeds-

Each of these hour-long sessions focuses on Cost of Production in different operational settings.

I would like to draw your attention to the upcoming session on March 18.

Yvonne Schoening of Jost Vineyards and Winery will be part of a panel discussing her experiences implementing systems to track activities and expenses, as well as the processes and tools she uses in her vineyard operations.

Horticulture Grower Cost of Production Panel

March 18, 2026
12:00PM – 1:00PM

Link to Register: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/gettingintotheweeds2026/

*If you have missed any of the previous sessions and are still interested in auditing them, they are available on the Perennia YouTube channel.

Event #2:

Vineyard Economics 101: Budgeting and Financial Planning for Atlantic Canadian Vineyards

Date: March 11, 2026

Time: 1:00PM – 2:00PM 

Join me and our guest speaker Andrew Moon and learn how to interpret cost of production data, allocate expenses across the growing season and use budgeting to support planning, decision-making and long-term financial sustainability.

Link for Details and Registration: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/vineyard-economics-101-budgeting-and-financial-planning-for-atlantic-canadian-vineyards/

Event #3:
Winery Economics 101: From Production Costs to a Winery Budget
Date: March 19, 2026
Time: 1:00PM – 2:00PM 

Guest speaker Geoff McIntyre will cover key cellar expenses, cost management strategies and tools for planning, decision-making and profitability.

Link for Details and Registration: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/winery-economics-101-from-production-costs-to-a-winery-budget/edate/2026-03-19/

If you have any questions about any of the events, or would like a 1 on 1 visit, please contact me. My details are below.

Thank you all for your time this week, and I look forward to seeing you all at the GGANS AGM on March 7th.

Cheers!

Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

PRUNING WORKSHOP- 7 FEBRUARY; 10AM @ LUCKETT VINEYARD AND WINERY

2026-01-28T11:03:00.006-04:00

Good Morning Dear Growers!

This is my first blog post of 2026, and we already have a full schedule of events to look forward to in the next couple of months.

We are hitting the ground running!

Here are the events coming up in February and March:

As the headline suggests, GGANS has organized an upcoming Best Practice pruning session.

LOCATION: Luckett Winery

DATE: 7 February; TIME: 10am.

As you may/may not know, the Winter Wine festival is happening after our pruning session as well. It may be nice to stick around and have a glass of wine as well. I do believe you need tickets for the winter wine fest, so please, check out the Luckett website for more info.

GGANS will be sending out more info on the pruning session itself, but I will ask you to see this video as well:

"Snip Happens:" Pruning Mistakes and Fixes. Snip Happens: Pruning Mistakes and Fixes | Virtual Viticulture Academy

You do need to register to watch the video- it is free and available to view from the 28th January.

Understanding what to do—and how to do it correctly—is essential, but mistakes are a natural part of pruning. The aim is to reduce common pitfalls and to know how to address them when they occur. This video serves as a useful resource to support learning and to help make pruning cuts with greater confidence.

GGANS AGM: 7 March 2026.

Upcoming Perennia Viticulture Webinars:

11 March @ 1pm: Vineyard Economics 101.

19 March @1pm: Cellar Economics 101.

I will post the registration dates for both these events in due course- keep an eye out for details in the blog.

We have guest speakers for both webinars: Andrew Moon of Bartier Brothers in BC and Geoff McIntyre CCA from MNP Accounting Services.

Both of these sessions are designed to help growers plan the year ahead and give ideas as to how to track and include expenses that growers encounter in our business.

If you have any questions, get in touch with me.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to seeing you at the pruning session on the 7th Feb.

Cheers!

Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Rootstock Podcast Episode Launch

2025-10-29T15:16:00.000-03:00

Hello Dear Growers,

Congrats to another successful harvest! It has definitely been a year to remember, and a vintage for the books. I very much look forward to tasting the 2025 vintage once it's out on the shelves.

Again, congrats, and a job well done.

I'll jump right into upcoming events and new releases.

The "Season Wrap Up" event is less than a month away. Please remember to register and join us for a look back at this memorable season. Benefits include a good day of learning, catching up with your fellow colleagues and a complimentary lunch!

The link: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/viticulture-season-in-review/

"Cool Climate Crush" Podcast

The new episode is now out.

Rootstock Insights: Selection Strategies for Cool Climate Vineyards with Dr. Jim Willwerth

Description:
In this episode I speak with Dr. Jim Willwerth of Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI). Our discussion explores the science and practical application of rootstock selection in cool climate viticulture. We highlight key factors growers should consider, recent research developments, and evidence-based strategies to enhance vineyard resilience and performance.

The link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/48jxKLQK38DyjMNgx784q0?si=wOdGAeMuRH-Hs2Yo8ZkPGg

Thank you all for your time this week. Please remember, I will be away until the 19th November. If issues do come up, please contact the Perennia office and they will put you in touch with our Ag team.

Congrats again and see you soon.

Cheers!

Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

MATURITY CONTROL- Week of 13 October 2025

2025-10-18T14:08:00.000-03:00

Hello Dear Growers, And Happy Weekend!

Here are the Brix, Acidity and Potential Alcohol for the sampled varieties. These samples were taken around Kentville and Wolfville, so your results may be slightly different.

Please see the weather forecast coming up and plan your harvests accordingly. It will be a cool and wet week, so let's avoid splitting and dilution as much as possible.

News and Events:

26 November 2025: Season in Review

LOCATION: Berwick Lions Club

TIME: 9am -3pm

DETAILS: This is a COMPLIMENTARY event with lunch included.

REGISTRATION LINK: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/viticulture-season-in-review/

Please note: Registration will close one week before the event itself, so make sure you book your spot.

COOL CLIMATE CRUSH- Podcast

Episode 1: Crop Insurance

https://www.perennia.ca/learning/podcast/cool-climate-crush/

COMING UP:

Episode 2: Rooted in Resilience – Choosing the Right Rootstocks for Cool Climates

This episode explores the critical role of rootstocks in optimizing vine performance under cool-climate conditions. Join me and our guest Dr. Jim Willwerth as we discuss current research on rootstock–scion interactions, with a focus on cold hardiness, nutrient uptake efficiency, and growth regulation in variable soil and climatic environments. We also examine the physiological mechanisms that drive rootstock adaptation to abiotic stress, and how these insights inform rootstock selection for long-term vineyard sustainability and fruit quality.

I will post the link as soon as it becomes available.

Thank you all for your time this week. I am still in the field sampling. If you would like a visit or a chat, please let me know.

I hope you all have a good week ahead.

Cheers!

Katarina

Advance Notice: I will be away on vacation beginning 31 October and returning on 19 November 2025.

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Happy Long weekend! And Brix for the Week of 6th October 2025

2025-10-10T14:56:00.001-03:00

Hello Dear Growers!

As promised, here are the maturity control numbers for this week.

-Firstly, the weather for the rest of the week:

I hope the harvest is going well for all of you despite the rain we had.

Here are the Brix numbers:

I would expect the Pinot Noir and Chard to be coming off soon-if it hasn't already, with Meunier following very closely.

Here are a few reminders.

NEWS AND EVENTS:

Season in Review 2025

The link to the 2025 "Season in Review" session is now active. Please click here to register. This is a complimentary event with lunch provided.

https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/viticulture-season-in-review/

Podcast: Cool Climate Crush
Theme: Crop Insurance with Alicia Lushington.

Just in time for the 15 November deadline for applications. Get the details and news here.

Click the Link here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4N91chEkrob0MixTZtu6mJ?si=K9qQZQZlQU26JBAnE4b4GQ

Thank you all for your time this week and I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving.

CHEERS!

Katarina

Advance Notice: I will be away on vacation beginning 31 October and returning on 19 November 2025.

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca

Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

@NS_Viticulture

www.perennia.ca

Maturity Control: Week of 29 September 2025

2025-10-07T13:18:00.000-03:00

Hello Dear Growers!

Welcome to another absolutely beautiful week of fall. I am aware that there was no blog post last week, so this week, there will most likely be two.

Firstly, here are some weather forecasts for this week (and yes, some rain is coming-maybe-we'll see on the day). The temperature will be dropping as the week continues, so please do be aware that some frost in the evening may be a possibility. We are in the thick of harvest, and by all accounts, the situation looks fantastic. I am hoping that the rain predicted for Wednesday does not impact berry integrity or quality in any significant way.

Below is the final data for the season from Jeff at the Kentville Research Centre.

Table 1. Precipitation totals for the Kentville Research and Development Centre by month.

Month	25-Year Average (mm)	Current Year (mm)
April	81.9	93.7
May	74.0	88.6
June	98.7	50.5
July	85.9	33.0
August	91.1	13.2
September	98.8	22.3
October	115.8	0.5**

**Up to October 1, 2025

Table 2. Growing degree days and Sine degree days up to October 1, 2025. All temperature data were recorded at the Kentville Research and Development Centre.

Single sine degree days, base of 0 °C starting on April 1		Growing degree days, base of 10 °C starting on April 1
Current Year	10-Year Average	Current Year	10-Year Average
2828.5	2781.8	1128.4	1110.0

Lastly, please see the sugar and acidity stats below. Accumulation is slowing - as is to be expected. Keep a lookout in your varieties. Some cultivars have shown signs of raisinating as we wait for the acidity to decrease.

News and Events:

Season in Review:

Date: 26 November 2025.

Time: 9am-3pm

Location: Berwick Lions Club. This is a complimentary event with lunch included.

Registration is required. Page link will be available soon.

Podcast:

Crop Insurance with Alicia Lushington

Link will be available in the upcoming blog post.

Instagram:

@NS_Viticulture

Follow me for news, updates, grower interviews and industry info.

Thank you all for your time this week, and see you in the vines!

Cheers!

Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Maturity Control: Week of 22 September 2025

2025-09-26T17:05:00.002-03:00

Hello Dear Growers,

I hope you have had a good week. Here are this week's brix and acidity results. Please note that sampling was conducted mainly through the Kentville/Wolfville areas. results may vary slightly depending on your site.

Weather data was provided by Jeff Franklin at the Kentville Research Centre:

Table 1. Precipitation totals for the Kentville Research and Development Centre by month.

Month	25-Year Average (mm)	Current Year (mm)
April	81.9	93.7
May	74.0	88.6
June	98.7	50.5
July	85.9	33.0
August	91.1	13.2
September	98.8	16.5**
October	115.8

**Up to September 24, 2025

Table 2. Growing degree days and Sine degree days up to September 24, 2025. Growing degree days were calculated using the average method and Sine degree days were calculated using the single sine method. All temperature data were recorded at the Kentville Research and Development Centre.

Single sine degree days, base of 0 °C starting on April 1		Growing degree days, base of 10 °C starting on April 1
Current Year	10-Year Average	Current Year	10-Year Average
2725.8	2682.6	1092.1	1079.4

Other News and Events:

26 November 2025: 9am-3pm. Viticulture Season in Review @ Berwick Lions Club. Sign up link to follow. This event is complimentary with lunch provided.

@NS_Viticulture is now on Instagram and LIVE. Follow me for stories, updates and information linked to the Nova Scotia grape growing industry.

Podcast Launch: Cool Climate Crush.

Perennia's viticulture podcast. My first episode will be live by the beginning of October. It is a timely discussion about crop insurance with Alicia Lushington Parsons. We dive into the details of crop insurance, addressing common misunderstandings and clearing up misinformation to give farmers a clear picture of how it really works.

The deadline to enroll in Crop Insurance is 15 November.

Thank you all for your time this week and I wish you all a lovely weekend and a successful harvest.

Cheers!

Katarina

Advance Notice: I will be away on vacation beginning 3 November and returning on 19 November 2025.

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Maturity Control: Week of 15 September 2025

2025-09-18T13:08:00.000-03:00

Hello Dear Growers!

Harvest is almost here! Some of the early varieties (like Osceola) are already coming in, but most of you will likely start early next week.

With damp weather in the forecast, please keep an eye out for downy on young leaves. Because of pre-harvest intervals, spraying may not be an option, so keep scouting and stay in touch with your winery.

We may also see temperatures dip to 2–4 °C on Friday and Saturday nights, depending on your location, so it’s worth keeping an eye on local forecasts.

Attached are this week’s Brix and TA results, along with low and high potential alcohol estimates for your reference. These samples were taken in the valley, so results may vary slightly by site.

The Precipitation and GDD was made available to us by Jeff Franklin at KRDC.

Table 1. Precipitation totals for the Kentville Research and Development Centre by month.

Month	25-Year Average (mm)	Current Year (mm)
April	81.9	93.7
May	74.0	88.6
June	98.7	50.5
July	85.9	33.0
August	91.1	13.2
September	98.8	16.3**
October	115.8

**Up to September 17, 2025

Table 2. Growing degree days and Sine degree days up to September 17, 2025. All temperature data were recorded at the Kentville Research and Development Centre.

Single sine degree days, base of 0 °C starting on April 1		Growing degree days, base of 10 °C starting on April 1
Current Year	10-Year Average	Current Year	10-Year Average
2617.9	2577.3	1054.1	1040.7

I will be out in sampling again next week. If you would like a visit, please get in touch with me. This harvest is looking fantastic, so I am very optimistic as I look at some very healthy vines and clusters.

Thank you all for your time this week, and again, keep in touch and see you out in the field.

Cheers!

Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Sampling Results: Week of 9 September 2025

2025-09-12T11:44:00.002-03:00

Hello Dear Growers,

Here are the sampling results from the week of 8 September 2025. Please note that your results may be slightly different depending on your site. I will be sampling again next Tuesday (weather depending), so keep an eye on the results toward the end of next week.

I hope you enjoy the weekend.

Cheers!

Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Ripeness Indicators and Pre-Harvest Considerations- Update

2025-09-11T12:12:00.004-03:00

Hello Dear Growers!

Here are a couple updated results:

Harvest is quickly approaching! In this week’s update, I’ll focus on technological ripeness (Brix and TA), disease management—including sour rot, botrytis, and grape skin integrity during rain events.

Below are the Brix levels from 2 September 2025. I was out sampling again yesterday, and I’ll share those results as soon as they’re available.

Please note: these figures were collected in the Valley (Wolfville/Kentville area) and may vary slightly by location.

Figure 1.

Table 1. Precipitation totals for the Kentville Research and Development Centre by month.

Month	25-Year Average (mm)	Current Year (mm)
April	81.9	93.7
May	74.0	88.6
June	98.7	50.5
July	85.9	33.0
August	91.1	13.2
September	98.8	14.9**
October	115.8

**Up to September 10, 2025

Table 2. Growing degree days and Sine degree days up to September 10, 2025. Growing degree days were calculated using the average method and Sine degree days were calculated using the single sine method. All temperature data were recorded at the Kentville Research and Development Centre.

Single sine degree days, base of 0 °C starting on April 1		Growing degree days, base of 10 °C starting on April 1
Current Year	10-Year Average	Current Year	10-Year Average
2505.9	2458.6	1012.7	992.5

Observations
Dry conditions have led to a quality-driven harvest this year.

Veraison 2025 in L’Acadie and other varieties began only 2–3 days later than in 2024, making the timing difference between the two vintages minimal.

The dry season slowed ripening, so harvest dates are expected to be very similar to last year (per Osceola). I’ll provide a more accurate illustration of harvest dates once all data is collected.

Rain Events and Disease Pressure
With last night's rain and many areas receiving at least 11 mm of rain within the last 10 days, the risk of downy mildew is increased. Please monitor canopy tops and new growth carefully. Symptoms may not appear on clusters, so check leaves as well.

Micro-cracks and Berry Splitting
After a dry season, berry skins are more rigid. Rain can cause micro-cracks, increasing the risk of botrytis and sour rot. With rising sugar levels near harvest, splitting becomes more likely—monitor clusters closely and ensure protection.

SCOUT, SCOUT, SCOUT.

Cluster Thinning
If you have not already removed clusters above the fruiting zone or weak tertiaries, please do so. Unripe clusters divert sugars from ripening fruit and will reduce harvest quality.

News and Upcoming Events

Cool Climate Crush Podcast

The first episode has been recorded and will available by the end of the month. The theme: Crop Insurance with NSCLIC Manager Alicia Parsons Lushington. FAQs are answered and new info available.

Release details to follow.

26 November 2025: Viti Season Wrap Up Event @ The Berwick Lion Club.

Event is complimentary with lunch provided. Sign up details to follow.

Closing Thoughts

Communicate with your winery.

Be it harvest dates, predicted yields, quality of yield or pre-harvest intervals, ensure that you and your winery are on the same page.

Thank you all for your time this week. I wish you a successful and stress free harvest.

Cheers!

Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Ripeness Indicators and Pre-Harvest Considerations- Update

2025-09-10T17:54:00.002-03:00

Hello Dear Growers!

Below are the Brix levels from 2 September 2025. I was out sampling again yesterday, and I’ll share those results as soon as they’re available.

Please note: these figures were collected in the Valley (Wolfville/Kentville area) and may vary slightly by location.

Figure 1.

Table 1. Precipitation totals for the Kentville Research and Development Centre by month.

Month	25-Year Average (mm)	Current Year (mm)
April	81.9	93.7
May	74.0	88.6
June	98.7	50.5
July	85.9	33.0
August	91.1	13.2
September	98.8	14.9**
October	115.8

**Up to September 10, 2025

Single sine degree days, base of 0 °C starting on April 1		Growing degree days, base of 10 °C starting on April 1
Current Year	10-Year Average	Current Year	10-Year Average
2505.9	2458.6	1012.7	992.5

Observations
Dry conditions have led to a quality-driven harvest this year.

Veraison 2025 in L’Acadie and other varieties began only 2–3 days later than in 2024, making the timing difference between the two vintages minimal.

The dry season slowed ripening, so harvest dates are expected to be very similar to last year (per Osceola). I’ll provide a more accurate illustration of harvest dates once all data is collected.

SCOUT, SCOUT, SCOUT.

News and Upcoming Events

Cool Climate Crush Podcast

The first episode has been recorded and will available by the end of the month. The theme: Crop Insurance with NSCLIC Manager Alicia Parsons Lushington. FAQs are answered and new info available.

Release details to follow.

26 November 2025: Viti Season Wrap Up Event @ The Berwick Lion Club.

Event is complimentary with lunch provided. Sign up details to follow.

Closing Thoughts

Communicate with your winery.

Be it harvest dates, predicted yields, quality of yield or pre-harvest intervals, ensure that you and your winery are on the same page.

Thank you all for your time this week. I wish you a successful and stress free harvest.

Cheers!

Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Grower Update and Upcoming Events

2025-09-05T15:26:00.002-03:00

Hello Dear Growers,

I hope your pre-harvest preparations are going smoothly.

Over the past three weeks, I’ve been out in the field collecting samples and assessing vineyard conditions. Overall, the grapes are looking excellent.

Harvest is expected to begin within the next 10 days, depending on variety and wine style. Early-ripening hybrid reds are well into the ripening stage, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are about 50% through veraison, and Cabernet Franc is just beginning veraison.

Dry Conditions
I know the lack of rain is a concern, but remember that grapevines require far less water than many other crops. Some stress may be visible, but it can usually be managed through canopy and under-vine practices. Please avoid evaluating vine stress late in the afternoon, when signs of stress are most pronounced.

Benefits of Dry Weather

Reduced need for disease management sprays (low disease pressure)
Less mowing and topping, lowering management costs
Smaller berries, leading to more concentrated flavours
Looser clusters, improving spray coverage, drying time, and disease control

We’ve had some rainfall over the past two weeks, including a few millimetres today (Friday), depending on your location. With the current high humidity, disease pressure may re-emerge, so please continue your spray program while respecting pre-harvest intervals.

Lab results with updated Brix levels will be shared soon.

Upcoming Events:

Season in Review – Wrap-Up Event

📅 November 26, 2025 | 9 AM – 3 PM
📍 Berwick Lions Club | Lunch provided
We’ll reflect on the season, celebrate successes, and identify opportunities for the future. This year’s program includes a discussion panel on heat stress and grape quality.
Sign-up details will be shared later this month.
Cool Climate Crush Podcast Launch
Our new viticulture podcast launches at the end of the month! The first episode explores crop insurance, answering common questions from growers. If you’d like to submit additional questions after listening through the interview, please send them in.

Best Practice Session
📅 September 6, 2025 | 9 AM – 11 AM
📍 Ellslea Vineyard, 925 Bains Street

Halifax Wine Festival
📅 September 6, 2025 | 3 PM (time depends on your ticket)
🔗 hfxwinefest.ca

Wine Fair Halifax
📅 October 4, 2025
🔗 Wine Fair Halifax Tickets

Thank you all for your time this week, and I look forward to seeing you in the vines soon.
Cheers! And Happy Growing.
Katarina
Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Drought Mitigation Meeting Recap and Notes

2025-08-15T12:56:00.001-03:00

Hello Dear Growers,

Thank you for attending the drought discussion yesterday. I very much appreciate you sharing your experience and mitigation strategies.

Here are the key points that came from the meeting:

Some growers have little to no irrigation capacity; only rooftop rainwater tanks available. Wells remain usable for now, but could run dry if used for irrigation. Digging new wells may be a future solution.
Spray effectiveness may be reduced due to limited vine functions.
Mature vines are holding up with no major colour change in leaves.
Vinifera varieties are fairing well in the heat and show little risk for next year.
Hybrids, especially NY Muscat and young Marquette, are more drought-sensitive; basal leaves drying out.

Fruit Management

Remove all fruit from vines **three years or younger** to preserve plant health.
Drop top canopy clusters; keep lower ones which receive better plant support. Remember that 15-18 mature leaves support 1 cluster (site and cultivar dependendant).
Looser clusters preferred to reduce botrytis risk if September rains occur.
Dropping fruit after veraison offers no plant benefit—Cluster thin now.

Weather Impact

1. Malagash area: no rain for six weeks; highs in the upper 30s°C for three days—rapid vine drying, worsened by wind.

2. Heat stress varies by site and variety; monitor drooping for signs of sustained stress. If you see none in the morning and drooping in the afternoon- stress is minimal.

3. Hurricane season poses additional risk (berry burst, botrytis).

Key Observations & Considerations

Vegetative growth slowed across regions.
Vinifera generally unaffected; hybrids suffering more.
Smaller harvest possible; outcome depends on weather in coming weeks.
Powdery mildew appearing.

Questions on bud fertility and hardiness for next year—severe drought and winter would be needed for major productivity drops. Damage seen next year should be minimal.

It is still early to determine the full extent of this season's drought on this year's harvest.

Again, thank you for attending the session, if you have any questions or concerns, please do contact me.

I will be out on the road again next week- if you would like a visit- contact me.

Sincerely,

Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Let's talk About Drought; Is my Vineyard at Risk? Meeting: Thursday, 14 August @6:30pm

2025-08-11T14:41:00.000-03:00

Hello Everyone,

With drought conditions persisting, we want to take the opportunity to address the situation directly and ease any concerns that may be on growers’ minds.

Please join us on Thursday, August 14 at 6:30 p.m. for an open discussion on the current weather conditions and their potential impact on the upcoming harvest. Bring your questions and insights—we look forward to the conversation.

To access the meeting, click on the link below.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MDU0YWRmMTUtZTQ0Mi00NTNjLWJlYjQtZGQzY2Y2YWVlZTgz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2290a77746-56f5-4896-9a83-f69d11d4b826%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22d3aa497a-6e05-44ee-89c3-dd966a9956b4%22%7d.

Please share this link with your colleagues, employees, vineyard managers, winemakers, and all members of your team. Whether in the vineyard, the tasting room, or elsewhere, staff at every level may benefit from this information as it relates to the tasks they encounter in their daily work.

Cheers!

Katarina

________________________________________________________________________________

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 245 072 858 494 6

Passcode: FE7Am6DH

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Last Call for Event Sign-Up & Hot Off the Press: New Factsheets

2025-07-15T15:03:00.002-03:00

Hello Dear Growers!

Just a few days remain to register for the Canopy Management and Ag Tech events happening this and next week—don’t miss out!

The registration links are provided below:

Sunlight, Shoots & Sugar: Mastering Canopy Management for Top-Quality Wine Grape Production

Date: July 19, 2025

Time: 12:00PM – 3:00PM

Location: Mercator Vineyards and Winery, 88 Dyke Rd, Wolfville, NS

https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/sunlight-shoots-sugar-mastering-canopy-management-for-top-quality-wine-grape-production/edate/2025-07-19/

Please note: The Bear River Session has been restructured. I will be visiting individual Bear River growers before the end of the month.

Smart Farming in Action: Using Precision Ag and Drone Technology for Site-Specific Field Management

Date: July 24, 2025

Time: 12:00PM – 3:00PM

Location: Blomidon Estate Winery, 10318 NS-221, Canning, NS

https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/smart-farming-in-action-using-precision-ag-and-drone-technology-for-site-specific-field-management/edate/2025-07-24/

Factsheet Publication:

To support the upcoming sessions and the harvest season overall, I’ve put together a “Canopy Management” factsheet series. While the in-field sessions will offer hands-on learning, these factsheets provide growers with practical, printable resources to keep on hand.

Grapevine Canopy Management: Shoot Thinning fact sheet can be found here:

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Grapevine-Canopy-Management-Shoot-ThinningV4.pdf

The Role of Shoot Positioning in Premium Wine Grape Production fact sheet can be found here:

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Shoot-PositioningV1.pdf

A crop thinning fact sheet will be coming out shortly.

Thank you all for your time this week. I will be posting this week's phenology and weather data within the next couple of days.

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Cheers!

Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Rainfastness and Fungicides

2025-07-10T15:58:00.001-03:00

Hello Dear Growers!

I'll jump right in today.

Phenology:

We are well into fruit set for all Hybrids.

In terms of vinifera: The Pinot family (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier) are about 85%-95% through flowering and into fruit set. Cabernet Franc is still at the flowering stage.

L'Acadie 9 July 2025 (berry set) Marquette 9 July 2025 (pea size)

Chardonnay. 9 July 2025 Pinot Noir. 9 July 2025 (berry set)

(end of flowering to berry set)

Rainfall:

We have had quite a rainy start to July. From the data below, we can see that it was quite localized.

25-Year Historical Data from the Kentville Research Centre:

Month	25-Year Average (mm)	Current Year (mm)
April	81.9	93.7
May	74.0	88.6
June	98.7	50.5
July	85.9	20.4**
August	91.1
September	98.8
October	115.8

**Up to July 10, 2025

*Perennia's weather stations for the last week:

Wolfville: 52.8mm within the last week

Gaspereau: 30.8mm within the last week.

While it is useful to look at historical data for comparison, we should also be thinking about our weekly precipitation and what that means for spray rainfastness.

Rainfastness and Fungicides

As a guide: 25 mm of rainfall can remove approximately 50% of protectant fungicide residue.

Over 50 mm of rainfall will wash off the majority and leave your vines unprotected.

While some newer formulations, when used with spreader-stickers, may offer some improved resistance to wash-off, it is still recommended to re-apply after that significant amount of rainfall.

Systemic vs Protectants

Systemic fungicides generally provide better protection during rainy periods, because they are absorbed into plant tissue and are less prone to wash-off compared to protectant (contact) fungicides.

Remember:

The interval between fungicide application and rainfall is crucial for product effectiveness. If heavy rainfall occurs within two hours of applying either systemic or protectant fungicides, much of the product is likely to be washed off, significantly reducing its efficacy. Even within 12 hours of application, some level of wash-off can still occur.

Rainfall intensity also plays a role: 25 mm falling in one hour causes greater wash-off than the same amount falling gently over several hours.

So, apply your protectants on time, don't skip applications and re-apply after major rain events.

We have generally managed to avoid major downy and black rot outbreaks this year, so let's keep the trend going.

Upcoming Events

Sunlight, Shoots & Sugar: Mastering Canopy Management for Top-Quality Wine Grape Production

Date: July 19, 2025

Time: 12:00PM – 3:00PM

Location: Mercator Vineyards and Winery, 88 Dyke Rd, Wolfville, NS

https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/sunlight-shoots-sugar-mastering-canopy-management-for-top-quality-wine-grape-production/edate/2025-07-19/

Smart Farming in Action: Using Precision Ag and Drone Technology for Site-Specific Field Management

Date: July 24, 2025

Time: 12:00PM – 3:00PM

Location: Blomidon Estate Winery, 10318 NS-221, Canning, NS

https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/smart-farming-in-action-using-precision-ag-and-drone-technology-for-site-specific-field-management/edate/2025-07-24/

Thank you all for your time this week, and I look forward to seeing you in the field with Kevin very soon.

Cheers!

Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Post-Rain Update

2025-07-04T16:00:00.002-03:00

Happy Friday Dear Growers!

We had quite the rainfall yesterday.

Depending on where you are, here is the rainfall data from yesterday

3 July 2025-Rainfall:

Please ensure to keep an eye out for diseases (downy and black rot especially).

This is a crucial time- berry set is underway, we have had a second heat wave-( and reports of some phytochemical and herbicide burn) as growers try to keep up with spraying and maintaining their vineyards.

Humidity is high, and with the rainfall, please ensure that you are careful with application but still vigilant with your sprays.

Here is more weather data from Jeff Franklin and the Kentville Research Centre:

Precipitation totals for the Kentville Research and Development Centre by Month:

Month	25-Year Average (mm)	Current Year (mm)
April	81.9	93.7
May	74.0	88.6
June	98.7	50.5
July	85.9	0.8**
August	91.1
September	98.8
October	115.8

**Up to July 3, 2025

Phenology:

Observation dates: 2 and 3 July 2025.

Upcoming Events: Please sign up for July's events on the links below:

Sunlight, Shoots & Sugar: Mastering Canopy Management for Top-Quality Wine Grape Production

https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/sunlight-shoots-sugar-mastering-canopy-management-for-top-quality-wine-grape-production/edate/2025-07-18/

There are TWO dates available for attendance:

Join me and Kevin Ker for an in-field event and learn about the Canopy Management practices necessary for this time of year.

18 July, 2025

12:00PM – 3:00PM
Proulx Family Vineyard, 1648 Lansdowne Rd, Bear River, NS

July 19, 2025

12:00PM – 3:00PM
Mercator Vineyards and Winery, 88 Dyke Rd, Wolfville, NS

Please note: The two sessions are IDENTICAL. SELECT ONLY THE LOCATION CLOSEST TO YOU.

Smart Farming in Action: Using Precision Ag and Drone Technology for Site-Specific Field Management

https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/smart-farming-in-action-using-precision-ag-and-drone-technology-for-site-specific-field-management/edate/2025-07-24/

24 July 2025

12:00-3:00PM

We’ll demonstrate how drone imagery and soil mapping tools can detect spatial variability in soil and nutrient levels—supporting the development of site-specific management zones for more targeted and effective input application.

Thank you very much for your time this week, and I hope to see you all at the upcoming events.

Cheers!

Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca

Be Aware of Phytochemical Burn

2025-06-29T15:18:00.001-03:00

Hello Dear Growers, and Happy long Weekend!

As we rush through flowering (again, seems to be happening overnight) due to the recent heatwave, we have to be mindful when spraying.

We have had several calls this week - with growers worried about what looked like disease spreading through their vineyards.

I advise anyone who is unsure to send photos, texts about what they are seeing. Indeed, some chemical burn can look like Anthracnose and even Black Rot.

Here are some examples of what we have been seeing the last couple of weeks:

These are examples of young vines and established ones. What we see here are various burn marks, but also distorted and "waxy" looking, young leaves with chlorosis.

The symptoms may look like a myriad of things-especially when a disease is just getting established, so it important to get a second opinion if you are unsure of the cause.

Why does this happen? Is it just because it is hot?

Chemical burn can happen for several reasons:

-Cultivar Sensitivity. Some Hybrids are more sensitive to sulphur than others. Meanwhile, vinifera are not sensitive to sulphur.

-Spraying mere water in hot weather can cause leaf burn.

- Spraying a mix of products during warm weather.

- Spraying a mix of products in addition to nutrients. (Temperature may be irrelevant).

-Spraying products that are not compatible with each other.

Sometimes, it is not one product that is causing the problem, but the totality of products sprayed together or in close succession to each other.

I advise you to follow the labels closely.

This is especially important when spraying nutrients in close succession to the phyto products. The labels may not state if the products are compatible for spraying simultaneously. If you are unsure, I advise you to text, email or call me prior to spraying.

PHENOLOGY

Osceola Muscat: Past flowering and into fruit set.

New York Muscat: No flowering

L'Acadie: flowering starting. About 2%.

Petit Pearl: No flowering

Marquette: 80% Through flowering.

Baco Noir: 90% Through flowering.

Lucy K: 90% Through flowering.

Triomphe de Alsace: 85% through fruit set.

Frontenac Blanc and Gris: 90% through flowering and starting fruit set.

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and other vinifera: No flowering.

If you have any pictures, anything that is worrying you in your vines, do contact me. I hope you had a lovely weekend and Happy Canada Day!

Cheers!

Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

Pre-Bloom- A Crucial Time for Disease Management

2025-06-20T15:51:00.000-03:00

Happy Friday Dear Growers!

I hope you have all had a good week. I'll dive right into upcoming events, followed by the phenology report and scouting and pest management reminders.

In less than a month from now, Dr. Kevin Ker will be here for a masterclass in Canopy Management. Please see the flyer below. The sessions are IDENTICAL, held in two different locations. Please attend the session closest to you. Note the addresses on the flyer below and sign up using the link below:

https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/sunlight-shoots-sugar-mastering-canopy-management-for-top-quality-wine-grape-production/

The second July event is a collaboration with Cavendish, Scotian Gold, and Blomidon Winery, focused on showcasing drone and soil mapping technologies. We'll demonstrate a range of precision agriculture tools, discuss the data they generate, their practical applications, pricing, and cost-effective acquisition options. Vendors will also be available on-site to answer any questions. The Tech session is open to all growers-regardless of commodity.

Please see the flyer here and register using the link below:

Smart Farming in Action: Using Precision Ag and Drone Technology for Site-Specific Field Management – Perennia

Early Season Canopy and Disease Management: It's the time of year for shoot thinning, tucking and soon enough- cluster thinning.

During the prebloom period, shoot growth alone is insufficient. In most trellis, training, and pruning systems, shoots must also be deliberately spaced and positioned to optimize light interception by the leaf surface, enhance air circulation and light penetration within the fruiting zone.

Improved airflow through the canopy helps:

-Reduce humidity levels around clusters.

-Lowers the risk of fungal diseases like black rot, botrytis, and downy mildew.

-Allow for better air movement also speeds up drying after rain or dew, minimizing conditions favorable to disease development.

-Supports more uniform spray coverage and penetration, making disease control treatments more effective.

For further information, please see the latest fact sheet published on the "Grapes" page of the Perennia website:

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Grapevine-Canopy-Management-Shoot-ThinningV4.pdf

Phenology Report:

What a huge change from one week to the next! Last week, I saw no inflorescence, and this week, each variety's shoots have doubled in size and inflorescences immerged.

All the varieties are at the pre-flowering stage. This is Osceola Muscat from Wednesday afternoon:

Figure 1. The florets on inflorescence have separated.

The pre-bloom stage indicates the beginning of the critical stage where pest management is crucial.

The period of time from immediate pre-bloom to 5-weeks post-bloom is when disease pathogens can cause significant damage. Do make sure you are protected against Downy Mildew, Phomopsis and Black Rot.

As always, do keep an eye out for the beginnings of flowering and note them down for your sites and varieties.

Thank you all for your time this week, and I hope you all have a good weekend.

I look forward to seeing you at both in-person events.

Cheers!

Katarina

Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET

Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722

Cell 902-599-1390

www.perennia.ca