Evaluation of Ten Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot gris Clones in the San Joaquin Valley of California.

In June of 2017, 25 vines per Pinot gris clone from Foundation Plant Service, including FPS 01, 04, 05, 09, 10, 11, 52 and 08, grafted on Freedom rootstock as green potted vines, were planted at the commercial site located at Firebaugh, Fresno County, CA (36°45’22.2″N 120°28’12.6″W). Five vines of clone FPS 12, and ten vines, clone FPS 457, with the same rootstock were planted at the same date, due to lack of cuttings. Stakes with 24-inch horizontal cross arm and cordon wires, established to 54-inch height above vineyard floor, and irrigation tubing were installed after the planting. Irrigation and fertilization were carried out according to the vineyard cooperator based on the commercial industry standards for that area. Each experimental vine was flagged and labeled after the planting with the information of variety, rootstock, planting date and clone number on it. Vines were field checked regularly to assess the canopy growth, count the missing vines, and scout disease/pest. After the summer of 2017, extra vines with a total of 64 vines plus Freedom rootstocks have been ordered from Foundation Plant Service and cuttings will be collected in the dormant season of 2017. Cooperators from local nursery will help the grafting and prepare the green potted vines for replacing the missing vines in the field by the late spring of 2018.

In the fall of 2017, decision has been made to prune the vines back to two buds in the dormant period due to the non-uniform growth across vines. Therefore, vine trunk and cordon will be trained in 2018 and additional 64 vines will be planted to replace the missing vines in the late spring of 2018. The first harvest will be expected in 2019.