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HIDDENCROFT VINEYARDS

October 2024

Newsletter

HARVEST IS COMPLETE!

Harvest is always an exciting time here at the vineyard. The rows of vines heavy with fruit, the crisp early mornings, and the frenzy of activity all signal that a lot of hard work is about to pay off.


We endured an 8-week drought followed by a very wet and gray September but emerged mostly unscathed. All of our grapes have been picked and are either becoming wine in our production building or were sold to other local wineries.

An added challenge appeared this year:

THE SPOTTED LANTERN FLY

The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive pest that originated from Asia, first making its way to the U.S. in 2014. While its colorful wings might make it seem harmless at first glance, it’s far from friendly to vineyards. These bugs don’t have any significant natural predators here in the USA, which means they can spread rapidly and feast on a wide variety of plants.


The SLF's favorite snack is the Tree of Heaven (an invasive plant species itself). However, they're not picky and will munch on grapes, apples, and even hops. Their feeding weakens the plants, leading to reduced yields and poor fruit quality. For grapevines, the damage can be severe, as the SLF sucks out the sap, leaving the vines stressed and vulnerable to disease.


Eradicating these pests is no small task. They’re resilient, and once they’ve established a foothold, it takes continuous vigilance to keep them at bay. While there’s no magic solution, we’re hopeful! We’re implementing safe control measures, and fortunately, their impact on our harvest was manageable. We’re doing everything possible to ensure the quality of the wine you enjoy remains unaffected.


FEATHERY AUTUMN DANCE

Every year, as the last grape clusters are snipped from the vines and the vineyard rests in quiet anticipation of winter, a spectacle unfolds—an aerial drama featuring starlings, mockingbirds, and the dogwood trees that stand sentinel along our vineyard fence line.


Suddenly, like a gust of wind, the starlings arrive—dozens, sometimes a couple hundred, of them. They swoop in unison over the vineyard, and their synchronized flight makes palpable the energy rushing through the air. With a whoosh, they dive toward the dogwoods, filling the branches with a flurry of fluttering wings and chirps. The starlings dart to and fro, their beady eyes searching the dogwood trees for berries hidden among the leaves. One by one, they pluck the tiny fruits, chattering noisily as they feast. The tree visibly quivers.


Their feast is short-lived, though. The mockingbirds, who deigned to let us live here on their property many years ago, take issue. One or two are waiting perched in or near the dogwoods like hidden guards, beneath the branches. Whoosh! These tiny but mighty warriors swoop out, dive-bombing the intruding starlings with precision and relentless vigor. Their loud, indignant chirps chase the starlings out of the trees.


It's a comical scene: mockingbirds flapping their wings with all their might, scolding the starlings, while the starlings, startled but not defeated, take to the sky. The Starlings don't give up easily. They regroup, circle around, and land in the next dogwood tree, where they start their nibbling and pecking anew.


Meanwhile, down in the vineyard, some of the starlings land in the rows of vines. Here, they peck at the ground, helping to tidy the vineyard in their own way. The mockingbirds, content that their dogwood domain is defended, seem to ignore this part of the performance, leaving the starlings to their feast of insects and seeds. This continues during the day, for a few days, and then abruptly ends.


Every year, after the last grape has been harvested, the vineyard plays host to this spectacle, and we know life is still in full, joyful swing. This year we asked ourselves one question: how can we teach the Starlings to eat Spotted Lantern Flies?


Cheers!

Clyde & Terry Housel

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