Viticultural Evaluation of Eleven Clones and Two Field Selections of Pinot noir Grown for Production of Sparkling Wine in Los Carneros, California

Abstract

Eleven clones and two field selections of Pinot noir (Vitis vinifera L.) were evaluated for three years, 1992 through 1994, for viticulture characteristics in a vineyard managed for sparkling wine production. Clones from Foundation Plant Services (FPS), University of California, Davis, included Pinot noir FPS 1, 2A, 13, 23, 29, 31, 32, and 33. Also evaluated were three clones sourced from a plant importation program at Oregon State University, Espiguette 236, Espiguette 374, and Colmar 538, as were two field selections referred to locally in California as Wente and Gamay Beaujolais. The trial was established in 1988 in the Los Carneros American Viticultural Area in Sonoma County, California. Great variation among the clones was seen in vegetative growth and yield parameters. Pruning weight varied by a factor of 2 and yield by a factor of 1.5. Yield was influenced by cluster number, berries per cluster, and berry weight. There was a range of 4 Brix at harvest across all treatments in all three years and Brix was closely correlated with vine yield.