Blogs

Discipline: Grape pathology

Investigator: Mizuho Nita

Title: Virginia Grape Disease Updates

Description: Seasonal updates on wine grape disease management, extension meeting announcements, and other related topics from a grape pathology lab at AHS AREC.

Virginia Grape Disease Updates

Grape Disease Risks: 7/15-22/2026 and downy mildew forecast Vine status Some table grapes started veraison. One early cultivar (Everest, not pictured) had one cluster survive the frost and start to accumulate sugar. Many Chardonnay clusters are at bunch closure. Vidal is at bunch closure; some others, e.g., Chardonel...
Grape Disease Risk: 7/8-7/15/2026 Vine status If anything, this year has been a Phomopsis year! These spots on the leaf in the picture are Phomopsis lesions. You do not need to manage this disease right now. We will manage them next spring. Many Chardonnay...
Grape Disease Risks: 7/2-7/8/2026 and Downy Mildew Forecast Vine status Still behind on canopy management, and vines are filling the canopy with many laterals. Some of the Chardonnay clusters on primary shoots are at bunch closure, and others are BB-size. Hybrids and table grapes are a bit more...
Grape Disease Risks: 6/24-7/1/2026, Downy Mildew Forecast, and EPA Public Comment Vine status Still behind on canopy management, and vines are filling the canopy with many laterals. Hybrids and table grapes are a bit more consistent with fruits. Vidal is pea-sized; some others, e.g., Chardonel, Frontenac, were almost at the bunch...
Grape Disease Risks: 6/17-24/2026, and Downy Mildew Forecast Vine status We hedged our Chardonnay vines this week. Still behind on canopy management, as you can see in the picture above. Hybrids and table grapes are a bit more consistent with fruits. Vidal is BB-size, some others, e.g., Chardonel,...
VA Grape Disease Risks:6/10-6/17/2026, and downy mildew forecast Vine status I found several third instars of spotted lanternfly (toward upper right, just below the catch wires) and ants enjoying their honeydew on a leaf. The situation is similar to last week. Our Chardonnay vines are reaching the top...
Grape Disease Risks: 6/3-6/10/2026 and Downy Mildew Forecast Vine status Chardonnay vines have been growing nicely. I have noticed a lot of laterals, though. Made me wonder if something happened to the terminals (shoot tips) during the frost. My goal for the canopy management right now is to...
Grape Disease Risks 5/27-6/3/2026 and downy mildew forecast Vine status The effect of rain finally kicked in. Chardonnay vines grew considerably over the last week. I started canopy management this morning. My goal is to keep a bit more shoots than I typically do to avoid developing “bull...
Disease risks 5/21-5/27 and downy mildew forecast Vine status Probably because of the cooler temperature, the vines did not move as much as I hoped. As with last week, many Chardonnay shoots do not bear flower clusters, and relatively strong shoots are from the main trunks. Hybrids...
Disease risks from 5/13 – 5/20 and downy mildew forecast Vine status Things are finally moving. I saw quite a few shots from the secondary (or tertiary) buds coming up strongly, especially from the central part of the canopy (i.e., from trunks). However, many do not have flower clusters. Hybrids...