In terms of FFD, a minimum of 185 with temperature inversions to is desirable, and 220 + is preferable. reduce the risk of cold and latefrost damage. The northern corner
All areas of Montgomery County actually do provide adequate of Montgomery County offers the length of the growing season to best opportunity for high relative support desired ripeness of most elevation, but there are multiple recommended grape varieties. areas throughout the county
The aspect or direction that where desirable relative elevation the slope faces also influences vine is available. development and grape ripening.
Another critical site characteristic that is considered in the evalu-
North and east-facing slopes tend to be cooler than southern and ation is soil suitability. Knowing western-facing aspects, which is the geology of the region can help critical when making and mapping with understanding the general soil variety choices( red vs. white; short features of the region. For example season vs. long). the limestone based soils of northeastern Montgomery County are
As mentioned previously, another consideration in vineyard well drained and have high pH, both site selection is to seek a meso-climate with a relatively high eleva-
Grapevines tend to be deeply
desirable for grape production.
tion and a moderate slope. These rooted and do not tolerate wet attributes will offer desirable cold soils, whether due to clay / silt content or high seasonal water table. air drainage and take advantage of the topographical interactions Deep, gravelly, excessively well
The Butz family has been farming in Montgomery County since 1959. They planted their first vines in 2011 at Windridge Vineyards and take a wholistic approach to growing grapes. They believe as farmers they have a responsibility to preserve the land and the environment for future generations. drained soils are preferred for vineyards as reducing soil water is critical for optimum vine cold hardiness and grape quality. Specific sites can be evaluated by the NCSS Web Soil Survey at: websoilsurvey. sc. egov. usda. gov / App / HomePage. htm.
Another useful assessment tool, a Montgomery County viticulture map developed cooperatively with Maryland Department of Planning, layers five digitized databases, including elevation, slope( percent), aspect( north, east, etc. facing), soil classification, and land-use classification( e. g., forest, agriculture, urban, etc.). Individual site features were then rated to produce a“ Viticulture Suitability Ranking.” The composite image is based on a 0 to 100 score, 100 being potentially most suitable for a vineyard.
As previously discussed, a desirable meso-climate typically has an intermediate or relatively high elevation. Northern and western Montgomery County, along the Ag Reserve, have desirable physical, climatic, and geologic features for prime grape-growing sites.
The many desirable sites in the County make grape growing a significant opportunity for local residents. Proximity to the D. C. provides ongoing tourist opportunities to a very wine-savvy market. That is where proximity to The Crossvines comes in.
The Crossvines was developed by the Montgomery County Revenue Authority with a mission to create economic opportunities and investment in the agricultural tourism and wine-making industry sectors of the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve. Crossvines is a large-scale, state-of-the-art, wine production facility designed to
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