Matthew Elsass

Dad. Ag Educator. OSU MPHM Grad Student. Viticulture Enthusiast.

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

@goodwit56 @MarionLocalFFA Thank you!

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

Getting into another grape harvest! All of our white grape varieties came off this weekend.

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

Last week, @elsass_mark and I pulled out part of the trellis in our old vineyard block. After two failed plantings, it was time to move on and focus on our newer plot. Even if we could get a new variety established, fighting our old trellis is not where we want to spend our time!

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

Out in the vineyard this morning completing canopy management and de-suckering.

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

We have some of the coolest vineyard help around. 😎🍇

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

Get your colander out folks.

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

This will most likely go down as the best impromptu day off of school in history.

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

Another year, another pruning season. Still smiling despite the bone chilling wind!

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

After being a goof at National Convention l, it's amazing that students still want to associate with me. 🤣 Truly blessed to work with some of the best students and student organization in the world!

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

Great harvest today from the Baco Noir grapes!

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

For reference, the first picture shows one of our Cayuga White vines vs. Our Baco Noir. You can tell the big difference in the amount and orientation of the shoots produced.

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

Some of the picking crew from our Cayuga White harvest this morning. The grapes looked really good, but volume was low. These were the first grapes we planted 8 years ago. We are experienced enough now to retrain them to produce more clusters! A project for next season.

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

My assistant helped me measure Brix (sugar content) and pH today for our Cayuga Whites. 😁 The pH is in range, but the Brix are still lower than we would want them. Pest and environmental factors seem to be cooperating for the vineyard, so we can let them hang a bit longer.

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

Scouting this morning and opening up the Cayuga White canopy a bit. The whites are testing close to our Brix target and hoping to harvest soon. The Bacos Noirs are still a few weeks out, but the netting has provided some much needed protection.

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

@hoyingcc @MarionLocalFFA @FR_FFA @parkway_ffa @sthenryffa From Fort Recovery. Hot dipping sauce.

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

@mcook32 @casiddle

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

Net day.

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

@mcook32 @casiddle Some vineyards elect to use other methods like air cannons, lasers, and predator mimics to deter the birds, but the birds acclimate quickly and you end up rotating methods frequently. The nets are a pain but offer a physical barrier.

[Matthew Elsass @elsass32]

@mcook32 @casiddle Once grapes start to ripen, birds will start to help themselves. This causes direct crop loss as well as leaves the vineyard open to other diseases because of broken berries. Nets keep the birds off. Red berries are typically more susceptible than white grapes.