Ohio wine grape losses hit hardest in Northeast Ohio, but still plenty to drink

(Cleveland) - Ohio grape growers – the spark of our fast-growing, $500 million wine-tourism industry -- are expecting a near-total loss of their best crops this year, thanks to the coldest, toughest winter in they can remember.

Glasses of estate-grown Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling will continue to clink at Ohio wineries, but don't forget to recognize your local winemaker between sips. Those folks laboring in the vineyards could use some cheering up.

It's so bad, they are preparing to ask for help from the federal government.

The damage to fruit-producing buds is already estimated at $12 million statewide. Should spring reveal dead vines, winemakers could face four years of diminished crops until new plants gets up to full production. That initial $12 million loss could multiply many times.

A lot of wineries have enough in stock to carry them for a year. Nobody wants to think about a winter like this happening again soon.

But they are thinking about it.

Here's the picture so far:

*30 percent loss of native varieties such as Concord, Catawba and Niagara.

*57 percent loss of hybrids such as Vidal Blanc, Chambourcin, Traminette and Seyval.

*97 percent loss of European vinifera grapes such as Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Gris and Cabernet Sauvignon.

"The numbers are not looking good," said Imed Dami, our Wooster-based state viticulturalist.

While January's polar vortex held its historically long, cold grip, Dami and colleagues at Ohio State University Extension led vine injury workshops to show about 300 growers the best practices for recovery, and how to examine bud samples.

Experts looked at the amount of damage to the primary buds, the most productive of the three groupings found on vines.

They showed nearly 100 percent damage in the cold-sensitive vinifera varieties, Dami said.