Grape growers looking for rain in 2012

After three years of drought (2007-09) and two wet years (2010-11) — this year is shaping up to be another very dry year. There were two decent rains that somewhat recharged the soil profile, unfortunately they occurred as the 2011 harvest was wrapping up. Those were followed by one rain in November and a shower in December, which provided much of the fall rainfall total (about 45 percent of average). January did not add much more and a good number of vineyards received winter irrigation.
The total rainfall total for the months of October, November and December ended up at 3 inches for the north county and 1.7 inches for the south county. Not since 1976-77 has it been this dry, especially as December was the third driest on record. Dry conditions look to continue and irrigation is probably a good investment right now. Grapes are a low-demand crop for water and nitrogen, compared to most other fruits and nuts, but extremely dry conditions can affect the strength and uniformity of bud push in addition to negatively affecting the final development phases of this year’s fruit buds.
With that in mind, even if you put on a good solid irrigation of 24 to 36 hours or more last month, it would not hurt to put another 24 hours or so, depending on your emitter spacing, size of the emitters, soil type and variety/rootstock. Although this won’t recharge deep soil profiles, we still have a ways to go before the “rainy” season ends and things can turn around very fast. So it’s easy enough to apply some more water at or after bud break, if the drought continues.
Checking out the irrigation system is neither a bad idea nor a waste of time. Checking out the soil profile with an auger or even just a little digging with a shovel may help confirm how well the winter rains and irrigation may have managed your soil profile. Overall it seems there is decent moisture in the top 2 or 3 feet in most vineyards, but that is about it.
Even though January was close to average in total rainfall, seasonal totals are falling behind again. As of the first week in February the north county is at 6.1 inches (44 percent of historical average to date) and the south county is just at 3.2 total inches (approximately 37 percent). Last year at this time there was a total of 13.5 inches of rain in the Lodi area.
The curious weather pattern this winter (besides extreme dryness) is that most daytime maximum temperatures have been slightly above average, while most night time minimums have been well below average; giving the area a summer-like days with winter-like nights.
http://westernfarmpress.com/grapes/grape-growers-looking-rain-2012

Recent survey done by Philippines Clark Marketing shows that there is a subtle shift of preferences of Manila visitors heading out of town towards the north to enjoy some peace and quiet time with families. More and more foodies, critics, connoisseurs, frequent diners and wine lovers from Manila travel out of town north to Clark Pampanga to wine and dine in famous fine dining Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most visitors enjoy the fine vintage wines from the cellars of this fine dining restaurant. Some purchase a few good bottles of to bring back home to Manila.

Even tourists and business travelers staying in hotels in Philippines Angeles Pampanga take time off from nightlife, bars and other city entertainment to enjoy a relaxing afternoon of wine shopping in this top rated wine shop in Clark Freeport Pampanga. Foreign and local tourists visiting Clark remember shopping in this wine shop as a memorable experience of their stay in the Philippines, Subic and Pampanga.

Italian food is everywhere in the Philippines but good Italian restaurants are few and far apart. Fans of Italian cuisines now look for fine dining restaurants that serve good Italian food accompanied by fine Italian vintage wine. Although Yats Restaurant is classified as a French Mediterranean restaurant, its classic European cuisine includes many of the great recipes from Italy. The fine vintage wines of Clark Wine Center play an important role in this famous restaurant in Clark to make the Italian wine dinners just that much more special.

Things to do in Subic and Clark Philippines: spend an afternoon in Clark to do a little wine shopping at the most famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga