Randall's Latest Project

Got an e-mail from Randall about his newest project:
RandallProject
in which he's seeking crowd-funding support to create new grape varieties at his Popelouchum/SanJuanBatista vnyd. An interesting idea that may take more yrs than Randall has left. You can even get a grape variety named after you if you contribute. I'll probably sign on. Generating crosses is a tedious but standard procedure. Generally vines propagated by planting seeds are not particularly true to the variety (vines are hermaphrodatic...so seeds from a single variety will show characteristics of that variety). Generating these new varieties is not the big problem. Determining which ones make suitable and distinctive wines is going to be the hard problem.
But I'm in....but not for big $$'s.
Tom

[David M. Bueker]

Marketing. Pure and simple.

Marketing. Pure and simple.

Nope, David...don't think so. Randall's had this (sorta) hair-brained scheme in his mind for a number
of yrs. It's not gonna be a magic path the big $$'s by any means.
Tom

[David M. Bueker]

But it keeps his name out there.

I actually think it's a complete bs idea.

Generally vines propagated by planting seeds are not particularly true to the variety (vines are hermaphrodatic...so seeds from a single variety will show characteristics of that variety). Generating these new varieties is not the big problem. Determining which ones make suitable and distinctive wines is going to be the hard problem.

Vine varieties not breeding true from seeds has nothing to do with the domestic vine having hermaphroditic flowers. Seeds from a single variety may show some of the characteristics of the parent variety--or not.

But you're right about the real problem here. Generating new varieties is easy--just plant grape seeds. Finding a new variety that has distinctive and useful characteristics is the hard part.

-Paul W.

Generating new varieties is easy--just plant grape seeds. Finding a new variety that has distinctive and useful characteristics is the hard part.

-Paul W.

Which is why it's best left to agricultural researchers who can spend all the time in the wolrd and all the public and private money necessary to hit on a success or two--and not have to make a profit doing it.

[David M. Bueker]

Randall should just find a good spot to plant Scheurebe.

Randall should just find a good spot to plant Scheurebe.

Oh come on David we all know that Scheurebe was Hitler's favorite grape, so that's not going to happen.
It is a lazy summer afternoon and I got bored so I decided to shake the branches. What the hell!

I have to say I think this seems like the far end of the pie in the sky dreamworld kind of project to me. I don't think I'll be spending any money on this...