New York Vineyard Site Evaluation System
A collaborative project of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University and the Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technologies with funding from the New York Wine and Grape Foundation. As the grape and wine industry in New York has grown, there is a need to make wise decisions about sites for vineyards. The high investment required and the longevity of vineyards makes good decisions at the beginning critical. The goal of this project is to provide a wealth of information needed to understand New York’s varied geography and climates, and to provide key data for sites for potential grape planting. This information is compiled from many sources such as the US Natural Resource Conservation Service, US and NY State agencies, The Northeast Climate Center at Cornell University, Cornell university grape specialists and the experience of grape industry leaders.
	NOTE - This site is intended to provide easy access to a great deal of basic geographic and climate information helpful in the evaluation and selection of vineyard sites. Basic site evaluation information is available in the Educational Info menu. Individual vineyards are often smaller than the resolution of some of the data provided, previous use of the land may have affected the soil, and specific land preparation may be needed. So, it is strongly recommended that individual sites be evaluated with the help of local Cornell Cooperative Extension and NRCS soil specialists, soil testing services (see Resource Menu), and local experts. Click here to learn how to use this site!