Dijon 114
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Near Mid-Veraison...Looking More and More Like A September Harvest
We're at or near mid-veraison in all our blocks. The berries are changing color at a relatively slow pace; but with the continued dry, mid-80s weather we should be fully purple by month-end, if not sooner.
Dijon 114
Dijon 115
Wadenswil
Pommard
Dijon 114
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Weather Recap Through July
Cumulative July season-to-date rainfall is 33.9 inches. While only 4 inches less than normal, since December we have received significantly less than normal rainfall every month except in May.
Correspondingly, cumulative positive heating degree days for the same period have been significantly higher than normal, with 1335 heating degree days through the end of July. In fact, 2013 is trending to be the warmest season in recent memory. Interestingly, we have not yet had the usual couple of several-day heat spikes into the 100s that we usually have during a warm year. For the most part, we have just been consistently trending above the daily average temperatures.
Despite the heat and lack of rainfall, the vines are dark green and in great shape and we haven't seen any sunburned grapes yet.
If August were to have the normal amount of heating degree days, we would be at the same point at the end of August, heat accumulation-wise, as we normally are by the end of September.
The three-month weather forecast is showing cooler and than normal weather for the August through October period, though. So, hopefully the weather will accommodate us with a slower ripening period: holding down Brix, maintaining acid, and fully developing flavor and aroma characteristics of the grapes.
Correspondingly, cumulative positive heating degree days for the same period have been significantly higher than normal, with 1335 heating degree days through the end of July. In fact, 2013 is trending to be the warmest season in recent memory. Interestingly, we have not yet had the usual couple of several-day heat spikes into the 100s that we usually have during a warm year. For the most part, we have just been consistently trending above the daily average temperatures.
If August were to have the normal amount of heating degree days, we would be at the same point at the end of August, heat accumulation-wise, as we normally are by the end of September.
The three-month weather forecast is showing cooler and than normal weather for the August through October period, though. So, hopefully the weather will accommodate us with a slower ripening period: holding down Brix, maintaining acid, and fully developing flavor and aroma characteristics of the grapes.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
First Color
I noticed some color on a cluster a couple of days ago, but - because it is so early - I wanted to see color elsewhere before concluding that veraison has started. Today I found examples throughout the vineyard.
Clone 115
Clone 114
Wadenswil
Pommard
We typically begin harvest 7 to 8 weeks after first color, putting this year's harvest roughly in the last week of September. Being earlier than usual, the temperatures are likely to be higher, which could accelerate ripening, leading to an even earlier start of harvest. Possibly somewhat offsetting this is the longer bloom period we had this year, which could extend veraison. Assuming normal weather patterns in August and September, I'm expecting a September harvest.
Clone 115
Clone 114
Wadenswil
Pommard
We typically begin harvest 7 to 8 weeks after first color, putting this year's harvest roughly in the last week of September. Being earlier than usual, the temperatures are likely to be higher, which could accelerate ripening, leading to an even earlier start of harvest. Possibly somewhat offsetting this is the longer bloom period we had this year, which could extend veraison. Assuming normal weather patterns in August and September, I'm expecting a September harvest.
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