2014 Harvest: Sept. 19-23

We started harvest early this year on the same day as last year, at the end of an unusually warm ripening period.

This year's fruit is beautiful and tasty: fully-ripened, deep blue-black berries, without sun-burn or rot, with little to no shriveling, and with intense fruit flavors.


Although sugar levels rose high, fast, and early during this season's ripening period; they slowed down considerably a week or so before harvest, ending in the 24-25 degrees of Brix range.  Acid levels seemed to drop slower than usual this year, ending at the same or lower levels than normal.  A significant, and unusual variation this year is the extremely low level of malic acid.

Flavors, which normally come on late in the ripening process, did so as usual this year. And, at least in the case of early ripening vineyards like ours, the lack of rain and birds this year allowed for additional hang-time to take advantage of the unusually favorable conditions for flavor development.

Almost There...

Sugars and acids are coming into picking range, skin tannins are coming on, and flavors are beginning to show themselves.  Clear skies; low, low humidities, and unseasonably warm temps continue.  We'll start picking next week, about the same time as last year.

Dijon Clone 114

Dijon Clone 115

Wadenswil

Pommard

Final Ripeing 2014

With weather like this since mid-May, the vines have grown well and are in great shape to finish ripening the season's early and abundant crop.


Clone 114

Clone 115

Pommard

Wadenswil

 

As of Wednesday, average Brix and pH for the vineyard was 21 and 3.0, respectively; with green, but ripening, seeds; and tough, unflavored skins. Dry, sunny weather since then, with temperatures into the mid- to upper-90s, have ripened the grapes further; and humidity levels around 10% have softened the berries somewhat.  After it cools off Tuesday, we'll test for sugar and pH - hopefully by that time skins will start showing some flavor.   

August 2014 Cumulative Heating Degree Days and Rainfall

Temperature-wise, through August, we've had 2072 heating degree days this season - almost an exact duplicate of last year, and one of the warmest seasons in recent memory.  Fortunately, again this year, the warmth has come in the form of steady warm temperatures, rather than in heat spikes - with only 5 days above the critical 95F point.

Rainfall-wise, for October through August, we've had 27.4 inches of rainfall this season, 11 inches less than the 10-yr average, an inch less than the most recent driest year (2009), and about 7 inches less than last year.  All of the shortfall came during the dormant season, but with plenty of rain during early shoot-growth the vines have been exceptionally vigorous this season.

As we head into the last few weeks before harvest, the weather forecast is showing continued sunny, dry weather with highs in the mid- to upper-80s and lows in the low-50s,