The 2010 vintage will probably be recalled as a wet one, given that showers occurred during each of the spring months and on into May. While total rainfall actually falls into the “normal” range, the frequency of the rains loomed large and created an annoyance by encouraging weed growth and rot so that growers had to respond with more vineyard floor and canopy management. The cool spring delayed flowering and produced modest crop sets.

If March, April and May were cool months, so were June, July and even August – until the final week. After a summer of seemingly endless 75° to 80° F. days, the end of August brought a blast of heat during which a practically unheard of 105° F. day was recorded in Carneros. Even with this heat spike, August was as cool on average as July. That situation proved problematic. The sudden heat had a damaging effect … More…

What a vintage this has been! We finally began to harvest last week. After a rainy spring and one of the longest, coolest growing seasons in recent memory, our thermometers flirted with triple digit numbers for several days during the last week in August. Farther north in Sonoma Valley, temperatures soared as high as 110° F on Tuesday, the 24th.

September brought a return to moderate weather, but some damage had been done. With foggy, damp mornings the norm throughout the summer, growers had opened their leaf canopies to facilitate air flow and sunlight penetration as a hedge against rot and mildew. But protection against one concern left them vulnerable to another. Grapes that had not been acclimated to warm weather were suddenly exposed to intense sun and heat that shocked and sunburned as much as … More…

So far, 2010 has been a very “cool” vintage – in at least two senses of that adjective. The relatively low temperatures are not at all bad. Mildew pressure may be greater, but the vines really like the air conditioning. Often we are “socked in” with morning fog, but it usually burns off before noon and the sun breaks through, providing ample energy for photosynthesis.

Because conditions were not ideal for setting a big crop during bloom, we have significant shatter and loose clusters. Without the demand of a large fruit set, the vines look very lush and are thriving, with shoot tips still active. And with lower ambient temperatures, water demand is lessened as well.

So far we’ve had no real heat spikes, just a warm weekend during the second week of June. Last year at this time, we had color in the vineyard after a heat spike earlier in July. … More…

Each spring I’m asked how the vintage is going so far. This year the questions have come more frequently as we have experienced what seems an endless series of rainstorms. In a nod to working people not involved in agriculture, it feels like every week has included a couple of rainy days, but skies have cleared for the weekends. The past week was no exception. Rain poured down on Thursday, May 27th, but then the sun returned and shone throughout Memorial Day weekend. We expect more fair weather for the rest of the week, so perhaps we have turned the corner.

The recurrent rains remind us of the 1998 vintage when it also rained periodically until June. The impression is that we’ve had a really wet spring, but the fact is that the year is pretty normal to date. While it has rained regularly, it hasn’t always rained very much. What … More…

In my last post, I wrote that working with the terroir of a vineyard site is like being handed the keys to a new BMW. How do you drive it?  A writer friend of mine reminded me that I hadn’t answered that question yet, so we sat down for a little question and answer session, which follows:

What is your definition of terroir?

Simply put, it’s all of the physical characteristics of a site. That includes soil, climate (including rainfall, wind and fog) and elements of topography like elevation, slope and exposure. Beyond those physical features, of course, your farming philosophy will also come into play.

What makes a potential vineyard site look promising?

Let’s assume you are in a cool climate region like Carneros appropriate for growing Pinot Noir.  When considering bare ground for a vineyard, you need a clear picture in mind of what constitutes a good vineyard, which, of course, … More…