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…

Over the weekend of May 16-17 this year, we experienced a brief but significant heat spike. Our vines had begun flowering the previous week (less than five percent), and temperatures had ranged from the 70s to the low 80s throughout the week.

As the mercury approached high 90s F., the vines had moved into full bloom. Grapevines are rather vulnerable during this period and require moderate conditions for complete pollination. Extremes of cool, hot, dry or wet weather can interrupt the process.

A good synonym for a vintage is “weather pattern.” Each growing season is a collection of fog and heat and wind and rain events. As wine grape growers, we can’t control the weather, but we do try to react to it in an appropriate manner to obtain the end product we want.

This year, as in 2007, the heat and subsequent rapid and incomplete flowering gave us little shot berries and … More…

We spent a day with Dr. Phil Freese recently. He’s formerly head of viticulture for Robert Mondavi Winery as well as professor of viticulture at the University of California. He and his wife, Zelma Long, who began her illustrious career making wine with Robert Mondavi and gained renown at Simi Winery, both consult with us.

We find their experience, expertise and the perspectives they bring very stimulating. Part of their role is to challenge us to continue to think creatively. One pitfall we try to guard against is falling into the same old ruts in our thinking and planning. Good enough is simply not good enough in the pursuit of the ultimate.

As we began our conversation, Phil commented on the smoke-filled skies from the many California wildfires during the past two months and … More…

Four days of 100-degree weather during the second week of July (the mercury reached 106 in the town of Sonoma on Tuesday the 8th) marked the fourth heat spike of the 2008 vintage. The first spike came in mid-May, accelerating the bloom period, and two others occurred on June 9th and 21st.

Fires continued to burn around the state of California, and the polluted air combined with the heat wave made working outside seem like standing in front of a blow dryer.

Just north of Sonoma on the Fourth of July, a hillside grass fire started with a spark from a mower and threatened residences as well as Hanzell Winery. Thanks to the swift response of firefighters, fixed-wing aircraft dropping slurry and a helicopter dropping water, the fire was put out after … More…