Veraison and Vintage update

Over the last week we’re seeing Veraison in the County vineyards. This is the phase when the grapes start to change colour, the skins begin to darken. It signals the onset of ripening of the fruit.

It would be an understatement to call the 2023 vintage a challenge. Cold and frost in May followed by a 5-6 week period of heat and humidity and little precipitation. Then right after fruit set in July, the rain hasn’t stopped and the humidity has lingered. Thunderstorms and rapid heavy downpours have been frequent and the dry sunny days with a good breeze few and far between. August 12th brought a heavy pounding of hail during a massive thunderstorm downpour in the western part of the County, and perhaps elsewhere as well. Neither are good news for the grapes.

As a result the humidity and damp conditions of the last few weeks, both the canopies and the grapes are suffering. Moisture accumulates in the tight berry clusters and they don’t dry out. The result is mold, mildew, and worst of all rot and spoilage. The berries can also absorb too much moisture and split.

Attempts to spray the vines have been thwarted by rain that washes everything away after application. As a result the canopy leaves are being besieged by pests and mildew, turning brown, and dying off. This is removing the natural protection for the grape clusters.

And there is the damage potential for future years with roots being suffocated in wet soil, cutting off nutrients, and impacting future growth and development.

So what we need now is more days like August 11th to save this vintage. Sunny, dry days with a continual dry breeze (and the end of rain). We’ll all cross our fingers that this is what the second half of August and the month of September brings our way. Many producers will soon need to make decisions to over harvest for sparkling wines in 2023 (picking less ripened grapes) to maximize their results for the vintage. Otherwise the risk is some very low yields from further ripening and a later harvest.