How the grapes are ripening.

 

                

These two pictures show the effect that drought can have on the grapes.   In the one on the left, you can see that the grapes are still light in color, sort of a pinkish purple, as opposed to the ones on the right which have turned entirely black. (Click on the pictures to see them upclose).  This year the ripening is very uneven.  These two grenache vines are right near each other in the same vineyard, yet the grapes are much riper on the second vine.  We're finding this all over the grenache vineyards, the syrah, however, seems to be fine.  What happens is when the vines are stressed from lack of water and high temperatures, they tend to shut down, and when this happens the grapes don't ripen.  Luckily for us, the temperatures have dropped significantly since the end of July and last week it rained, a lot.  According to our enologist M. Alméras, it takes the vines about a week to absorb the moisture and to start seeing the benefits of the rain.  At this point the grapes should continue to ripen normally, just in time to be picked in a couple of weeks.  It was the perfect time for rain, but now we don't want anymore, not until after harvest!!!  So keep your fingers crossed that the rain will stay away...

Comments

[Rob Cole]

I'ved sourced grapes locally this year that the grower said should be ready in early October. However, we've had a lot of rain lately, and with this new tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico, more could be on the way. As of now, I'm worried that harvest will be closer to November!

Good luck with your weather!

[Terry Hughes]

Hi, Amy. Sounds like the weather you've been having is similar to lots of N. Italy as well. Here's hoping you don't get more rain. (We're getting it for you in NYC!)

Your post reminded me of something I ought to have put on my blog. When Ferdinando Imberti, who owns the Le Fonti estate in Chianti, was escorting us around his vineyards, he showed us where the wild boar had been feasting on the ripening grapes and where they had dug big holes between the rows. Smart suines -- it was the estate's "cru" vineyard, the best stuff they make.

Good luck till harvest.

Terry