Spring 2009 Update

In my last blog, I wrote a bit about spring and what is happening with the "waking of the vines". I love Spring but worry every year like a brand new parent. The tiny leaves and future flower clusters make their first appearence; everything looks in control, yet I know what the future holds... soon they will be growing madly at 5 to 6 inches a day! Often times it's hard to keep up with them, but like a new parent, we always manage.

Luckily, that is a few weeks away so for now it's just those first few leaves and flower clusters that will will eventually grow into the fruit of our wines. At this time of the year it's a nice feeling that winter is slowly giving way to warmer temperatures, the brown and grey colors of winter on the landscape are showing bright green colors of tender and vigorous new growth, and the flowering fruit trees are spectacular. My favorites are the redbuds, flowering pears, cherry, almonds and dogwoods. Even the wild almonds along the freeways with their soft pink colors are magical. For me this is "New Years", when everything that grows comes to life and displays its glory. And don't get me started on how much I love and appreciate the longer days...

Off to the vineyard to tie vines. Enjoy the season.

Salute!
Ken

First Day of Spring

Hi all,
Yesterday was officially the first day of spring, which our 6 year old, Gina, was quick to remind on the way to school yesterday. It was supposed to be about 75 or 76 degrees in the Sacramento region yesterday and if you factor in the 2400' elevation of our vineyards it should be 70 degrees up there. Seventy degrees yells at the vines to "get moving!".

I noticed that the Nebbiolo vines are now post-popcorn and showing the first signs of green, while the Dolcetto and Barbera are still pretty much in slumberland. For the next 30 to 45 days the frost risk is at its highest and I have heard rumor that the incoming storm this Sunday will be a cold one with snow levels down to 2000'. That could mean trouble. I'll check Accuweather after this post (as I do many times a day!).

I was in Corti Bros. wine shop last week, who probably has the best selection of different Italian varietals anywhere in California and the greatest custom made deli sandwiches for $5.50. I am curious as to what the readers know about Italian whites.

How many of you have had Pinot Grigio? I'm thinking probably a lot, but how about Arneis (pronounced arnase) or Vermentino? Or let's hear about something really unique; challenge me to see if I'm familiar with it. Keep it limited to Italian varieties or Italian varieties grown in the U.S.

Time to check on the weather.
Ken

Spring 2009

Wow! It is already March 16th, 2009. That means that once again the grapes will understand that the sun is out long enough and just warm enough to make the vines push their leaves out. Grape growers and winery owners can be heard asking each other, "are you at popcorn yet?" "Popcorn" is a term used to describe the swelling of the buds on the vine just before you can actually see green leaves. They get fuzzy, look a little yellowish, and swollen. Think of the kernals of corn in the bottom of the pot where the popcorn didn't pop all the way out -- that's what we call popcorn.

And this gives us grapegrowers an additional worry......frost. Once the vines begin their growth and the first set of leaves open, right behind these first set of leaves is what in a couple of months will be the grape clusters. Should the temperature dip below 32 degrees, these new clusters will freeze. At first they don't look bad, but within a week or 10 days the real damage is evident. Increasingly by the day, the new leaves and clusters begin to look like that head of lettuce that got left in the fridge under the rest of the produce. blackish, limp, and soggy. Not at all a pretty sight. Last year was a bad frost year and Due Vigne lost 2/3 of the crop of Napa Cab grown at Ron and Barbara Houle's vineyard. We are hoping fo a non repeat.

March 16th also reminds me that I still have three more rows to prune and all 3,000 vines to tie to the wire. Working feaversihly as it'll be at "popcorn" any day now! Stressful, but exciting.

Ken