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Cook Vineyard Weekly Newsletter 7.31.12

August is a great time to be a viticulturist in Sonoma. After making all the hard decisions for the season this is when we hand off the vineyard to Mother Nature.  For the next month we will rely on her to help ripen our grapes. In all seriousness this is a crucial time to have great ripening weather.

By all indicators it looks as if harvest will be 10 to 14 days earlier than the last few years. It is still too early to tell, but if this warm weather continues we will be ahead of schedule.

So does an early harvest season produce quality grapes?

Quality grapes are created by balanced vines that grow in a balanced environment without any harsh weather. This year Sonoma has had a picture perfect growing season and so far we haven’t had any unusual harsh weather.

The main reason for our predicted early harvest is due to the warmer summer than the ones in the past few years. This warm summer so far has been balanced without any extreme heat waves or cold spells that could damage the fruit or delay the ripening process..

So the answer is yes. If the grapes are allowed to ripen evenly and we do not have to harvest due to weather and allow them hang time this could be a great vintage to remember.

If anyone wants to visit us in the vineyards to learn more about the world of viticulture, please call us at 707.490.8921. Also check our website  www.cvmgrapes.com.