Latest News, Vines and Vineyards, Walla Walla AVA, Walla Walla Winery
by Jay DeWitt, Managing Partner & Vigneron
As we find ourselves deep in the summer months, I am happy to report that the vineyard is in excellent condition this year. We had several cold nights right at bud break in early April, but the buds came through without any real damage. This spring and summer have been very dry, which helps us control the vegetative growth. The best flavors come from the berries that have some direct sunlight, so a lot of big leaves is not what we want. Excessive vegetation also makes powdery mildew more of a concern.
Overall the temperatures have been warmer than average, but there have only been a couple of blistering hot days over 100 degrees. Thankfully it was only a couple days of excessive heat, because long term exposure to those high temps can cause the berries to burn. Right now, the grapes are entering the veraison stage which is the transition from the berry growth phase to the berry ripening phase. This is a welcome sign, as the ripening is the last stage in the grape’s growth cycle and a promise of good things to come!