Finding Balance…In Wine Country

Well, everyone seems to agree…..This weather has been crazy. An extremely mild summer already had people asking over and over again, “What does it mean for the grapes?”. The crazy heat wave of a week ago definitely got everyone’s attention. It seemed like everyone in the valley (winemakers as well as wine drinkers) was talking about the grapes, the harvest, and ultimately, the wine.

The long, extended growing season can actually be seen as a positive. More time for the vines to really concentrate on balanced fruit profiles and truly reach phenolic ripeness. The record heat of last week did not phase too many winemakers. Yes, it sent sugar levels spiking, but the acid levels were relatively high as well, showing the fruit was still relatively in check. Our consensus was that with cooling temperatures, we would see the sugar levels drop a bit and the fruit would indeed be balanced.

Of course, the negative of an extended growing season and late harvest is the inevitable thoughts of early rain, or, dare I say, frost happening before all the fruit is picked. Oh, but what are the chances….we have already dealt with enough weather worries, no? No. It has rained. It is raining now. This has affected our nerves the most. The thought of moldy fruit makes winemakers very unhappy. It is at times like this when I am very grateful and happy that we contract our fruit by the acre. This gives us a lot of control in the vineyards. I have faith that we have meticulously farmed our blocks and used techniques to help ensure our fruit will be protected.

Earlier, when facing the slow and mild growing season, there was much contemplation of how much of the canopy to cut or how much fruit to drop. The lower temperatures also played into how aggressive we would be with leafing and tunneling to try and combat powdery mildew. Air circulation around the clusters can prevent mildew from occurring. Of course, having a thinner canopy results in more sun on the fruit. While this is beneficial during the cooler times, with the triple digit temperatures, sunburn was a concern. Again, we come back to balance. We are constantly aiming to farm in balance with Mother Nature, the vines’ health and our desires as winemakers.

This growing season and harvest has felt a bit schizophrenic. Too cold, too hot, what techniques to use, when to pick, when to panic….. But, as winemakers, this is our fate. The weather is just another aspect of what makes wine making so intriguing and challenging.

Making wine is truly a gift. We feel so fortunate to have this opportunity and we are always grateful for the lessons it provides us….as winemakers and as human beings. So often lessons learned around making wine translate perfectly to life. And, today’s lesson is balance.