It\u2019s mid July, and as we look onto our estate vineyards, we see our Pinot Noir clusters turning from a youthful shade of green to its classic purplish hue.\u00a0 What does this mean in the world of viticulture?\u00a0 Well, it\u2019s a clear indication that veraison<\/i> has started.\u00a0 This French term means the \u201conset of ripening\u201d in the vineyard.\u00a0 From here on out, the sugars in the grapes (in the form of glucose and fructose) will start to accumulate, the berries will soften, and the anthocynins (which gives the grapes its red color) will continue developing within the skins.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s interesting is just how early verasion has occurred.\u00a0 This stage of a vineyard\u2019s annual growth cycle typically begins in the later part of July\/early August.\u00a0 Ever since our warm, dry winter the vineyards in the Edna Valley have been ahead of schedule all year.\u00a0 So it wasn\u2019t much of a surprise when we started noticing signs of versaison around 4th<\/sup> of July.<\/p>\n