Anyone who lives in or has visited San Luis Obispo County in January or February knows that these winter months paint our hills with beautifully lush and bright green color.\u00a0 But this year the lack of rain and a severe drought hindered such landscapes from developing.\u00a0 During this period, the vineyards throughout the Edna Valley stay dormant, awaiting spring.<\/p>\n
So when our Claiborne Vineyard\u2019s buds began to break in March, we welcomed the new growth with open arms.\u00a0 The term, bud break, is a stage in a vine\u2019s development where the vine buds swell, allowing the first green shoots and leaves to sprout.\u00a0 Tiny clusters begin to set and the shoots\/leaves will grow rapidly in the following weeks.<\/p>\n
Due to the warm and dry winter season, bud break started up a couple weeks earlier than usual.\u00a0 Early bud break increases the risk of frost damage that can occur if temperatures drop to freezing.\u00a0 Thankfully, our vineyard is nestled in part of the Edna Valley where the cool ocean breeze helps maintain ideal temperatures during this time.<\/p>\n
In early May the vineyard\u2019s fruit will be fully set and we will be able to gauge what kind of yields we\u2019ll have this fall.\u00a0 So much excitement ahead!<\/p>\n