Chateau Chantal, Sept. 9th, 2011
It’s almost that time of year again! Paul, Brian and I are anxiously watching the weather, counting clusters and scrambling to get ready for the 2011 harvest. As of Sept. 6th we were at 2,147 growing degree days, base 50. The 21 year average for Old Mission Peninsula is 2,055 so we’re ahead of that but still behind last year when we were at 2,414 for this date. Growing Degree Days (GDD) are a little like pH, nobody really knows what they are, but they are the only objective way we have in agriculture of comparing one year to all of the rest of the years.
Bird Protection Netting
The bottom line is that we are quite excited about how things in the vineyards look this year. I’m estimating the crop size to be almost 30% higher than last year and that’s good because we need to build up our stock again after last year’s small crop. The challenge will be in getting that size crop to the proper ripeness; the larger the crop, the longer it takes to ripen. The number one question in the Wine Shop is: “when are you going to start harvesting”. That’s easy to answer, tell me what the weather each day is going to be for the next 4 weeks and I’ll tell you when we’ll start.
This has been a beautiful week with plenty of sun and warm temperatures. The red varieties are changing color quickly now and the whites are starting to go from green to a little more yellow. We have been eating the Himrods,( table grapes) outside of the Wine Shop for a week now and they are tasting really good. Things are looking good through Monday but then it looks like rain and much cooler temps. for a few days. Who knows after that? In all likelihood, we’ll probably start harvest around the 3rd of Oct. which is just about average.
We have been busy putting bird netting up on many of our vineyards and installing electric fences in an attempt to keep raccoons out. If you come around you will also be treated to the melodic sound of propane, bird scare cannons and Avalarms, which broadcast bird distress calls. (If you don’t believe they’re ‘melodic’, just ask the neighbors who occasionally have to remind us when we forget to turn them off at night!) Everything wants our grapes because they are so darn good!
In the cellar, our hugely expanded cellar which already feels like it’s too small; we are frantically trying to get everything we will need for sale before the end of the year bottled. We also have been distilling cherries for Eau-de-vie, cherry wine for brandy for Cerise and Cerise Noir and 2010 grape wine for our grape brandy. Speaking of grape brandy, we will be releasing our first brandy around the Christmas holidays. It has been in barrels for 5+ years. Marie-Chantal can write all about the name and packaging and price but I’ll just let you know that, as a brandy drinker, this stuff is REALLY good. Stop by after Thanksgiving and we’ll try a little. You won’t be disappointed.
So, that’s going to have to do it for now. Wishing all of you a beautiful fall season and all of us a great harvest!
Mark
