Growers here also are hoping the low December temperatures will help reduce populations of the European Grape Vine Moth

The early and fast pace of growth in the vineyards this season has Nord and her crews playing catch up in managing the vines. “We feel like we’re behind in our work all the time,” she says.

That feeling is likely to persist throughout the rest of the season. Veteran growers generally figure wine grapes are ripe for picking about 100 to 120 days after bloom. That would put the start of this year’s Napa harvest beginning in early to mid-August with sparking and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. One exception is likely to be the fields of Cabernet Sauvignon. Wine makers like for this slow-to-ripen grape to hang on the vines about two to three weeks later than most others to maximize fruit quality.

“My friends and I who work in the vineyards are joking that we may be able to go on vacation in November this year,” Nord says.

In the meantime, she and her crews will be busy managing this season’s vigorous vine growth. That’s likely to include extra trips down the rows suckering, thinning shoots and removing leaves.

The thick canopies will also require special attention in their powdery mildew control program, which began at bloom. That will include taking special care to ensure good coverage inside the canopies when applying fungicides.

“We’ll be doing extra leafing and adding a systemic spray to our sulfur dusting program,” Nord explains. “And, we’ll have to check the vines much more closely for any signs of the disease so we can treat promptly.”

As she sees it, the surprisingly robust growth in the vineyards this season, following two straight years of high fruit quality and high yields, reflects vines that are in very good health and condition.

“I’m excited that we may have a three-peat year,” Nord says. “I can’t remember when that’s happened before.”

 

Want the latest agricultural news each day? Click here for the Western Farm Press Daily e-mail newsletter.