Mid Season Report - Reds

As August rolls in it is time to provide an update on where the vines are.  To date our summer has been very hot and dry and everything appears to be further along then last year.  We have increased our irrigation over last year based on less water retention in the lower (west side) of the vineyard (see blog dated August 11, 2014). It seems to have made a difference in some of the rows, but in others a portion of the vines still struggle.  Overall everything planted on the southern end perform much better.   All observations below based on data collected August 3, 2015. UPDATE: as of August 9, all reds showed some sign of veraison.

Blattner

48-05-83: small-med berries in fairly loose bunches.  No signs of powdery mildew (PM) or other issues. Not overly vigorous.

Cab Libra, very loose bunch

Labelle: Small berries in loose bunches.  about 30% of the fruit is showing veraison.  The vines look good, no signs of PM and not overly vigorous.

Cab Libra: Medium size berries in loose bunches.  we did not allow much fruit to set this year as this vines has struggled.  A decent bounce back, and while vines look healthy they do not seem to bet performing to expectations.  What fruit is hanging has achieved veraison.

Remaining Varieties

Baco Noir: small-medium berries in loose bunches.  This variety has struggled so we did not allow much fruit to hang.  It still struggles a bit with low vigor. No PM visible and vines look healthy.

Zweigelt

Zweigelt: medium sized berries in tight(ish) bunches.  About 20% have achieved veraison.  Overall vines look healthy but low vigor. No PM visible, but many leaves have turned bright red.

Leon Millot: Small berries and semi-tight bunches.  About 20% have achieved veraison.  As mentioned in an earlier post, this is quite vigorous and we high trellised it.

Leon Millot

Pinot Noir: Small berries in tight bunches.  This variety has struggled so we did not allow much fruit to hang.  No PM visible and vines look healthy.

Regent: Small-medium berries in loose bunches. This variety has struggled so we did not allow much fruit to hang. No PM visible and vines look healthy.

Baltica: Small berries in loose bunches. This variety struggled last year so we did not allow much fruit to hang. No PM visible and vines look healthy, although quite a few are still struggling, more so at the northern end.  What fruit is present has achieved some veraison.

Marquette: Small-medium berries in tight bunches.  This variety struggled last year so we did not allow much fruit to hang. No PM visible and vines look healthy, although quite a few are still struggling, more so at the northern end.  What fruit is present has achieved some veraison.