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Bloom!  While there were many rumors and supposed sightings, it was mostly a case of wishful thinking.  Flowering started with the gorgeous 90F weather at the end of June and was complete within only a few days across all our vineyards.  In fact, the extraordinarily condensed schedule saved us the argument of tallying first flowers versus 50% bloom as this year the difference was only about 3-days. 

Typically bloom will take place within one to three weeks.  This year’s compressed timeframe has a few indications for us.  Foremost it is a very healthy viticultural sign, an indication that the vines are fully assimilating the sunshine, warmth, and nutrients and directly translating this energy into crop development.  Or as our vineyard manager, Joey Myers, describes his views on why this season’s bloom is ideal: “the vines are running on all cylinders.” 

We are two weeks behind historical bloom, on par with 2008, and currently tracking pinot noir harvest the first week of October.  In the vineyard though most of the anthers have yet to detach from the freshly pollinated berries, set is beginning to be measured.  It is thought that between 50-70% of flowers abort and that wind during flowering can cause cross pollination and impact fruit set.  There is always something to be both mindful of and grateful for.. - M. Eleni Papadakis, Winemaker

Bud Break Bloom Fruit Set Veraison
Bud Break - Around April 1st buds burst forth on the fruiting cane. Each bud has the potential for three shoots. Each shoot, which will grow vertically, will produce fruit. Our first and most important "green thinning" for quality will be to disbud by hand. We leave one shoot per bud and only 12-14 shoots per fruiting cane, at a distance of no less than 3-4 fingers apart. Disbudding is vital for canopy health. Bloom - This occurs in June. Grapes are hermaphroditic, which means they have male and female flower parts and self fertilize without the help of bees. The flower at bloom has pollen on the ends of the stamen which fertilize the pistal (ovary) in the center of the flower. There is a wonderful fragrance in the vineyards at this time. All is well if weather is good. If it is cold, rainy and windy, fertilization will not be complete for all of the "embryo" grapes and may lead to poor "fruit set". FRUIT SET - This occurs a few weeks after bloom. Only "embryo" berries that have been fertilized will become full-sized seeded grapes. The rest will fall off or remain tiny seedless "shot berries" in the cluster. VERAISON - Grape clusters begin to turn from green to purple in August. Crop yield estimates are made at this time, and all but one cluster per shoot may be removed and discarded to achieve the desired yield of under 2 tons per acre.
   

 

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6555 N.E. Hilltop Lane, Dayton, OR 97114 - Phone: 1-503-864-4600
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