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2012

CURRENTLY: Bud Break

our grapes start their annual growth cycle in the spring with bud break. Tiny buds on the vine start to swell and eventually shoots begin to grow from the buds. Buds are the small part of the vine that rest between the vine's stem and the petiole (leaf stem). During winter dormancy they turn brown until the spring when the vines begin the process of bud break and the first sign of green in the vineyards emerge.

Bud break arrived at Domaine Serene on Sunday, April 22nd, and, if the recent 80 degree plus days are any indication, we should have a very solid growing season.

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
Toll Free: 1-866-864-6555 - Fax: 1-503-864-4500 -
E-Mail: info@domaineserene.com