Who says you can't grow grapes in New England? Look at these beauties!
Our vines, after being drenched in rain for what seemed like an endless rain-filled early Summer, took a terrific rebound. In fact, the water inspired vigor - almost too much vigor - as they developed at lightning spped once the warm rays of the sun returned.
One issue with the rain related to pollination and fruit set. You can see different size berries in the above cluster - some were simply pollinated and began to develop earlier than others. Rain washes pollen to the ground so it takes longer for the fruit to set. This can, if not recognized, allow for some underripe berries to enter the mix and add green-ness (or bitterness) to the wines. The trick is to ensure that all of the berries on the cluster are at acceptable ripeness levels before harvest.
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