"Spring" happens, as they say. This year in New Hampshire we were blessed with a terrific 'pre' spring. Our early May is typically referred to as 'mud season' due to the relentlessly frigid drizzling rains that, in tandem with melting snow, make for a lovely brown stew beneath our feet. This, we can deal with. Mud Season rolls off the back like the mud washes off our shoes. Our vines are used to it and stay softly in a sleep like trance until the warm glow of the sun stirs their constitution.
Yet this year, Spring 2010, was a wonderful spring - the rains came fast and furious resulting more in flash flooding than mud season. Then they were gone. In the following days we had some beautiful sunny days, it was warm, clear and crisp, we got our yard work done early, the outdoor drinking establishments opened early. Except this encouraged all our green growing friends to emerge from their hibernation early and begin sprouting, budding, and growing. And then, part way through the second week in May, came a real below-zero-honest-to-God Spring frost (25 degrees give or take). Our vines fell victim, and are currently paying dearly for their zeal in budding out so soon. (photos to follow).
So the tiny, tender green buds and shoots are now brown and fried (for lack of a better word.) Granted, this is not the end of the world, the vines are still alive and well, they just have had a minor setback. They will soon begin to push secondary buds. Mother Nature, as cruel and crafty as she is, has built a genetic safeguard into the vines. They have dormant secondary buds that will produce new growth if the other were to be accidentally frozen. yes, this has happened before. The vines Jewell Towne grows (known as the Hybrids, or French American Hybrids) are better able to deal with situations like this, and recover.
So what does it mean in terms of wine quality? Well, the vines just experienced a significant setback, all their initial energy is for nil, but they will survive and produce. But having spent all that initial effort and energy to spring forward early in the year has tired the vines and sapped their energies, so the second push of buds will be somewhat less dramatic and less vigorous. This in turn will mean fewer grapes and lower yields - resulting in less wine- but not necessarily effecting the quality in any way. Its kind of like getting too close to an open flame - you get burnt, but get out quickly enough and you'll be fine after you nurse your wounds. So though the scene looks dismal, thanks the recovery properties of our Hybrid vines, we're still good to go, just a little worse for wear.
"Spring" Happens. God Bless New England and the fool-hardy winemakers that choose to grow their grapes and make their wines here.
Yet this year, Spring 2010, was a wonderful spring - the rains came fast and furious resulting more in flash flooding than mud season. Then they were gone. In the following days we had some beautiful sunny days, it was warm, clear and crisp, we got our yard work done early, the outdoor drinking establishments opened early. Except this encouraged all our green growing friends to emerge from their hibernation early and begin sprouting, budding, and growing. And then, part way through the second week in May, came a real below-zero-honest-to-God Spring frost (25 degrees give or take). Our vines fell victim, and are currently paying dearly for their zeal in budding out so soon. (photos to follow).
So the tiny, tender green buds and shoots are now brown and fried (for lack of a better word.) Granted, this is not the end of the world, the vines are still alive and well, they just have had a minor setback. They will soon begin to push secondary buds. Mother Nature, as cruel and crafty as she is, has built a genetic safeguard into the vines. They have dormant secondary buds that will produce new growth if the other were to be accidentally frozen. yes, this has happened before. The vines Jewell Towne grows (known as the Hybrids, or French American Hybrids) are better able to deal with situations like this, and recover.
So what does it mean in terms of wine quality? Well, the vines just experienced a significant setback, all their initial energy is for nil, but they will survive and produce. But having spent all that initial effort and energy to spring forward early in the year has tired the vines and sapped their energies, so the second push of buds will be somewhat less dramatic and less vigorous. This in turn will mean fewer grapes and lower yields - resulting in less wine- but not necessarily effecting the quality in any way. Its kind of like getting too close to an open flame - you get burnt, but get out quickly enough and you'll be fine after you nurse your wounds. So though the scene looks dismal, thanks the recovery properties of our Hybrid vines, we're still good to go, just a little worse for wear.
"Spring" Happens. God Bless New England and the fool-hardy winemakers that choose to grow their grapes and make their wines here.
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