After a very wet spring and a relatively cool summer thus far, I was beginning to wonder if we were going to see a 2011 vintage.  Today, after driving by our Pinot Noir vineyard, I laid eyes on something that made my day…..veraison!!!  Veraison is a viticulture term meaning “the onset of ripening” which we normally expect to see this time of year. During this point in the ripening process, we start to see the berries change color and go from acidic to sweet. This actually happens very quickly…one might say overnight. Of course, it’s much easier to see the transition in red grape varieties because the change is so drastic visually. I especially like this time of year because the berries begin to smell fruity and I start to anticipate harvest. Even though we still hope to see some nice 85° to 90° days over the next two months, seeing this today was a very good sign. This weekend, I hope you’ll drive through Suisun Valley and try to spot some grapes in the early stages of veraison.

Salute’!!