Seasons of the Vine

  Written by Dale Rossi on Dec 30, 2008 4:11 pm

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                                                 SEASONS OF THE VINE
Bud Swelling: A primary bud awakens from dormancy as the vine pumps life up from its roots. (January/February)
 
Bud Break: Leaves from buds left on canes after winter pruning begin to emerge. (February/March)
 
Leaf Emergence: Leaves are now recognized and shoots are beginning to photosynthesize. (March)
 
Shoot Growth: More leaves emerge as the shoot elongates. At this point, shoots are still highly susceptible to frost that can significantly damage crop yield. (March).
 
Flower Cluster Emergence: Many of these tender young flowers will become this year’s fruit. (March/April)
 
Flower Clusters Before Bloom: Flowers are fully formed but not yet bloomed. (April)
 
Beginning Of Bloom:  Flower caps pop off to reveal the reproductive stigma and stamens of the vine’s flowers. (April/May)
 
Full Bloom: Because grape flowers are self pollinating their bloom is unlike many fruits that display extravagant blooms to attract birds and bees to help them pollinate. (May)
 
End Of Bloom: All the flowers that will get fertilized have been pollinated and the berries begin to swell. (May/June)
 
Just Before Berry Set: Remnants of flowers remain before the unfertilized berries fall off the cluster.
(May/June)
 
Berry Set: flowers that have been fertilized now become firmly attached to the stem and will eventually become grapes. (June)
 
Berries Enlarging: Cells within the berries are dividing as well as expanding. (June)
 
Cluster Closing: Berries have reached full size and have no room for further enlarging. (June/July)
 
Beginning of Veraison: Berries begin to turn color, soften and further their flavors and sugars. (July)
 
Veraison Nearly Complete: the point at which most grape clusters have completed veraison is an ideal point to thin out those clusters that are the furthest from completing veraison. (July/Aug)
 
Ripe Clusters: Grape flavors are fully mature; acids and sugar are in balance- its Harvest Time! (Sept./Oct.)
 
Harvest: Harvest grapes, depending on location, and prepare for winemaking process. (Sept/Oct.)
 
Prune: Cut back canes to prepare for dormant winter and next year’s spring. (Dec./Jan.)
 
 
CHEERS!
www.finewineonline.net
 

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