June 15, 2010

Armstrong Vineyard, Part 3: June

For reports earlier in the growing season, see here and here.

I got out to Armstrong Vineyard again the other day to check on things. Remember that this new vineyard will be the primary source for Vincent Wine Company grapes in 2010. Young vines can produce excellent wine.


Despite our very cool and wet spring, things continue to look really good on Ribbon Ridge.


The canopy is tall with lots of healthy shoots, no signs of disease and lots of promise for the summer ahead.


Of course, no flowering yet. We got off to an early start with bud break at the beginning of April, a couple of weeks early. At mid-June we should be in flowering, but no sign of that yet. Just infloresence.


The dry weather recently gave a good opportunity to see about drainage in the vineyard. What parts have dried out? Where is there still water and mud? Here's a shot of the bottom of the 667 block, near the road and still draining water while the vineyard top was largely dried out.



Today's been cold and rainy again in Portland.


Will we ever get good weather to push the flowers to open? Will there be hail to knock off lots of those flowers before they can set as fruit? Stay tuned. For now, things look awfully good.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I had the rare pleasure of touring Armstrong Vineyards with the owner and cannot wait to taste the ink you to concoct with one another!!

Some Dude In Hollywood

Vincent Fritzsche said...

Dare I say, the dude abides. Very nice.