Vineyard managers must manipulate grapevines to get the most from the sun.
Growing grapes is in truth a battle with the sun. For grapes, too much or too little sunshine can be a complication. Throughout the growing season, the vineyard supervisor develops a love-hate relationship with the sun and must manage the vines to get the maximum from its energy, while still preserving the grapes from its likely harmful rays.
In April when the vines start growing out long new shoots, the vineyard caretakers are just mounting their work with the sun. Workers meticulously pick which shoots are allowed to stay and which must be sacrificed to open the plant up for just the right quantity of sun to embrase the baby grapes. This method permits the berries to receive a constant dose of filtered sunlight through the growing season. It is almost like a visitor going to the beach at the conclusion of summer and getting sunburned as opposed to the local who has leisurely been tanning during the whole season. The risk is if the grape grower holds off too long to cut off or cut back the excess shoots, the grapes have a greater chance of becoming sunburned when the sun gets more intense later in the season. This sunburned can literally be discovered in the wine's flavor once produced, reducing fruitiness and adding “cooked" characteristics.
As the grapes ripen, the vineyard manager and winemaker will monitor the sugar concentration and pH (a range of acid balance) of the juice to determine the best time to harvest. For many winegrowing regions, especially in Northern Europe, it can be difficult to get all the sun required during the time of the grape growing time of year for the grapes to become of age. Temecula wineries in sunny Southern California typically do not have this complication because of the warm weather and relatively constantly sunny days. Temecula wineries can frequently have the opposite problem; too much sun all at once. Heat waves are rough on grapes and as the outside temperature reaches 100 degrees, grapevines shut down in order to cut back on internal water stores. This can be bad for the winemaker because the vines may stop ripening before the grape is ready. The grapes could begin to lose water and raisin.
Zinfandel is a type of grape commonly affected by this issue because the grape is thin-skinned, slow to completely ripen, and depends on a long growing season with dependable warm weather. This is where the struggle with sun sets in. The winemaker has to harvest the grape when the sugar levels are satisfactory and the pH levels acceptable. When the vineyards are struck with a heat wave before the grapes are completely acceptable the sugars will rise, but the seeds internally may still be green and the pH levels not yet adequate. A grape with too much sugar missing the suitable pH levels can end up bearing a wine that tastes “green" and may be sour. In addition, when the heat wave decreases, the sugar percentage can recede as the fruit rehydrates and you may end up with a grape that is not sweet enough.
Vineyard overseers can help combat the heat wave by cutting back the new shoots far ahead in the season, not over-cropping the vines, maintaining the grapes well-hydrated during the extreme temperatures to prevent raisining, and carefully monitoring the grapes as harvest approaches with a team waiting close at hand to gather up the grapes at the perfect moment.
Wiens Family Cellars is dedicated to bearing world class “big red" wines with fruit sourced from the Temecula Valley . One of their most {valuable current goals is to produce a Bordeaux blend that is on par with the best of the Napa/Sonoma regions. Doug Wiens trusts their 2007 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, some lots formerly sold out and others still maturing in the cellar, will affirm that Temecula can cultivate luxury reds admist the highest quality in California . At the 2009 State Fair Wine Competition, the Wiens Winery 2007 Temecula Valley Refugio Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded a gold medal and Best-of-Class for the South Coast Appellation.
Suzanne Schaffner is the marketing manager of Wines Family Cellars Winery in the Temecula CA wine country. They have the most outstanding Big Red Wines of the Temecula Wineries. You can find Wiens new web site at http://WiensCellars.com and at http://Temecula-Wineries.net.
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