What's the Deal Maam?!?!

Seriously Mother Nature, what's your beef? When I told you I wanted a little sprinkle a couple weeks ago I was referring to maybe half an inch to an inch over the course of one day. How do you respond? With this up and down weather pattern leaving me with many cloudy days, rain 3-4 times in a week and still pretty hot and humid. C'mon Ma’am!

I have to apologize to all of you that have been wondering what's been up with me, Viognier Nevaeh. I just haven't had time to discuss my life since those winemakers and vineyard dudes have been driving me nuts due to this rainy past couple weeks. Mother Nature is playing tricks on us and now it's affecting you that want to read about me.

So, here's what's goin' on these days. I'm getting all soft and gushy and my skins are starting to turn almost a yellow gold color. This I am told is called veraison by those nerds walking around me, but I like to refer to it as getting sweet and mature. I don't think I have an awful lot more time hanging out here in the vineyard so I reallly want to make the best of it and bask in the sun and stay dry. Those vineyard folks have pulled away all my basal leaves fruit around my fruiting zone to let some of the sun in (thanks guys) but now we just need the sun to peak through more so that it was a worthwhile exercise. They have also come around knocking off the weaker ones of us. All my clusters that struggled to make their way into veraison have been put out of their misery and dropped to the ground. I think they called it green harvesting or something like that. Good thing too since I was about to start making fun of them.

So if all goes to plan it looks like I could be making my way into that nice cool cellar even late in this month. There is no way I can hang on until mid September like usual that's for sure. With this year having such an early bud break in the mild Spring, the mild and dry months of April, May and June, then the hot and sometimes moist month of July, I have had just about enough. I am pushing a lot of new lateral shoots and pushing a lot more in my canopy to slow down a bit with this rain, but I have faith we will dry out now and be ready sooner rather then later. In the end, who knows though? This weather seems to change so fast it is impossible to tell the future. Where is a Magic 8 Ball when you need one?

Me: "Will the weather stay consistent now until the end of October to help me and my buddies out here?"

Magic 8 Ball: "Don't count on it"

Me: "Do you think I will ripen beautifully still before the end of August?"

Magic 8 Ball: "Most Likely"

Well at least that is how I think the conversation would go....Til next time, stay dry!