Summer in El Dorado Wine Country is more than just warm days and stunning Sierra Foothill views; it’s a season of quiet transformation and intense activity in our vineyards.
While you might be enjoying a crisp glass of local wine on a sun-drenched patio beneath the green canopy, a fascinating journey is unfolding as our grapes make their way toward peak ripeness.
You might know about flowering, that delicate late spring to early summer phase where tiny blossoms emerge, pollinate, and set the stage for the year’s harvest. Here in El Dorado County, our vines have largely moved past this critical moment, and if conditions are favorable, we’re now seeing the promise of a bountiful vintage.
But what else is happening out there as the summer sun shines down on our high-elevation vineyards?
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The Green Growth Spurt: From Flower to Berry
Once flowering is complete, the vineyard enters the fruit set stage. It’s when those pollinated flowers start to transform into tiny, hard, green berries. It’s a crucial period, as the number of berries that successfully “set” directly impacts the potential yield of the crop. These young berries are intensely acidic – far from the sweet, juicy grapes we know and love.
Throughout early and mid-summer, these berries undergo a period of rapid growth. The vines are channeling their energy into expanding the size of each grape, building the framework for the flavors to come. Our winemakers and vineyard teams diligently monitor water and nutrient levels, ensuring the vines have everything they need to flourish.
The Magic of Veraison: A Canvas of Color and Flavor
As late summer approaches, typically around July here in the Northern Hemisphere, we anticipate one of the most visually stunning and vital stages: veraison (pronounced verr-AY-zhun). This French term signifies the “onset of ripening,” and it’s truly a turning point for the grapes.
For our beloved red varietals, you’ll start to see a color change. Those hard, green berries will slowly begin to blush, transforming into shades of pink, then deep red, purple, or even black.
White grape varieties don’t show such a dramatic visual shift, but their skins will become more translucent, often developing a golden hue. This change isn’t just for show; it’s a result of the accumulation of pigments – anthocyanins in reds and carotenoids in whites.
Beyond the color, veraison signals a rapid internal shift:
- Sweetness is rising: Sugars (glucose and fructose) begin to accumulate rapidly in the berries.
- Acidity is declining: The sharp malic acid, so prevalent in green grapes, starts to break down, softening the overall acidity.
- Flavor is unfolding: Most excitingly, the complex aroma and flavor compounds that define each grape variety begin to develop. Think of those characteristic notes you love in your favorite El Dorado wines. They’re taking shape right now!
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The Hands-On Care: What Our Winemakers Are Doing
Summer in the vineyard isn’t a time for rest. Our dedicated winemakers and vineyard managers (who are sometimes the same person!) are constantly working to nurture the vines:
- Canopy Management: This involves meticulous tasks such as shoot positioning early on in the growing cycle to open up the canopy, followed up later by shoot thinning and leaf pulling (removing shoots and leaves causing crowding and blocking sunlight around the grape clusters). These practices result in optimal sunlight exposure and increased air circulation, ensuring even ripening and effectively minimizing or avoiding common fungal diseases. These canopy management practices are crucial for the grapes to develop their best flavors.
- Water-Wise Practices: With our warm El Dorado summers, strategic irrigation is crucial. Vintners carefully manage water to prevent vine stress while also avoiding over-watering, which can dilute the grapes’ intensity.
- Pest and Disease Watch: Summer’s warmth can also be an invitation for pests and diseases. Our teams are vigilant, monitoring the vines and employing sustainable practices to protect the health of the fruit.
- Green Harvest (Sometimes!): In some cases, if a vine has set a particularly large crop, winemakers might perform a “green harvest.” It involves dropping some of the immature clusters to allow the remaining grapes to concentrate their sugars and flavors, leading to higher-quality wine.
Summers in the vineyard are a delicate dance between nature and human care. Each glass of El Dorado wine carries the story of the vine’s journey, from the delicate flower to the bursting, flavor-filled berry, all meticulously guided by the passionate hands of our local vintners.
Visit us this summer and experience the magic for yourself.
