Sunday, August 23, 2009

Veraison and vineyards

Well, I've been very busy all summer and haven't posted to this Blog in quite a while.

I got bit by the "beer-bug" and started brewing beer. I now have all my equipment and have been doing "All-Grain" brewing and have 6 kegs to hold/dispense them. I may start another Blog for my beer activities when I have some spare time (this winter?).

Over the next week or so I'll try to get caught up.

I'm still bottling last year's 66 gallons (330 bottles) of Italian wine and my small harvest wines. This should fill my wine cellar up again to its 800+/- level.

Here is a picture of the "established" northern vineyard (30 vines) and a picture of the "In-progess" southern vineyard which will have another 25 vines when done.














The Marquettes did really well this year.







The St Croix did not do as well due to high winds and rain all throughout the pollination week... they ended up with less than full clusters but the grapes still look good.


The Marqettes are now in year 3 so I let them have a partial crop. I shoot thinned and cluster thinned so they would have only about 20 clusters per vine (about 7 lbs). Next year, I should be able to let them have twice as many and maybe more in future years.


Here's pictures of the vines at the beginning of veraison (about August 1st). I put up the electric fence to keep the raccoons out now that the grapes are starting to develop sugar. Those rascals can smell the sugar !!!
I also put up the netting. I bought a 500 foot roll of "heavy Duty" netting this winter and it is much better than the lightweight netting I used last year. A bit more expensive but well worth it.


















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