May was cool, below normal with the usual abundant rainfall. Bud break for most varieties was approximately May 18/19th. All varieties were given a 8-8-8 fertilizer treatment and a micro-nutrient treatment (Scotts Micro-Max). Practice double pruning to reduce potential loss to late spring frost.
June was fairly close to normal temperature, except the last 10 days of the month and first week into July was below normal and delayed flowering a few days. Average rainfall.
July was cool and continued the cool spring trend. Flowering was first week in July for all varieties except Ravat 34. Ravat was about 4-5 days behind the other varieties which is unusual as Ravat typically flowers the same time (+/- a day) as the other varieties. (This should have been my first clue that this variety was over cropped). Rain was moderate to low and the last rain in July was on the 23rd. This was the start of the drought that lasted until mid September.
August was normal for heat, hot days on average, no rain the entire month. By August 23rd the vines were looking fine, Leon Millot was well filled out as were most other varieties, however the berry development of Ravat 34 was delayed. The Lucy Kuhlman and Colmar Precoce Noir were just starting to show some colour on the 23rd.
September was above normal for heat (monthly average of 15.3 degrees c) and the drought continued until September 17th (8 full weeks without any rain). As of the 10th most varieties were showing moderate to high water stress, Ravat was showing severe water stress and was given some water. Most varieties were colouring well, but the berries are noticeably small compared to normal especially Ravat. Deployed the nets.
October - Harvest was on October 6th, followed by a hard frost on the 8th. The week prior to harvest it rained several inches and the vines soaked up the water they had been denied all summer. Many varieties cracked, the worst was Ravat 34, the best was Leon Millot and Regent.
Cracked Ravat with small berries pictured below;
Below - photo of one of the few Ravat clusters that somewhat filled out;
The juice brix readings taken at the vine was noticeably lower than normal (1-2 brix below what was expected) diluted by the uptake of water from the rains. In addition it can be expected that the drought served to shut down the vine sugar accumulation and photosynthesis activity for several weeks leading up to veraison and through a portion of the ripening period. Interestingly the must weights were 1 brix higher. The vines were hardening off well already with canes on some varieties showing several feet of wood. Photos below of Leon Millot followed by Lucy Kuhlman
