Bloom Time at the Vine House 2013

We had above normal temperatures for May at an average of 13.5c and average temperatures of 15.5c for June and this has pushed all varieties into an early flowering season.  We were a week early for bud break and that has carried over in to at least a week early for flowering as of June 29th.  Last year we had the coolest May June in the past 5 years and flowering didn't occur until the 10th-14th of July.  Having said that after the cool beginning we had normal heat over the summer and an average September and still had the best juice chemistry on the grapes.  So given the earlier start this year that should help things along even more - will just keep the fingers crossed for some mid summer rains.

The vines are looking great, with the Leon Millot and the rest of Kuhlman's doing well (Foch, Lucy Kuhlman, Triompe, Colmar, and Joffre). Petite Millot is also doing well as usual and the Acadie blanc is comming along. The Evangeline is maturing and were getting a few more cluster and the Ravat 34 looks good with nice growth but again you have to stay on top of the the buds as the secondaries over populate the growth very quickly.  Seyval Blanc is finally comming along and the Vandal Cliche and St. Croix is looking good for second year plants.  Castel is still struggling on our soil (which is very sandy) and Regent (winter die back) just doesn't perform at our location, nor does the blattner varieties, cabernet Foch (grapes don't mature) and cab-Libre (grapes don't mature, winter die back).

Here are the various flowing picture as of June 29th.
Leon Millot

Foch

Triompe D'Alsas

L'Acadie Blanc

 

Evangeline (KW96-2)

Ravat 34