So the summer has been very hot and dry and with serious forest fires. We just got 1cm of
rain on August 14th but that makes it 2 months since last rain and
July was by far the hottest month we’ve recorded in 10 years. The good news is
the vines, while stress are still doing ok and the fruit is developing. Some of
the grapes are smaller than usual but no fruit dropping and overall it looks
good.
We have drip irrigation for each vine but the amount are so
low as to be sustenance really so the vines are getting water from the soil. So
this is where cultivating between the rows has really paid off in this year in
that the vines have no competition from weeds or grass for the water that is in
the soil.
None of the vines are dropping fruit and the Leon Millot and Marechal Foch look good and the Leon
Millot is just turning colour. Triompe D’Alsacce also is doing good and Castel
is holding its own. Marquette, Regent, St. Croix and Precoce Noir are
struggling in the heat and drought. For whites the Ravat 34 again is doing
great, it does like the sandy soils and has a tremendous tap root. The Petite
Milo and Evangeline are also doing well. L’Acadie Blanc is having a tough time
in the droughty conditions.Here are some of the grapes as of Aug 13th
Triompe D'Alsace
Leon Millot
Evangeline
Marechal Foch
Petite Milo
Ravat 34
