Hello,
Congratulations!
We have made it to October, and will harvest Pinot Noir this month!!! Getting
through September was a thrill. Here are the numbers.
First
off, the rains came at the end of the month as was foretold by just about every
weather forecaster. Specifically, we received 1.59 inches during the last few
days of the month. This averaged about 0.40 inches per day. Total rainfall for
the month was 1.79 inches.
September
did put a good foot forward in the degree day ledgers. We logged 394 degree
days (293 through the 15th and an additional 101 through the end of
the month.) This brings us to a cool climate viticulture total of 1,891 degree
days for the growing season. Oregon was granted Statehood in 1859 and will
celebrate the sesquicentennial of Statehood in 2009.
The
fruit, so far, is looking good - nice and clean, eager to get warm in a
fermenter. Birds and deer have not been a problem, but I see them - often.
Sugars before the rain event were in the low 20s with pHs ranging from 3.19 to
3.30. It seems to me, flavors have come on early, while sugars and acids have
yet to find their balance. The canopy is showing signs of impending harvest.
However, with the rains, all bets are off. I think if we can see a window of
dry, breezy days, harvest would quickly set upon us.
Thanks
Ernie
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