This is the climate update for the
month of May 2008.
We have
(finally) recorded about 206 degree days from April 1
through May 31. This is within tolerance (read "sampling
error") of the 194 degree days recorded during the same period in 2007 and
a bit short (like 30%) of the 259 degree days from 2006. However, I do not see
any impairment to wine quality at this point. Unless you factor in the Euro,
but more on "politi-nomics" another time.
During
May, our highest high was 102.60 and our lowest high was 97.10. Our lowest low
was 35.70 and our highest low was 38.70 degrees Fahrenheit. The rainfall for
May was a quick 0.23 inches and was about 0.88 inches less than last May's
rainfall of 1.10 inches. Year-to-date rainfall is 17.23 inches compared to last
year's 16.32 inches.
We began Bud Break in the Pinot
Noir on or about 3 pm, Monday, May 5, 2008. We observed the 2007 Pinot Noir
break bud on Thursday, April 5 which, agriculturally speaking, is "nearly
exactly" two weeks ahead of the 2006 Pinot Noir bud break of April 19. The
2005 Pinot Noir bud break was March 15.
Our
first sulfur spray was the last week of May. Doubles have been thinned, but the
catch wires remain on the vineyard floor with the resilient, but slowly dying
Wild Garlic. A quick note to those of you looking for a nice herbicide spray
that will knock back your weeds and suckers, try Rely. Look for the new
and improved "Rely 200" with lower use rates.
My
summer cover crop is Buckwheat and Vetch.
Ernie
It has recently come to my
attention that someone's winemaking career now spans 3 decades - that's 210 dog
years. At this time, I would like to point out that there is a difference
between 30 years of experience and 1 year of experience 30 times.
Congratulations Steve - Very Nicely Done!
No comments:
Post a Comment