Wine Walk: Happenings in the vineyards as summer kicks off

William Chris Wine Company in the Texas Hill Country reports "We are actually close to bunch closure stage. Due to mild weather during pollination and close to average rainfall we are expecting a great crop with potential above average yields. This has been a great growing season so far. There have been some early spring storms that were severe is areas. Lucky for us, none of our vineyards experienced damage."

Great wines start off in the vineyards. If that is the case, many Texas wineries will be blessed with another outstanding crop. Texas actually has two significantly different grape harvests. Vineyards along the Gulf Coast bud out much earlier than the inland vineyards due to the mild Gulf Coast weather. Our warm nights, humidity, and Pierce's Disease require hybrid grapes to thrive under those conditions. Blanc du Bois and Black Spanish grapes grow exceptionally well under those conditions provided that those grapevines are sprayed every two weeks with an organic fungicide. Bud break was early this year with the Rio Grande Valley harvesting the white grapes of Blanc du Bois this year this past Friday. Grapes were harvested with sugar levels around 23 percent according to Ricardo Rubiano. The Black Spanish grapes are going through verasion (process of grapes turning red and maturing) with harvests in about two weeks, according to Ricardo. Blanc du Bois grapes in the greater Houston area will mature and be harvested in the first two weeks in July with many local vineyards and wineries offering opportunities to harvest and crush grapes.

Further inland, thousands of acres of vitis vinifera (the classic wine grapes like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, etc.) budded out about two weeks earlier than normal. Doug Lewis with Lewis Wines said, "We're seeing verasion start in two red varieties at two different sites in Blanco County, perhaps two to three weeks earlier than "normal" but we had bud-break about two to three weeks early so that seems normal for this year. Vineyards are in great shape considering how tough last year was on them. There have been the typical pressures associated with lots of rain, but the main issue has been hail. I've seen light to severe damage at multiple sites in the Hill Country, High Plains, Austin County (Blanc Du Bois), and Davis Mountains. Hail nets have helped where they're being used but not everyone has them."

Becker Vineyards in the Texas Hill Country noted that last year, Dr. Richard Becker added ten acres to his back vineyard and then added an additional ten acres in April. Vineyard Manager Patrick Hamilton, has been busy installing trellis for these new vines with the help of Atlas, an agriculture contract company. "I’ve also been doing some lateral leaf removal, opening up the canopy on the north and east sides of mature vines to make it easier for air flow, fungicide and dapple light penetration," said Patrick Hamilton. "Our vineyard crew and Ryan Thomas with Vine Ops has been helping. We have begun with the Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Petite Sirah, and Sangiovese first since these varieties are more prone to rot." A central Texas native, Hamilton has had grape growing experience in Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and Paso Robles, CA. Hamilton joined the Becker Vineyards team in April. "Currently, we have good fruit set. It is looking to be an above average year. If we receive more rain, there will be more weight. It’ll change the juice to skin ratio on the grapes as well as make lighter colored wines."

The rains have also kept he and the vineyard crew busy mowing grass in the vineyard. Year-to-date (as of May 31), there has been 6.57 inches of rainfall in the area." (NOTE: In 2022 there was 11.6 inches for the year.)

William Chris Wine Company in the Texas Hill Country mentioned "We are actually close to bunch closure stage. Due to mild weather during pollination and close to average rainfall we are expecting a great crop with potential above average yields. This has been a great growing season so far. There have been some early spring storms that were severe is areas. Lucky for us, none of our vineyards experienced damage."

Texas is fortunate to be blessed with an outstanding forecast for this year's grape harvest!

Ron Saikowski may be reached with wine news at [email protected].