Harvest Timing

I’ve given up with my Dornfelder. After an assault from birds, I learned to place netting over the vines and grapes. It helped somewhat. We did have to free a few birds from inside the netting. Then the bees went after the grapes. I guess they are ready for harvest although the highest brix I could get from them was 16. Chalk this year up to learning. I didn’t have enough grapes for wine. Didn’t even have enough for jelly. But they do taste good on the dinner table.

I may have enough Niagara to make a small batch of wine though. They too are struggling with sugar. We have had a lot of rain for the past month with showers coming every two to three days. Now, for the first time since the beginning of July we have no rain in the long range forecast. I’m interested in seeing what will happen to the brix. Ten days ago the brix measured 12 and today it measured 15. The seeds are brown, there seems to be good acid in the grapes. I would be happy if the grapes could make it to 18 brix or higher before the next rains come.

I believe that growing grapes gives one a unique understanding of terroir. One can observe how weather is different year after year and the weather certainly affects the grapes. Timing harvest may be in the same ballpark area year after year, but will always have some variance. Harvest of the Niagara is coming soon.

Cheers,
Terry