Amuse Bouche Blog

Spring is not only a very busy time in the vineyards but also one of anticipation. Fotinos Brothers Winery is enjoying a beautiful bud break. This is the time of year when we see the first emergence of the flowering shoots that will be our grapes come September. However, we still have to keep a careful eye over our crops.

Frost is one of our biggest concerns right now so we watch the sky carefully. Frost after bud break is something nobody wants. A frost advisory means that affected areas can expect at least two hours of temperatures between 29 and 35 degrees F. This means possible damage to crops if everyone isn't prepared. Being prepared means having a frost prevention method in place before the frost arrives. Vineyards are usually equipped with, or use, either a wind machine, a heater, an over-vine sprinkler system or even a helicopter to warm up the vineyard if temperatures fall below freezing. The main goal is to keep warmer air circulating.
Another worry is rainfall. An average yearly rainfall in Napa is 23.88 inches. If the vineyards don't get enough rain there's not enough moisture in the soil. Without the moisture in the soil the vines may start to be stressed from heat earlier and we'll have to irrigate earlier. However, once you get into bud break and bloom you want the soil to start drying out. If you get too much rain, the plants go wild. You need the canopy early on but then you want the vine to stop growing and focus on the fruit. It's hard to get the vine to slow down.
Last month we focused on soil preparation. This meant cutting and mulching all the grass and vine cuttings, letting them dry, and then re-mulching them again. We also disked and sealed the ground to ensure maximum vine quality.
Our vineyards are doing very well this Spring and we are really excited about the new growth.