Grape X is looking so fine in the beautiful bright sunlight of summer.
The tiny grapes are growing at an alarming rate and heading for bunch closure, the point at which vineyard managers can no longer get inside the bunches of grapes with sprays to prevent any number of diseases that afflict vines.
We have been following Grape X at Vineland Estate’s St. Urban Riesling Vineyard since bud break in early spring for an adventure we call the Grape Chronicles. The vine we have chosen to follow for this project is in the first row of Field D, the 10th post (from Vineland’s restaurant) and the second vine from the post. It is marked with a pink ribbon.
I received an excited email from winemaker Brian Schmidt this week that prompted my latest visit to Vineland:
“Your vine is looking AMAZING. So healthy. We are now waiting for bunch closure. We are enjoying very warm dry weather which is keeping various mildew and botrytis pressures in check.”
I whipped out there, snapped a few shots and now have posted them here. There isn’t much new to report, other than the weather has been ideal thus far this season and Schmidt is excited with what he’s seen thus far.
I’ve posted some photos below but thought this video from Neil Young pretty sums up the evolution of Grape X. Enjoy!
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