Tom Scott Vineyard Newsletter - Summer 2017 - Barn Burner Cabernet Sauvignon
In the beginning there was rain, lots of rain!
From October 2016 to June of 2017, we had a season total of 51.34 inches of rain, more that twice our "normal" annual rainfall.
And this spring was not only wetter, but cooler as well, which delayed growth in the vineyard by ten days to two weeks. The cooler temperatures and wetter conditions also increased concerns, specifically about mildew on the vines.
 And then on May 14th (Mother's Day) - we were hit with a freak hailstorm and extra heavy rain! Hailstones covered the ground like snow, and we got over 2 inches of rain in one hour! Lucky for us the vines had been delayed, and they had not yet begun to bloom. If the vineyard had been flowering, the blooms would have been knocked off, and the grape clusters would not have developed. We did lose our entire olive crop; those trees were covered with flowers, and they were all knocked off by the sudden storm!
Starting in mid-June, we experienced an abrupt surge in temperatures, giving us readings in the high 90's and 100's for more than two weeks!
 So, to recap from Mother Nature's side of things; unprecedented amounts of rain, cooler spring temperatures, a hailstorm and prolonged, unseasonably hot weather - all this in the first 100 days of the vines' growth cycle.
This however is what farming is all about, being responsive to the unexpected.
Usually, we begin pruning February 14th, but this year, because the vines were still dormant, we waited another two weeks to start. The heavy fall and winter rain resulted in the vines awakening to moisture levels they hadn't experienced in years. The result was vigorous vine growth driven by a wealth of nutrients found in the saturated soil. After years of drought conditions, the vines experienced a robust growth spurt.
The larger canopy that resulted combined with cooler temperatures created the perfect environment for mildew. We keep mildew in check by spraying a wet sulfur solution onto the vines. As soon as we had 10 inches of shoot growth, Tom began spraying the vineyard. A sprayer, pulled behind the tractor, blasts the sulfur into the vine canopy. Normally, Tom would apply sulfur every 10 days to two weeks to keep the mildew in check. But this year, on several occasions, within days of the application, it rained, so he had to reapply the spray. For every day the temperature is above 95 degrees, spraying can be delayed by a day. So while the rain increased the threat of mildew, requiring repeated applications of sulfur, the heat now seems to have brought our mildew worries to an end.
 Again, due to the vines being so vigorous, we've had to do extra canopy management. We've had to sucker, thin and hedge the vines more often than in the past. Hedging is just what it sounds like... opening up the rows so that we can drive through on the tractor without the canes pulling us off.
We worried that the cooler than normal temperatures that occured earlier might delay bud break, the forming of canes and leaves, but growth appeared in early March, just when we would normally expect to see it. As we've said, the unlimited water in the vineyard provided by the excessive rain, gave us massive growth. If too much energy goes into the growth of canes and leaves, the vine fails to set and ripen fruit properly. So, again canopy management remains a top-priority.
 The unusually high and prolonged heat has stressed the vines, which has the effect of slowing canopy development. At the same time, the heat accelerated the development of the fruit. Heat, by stressing the vine, has helped put the fruit and canopy back in balance.
And those of you that know us know we always say it's all about balance!
We are now looking for signs of veraison. Veraison is where the vine stops producing vegetative growth, canes and leaves and begins focusing on ripening the fruit that the vine has set. Veraison occurs a little more than halfway through the growing season. So, as we look to veraison, which we're starting to see in the Merlot vines, more than half of the journey of this vintage is behind us. From bud break to first growth and on to ripened fruit is about 200 days. Once we see the vines stop growing and start ripening the fruit, we will remove 20 to 40 per cent of our fruit. By removing excess grape bunches, we encourage the remaining fruit to be fully ripened by the vine. Here again, we are seeking the right balance.
Veraison triggers several changes in the vineyard. We can stop worrying about mildew, as the grapes become resistant as their sugars increase. We then start monitoring how hard the vines are working to extract water from the ground, as any water the vines uptake now will be delivered to the grapes. We want the vines to be moderately stressed, but if they are more than moderately stressed, we will commence watering cycles. We will continue to test, and water or not water, throughout the summer until we get rain or reach harvest.
 So, while we've had a wild ride, we've rather wondrously wound up right where we should be. Looking to veraison and down the road to harvest, we don't expect anything but heat, but who knows. The heat will help stress the vines, which will improve flavors, increase the sugars and ultimately bring us to ripeness. Cool nights will allow the vines to rest and recover from the relentless push of the summer sun.
We're looking at beautiful vines, big canopies and lots of fruit - vintage 2017 promises to be a real Barn Burner!
With the exception of our lost olive crop, the garden has thrived in this chaotic year. Veggies, flowers, and trees are all looking beautiful. Everyday is another day in paradise.
As always, it's been wonderful seeing so many friends, both old and new, and we look forward to seeing many more of you this year.
We've heard from a lot of Barn Burner fans that our wines are tasting wonderful. We so love to hear your stories. Remember to share the wine! We love to make new friends! Remember we're on Facebook too and we're always delighted when nice things are said about Barn Burner on social media!
If you would like to order wine, you don't have to wait until Fall. Even with all this hot weather, we've been shipping. We are shipping in cold packs and it seems to be working well. We wouldn't want you to run out of Barn Burner!
Enjoy your summer! 
Tom and Lauren Scott
www.tomscottvineyard.com
www.tomscottvineyard.com/wineshop
info@tomscottvineyard.com
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