We all waited anxiously for the heat. Anyone with bragging rights to the first ripe garden tomato was pegged as "living in a unique micro-climate." It was like a bratty taunt to say "I'm enjoying a melon from the garden." So many fog-filled mornings and temperate afternoons. I kept thinking "this is great for growing Pinot!" - except that if you don't get at least SOME warm weather, nothing will ripen. Many growers finally pulled more leaves than they usually would, hoping to expose the chilly clusters to some sunshine. Then, BAM! Mother Nature unleashes three days of 100-plus degree weather overnight, top temp was 106 in Healdsburg. Well, needless to say that most plants and their fruit were a bit ill-prepared for such an extreme change and so now we have grapes with sunburn. Hmmmm.... what happens to a sunburned bunch of grapes? It shuts down and turns to raisins - but without the increase in sugar, so you really do have "sour grapes." If that wasn't enough, a nice little mild rain spell came along with some lovely warm humidity and presto! ... perfect conditions for bunch rot.
But do not despair ... the damage is not everywhere and we've harvested some nice stuff that has very promising flavors.
Jump to the present, October 3rd, 2010. Nine solid days of crushing fruit that has all started ripening within the last week. Here's where everyone involved in CRUSH gets crispy around the edges, loads and loads of grapes continuously arriving with no end in sight. Rick worked a solid 16 hour day yesterday and began again at 6:00am this morning - he didn't eat until 1:00pm and his half a bagel with salmon still sits on the table waiting for him to come back and finish for "lunch?" Today probably will be the same amount of hours and tomorrow too. We are in the thick of it now, but Rick still manages to put on a smile. (see picture took yesterday)
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