SUGAR AND SPICE - VERAISON
The most exciting step of the vineyard cycle is upon us now at Lomond - veraison. By the end of this critical stage we will for the first time see exactly what quality the 2022 vintage has brought.
Let’s check back in with Sugar and Spice for a closer look at this colorful time of year in the vineyards. These two vines located on opposite sides of the farm in vastly different soils contribute to two of our most beloved wines: Sugarbush Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc and Conebush Single Vineyard Syrah.
It has been just over a month since we last checked in on them. Anxiety was high during our last visit as winds and rain arrived right in the middle of flowering.
Fortunately these Cape Agulhas vines are no stranger to adversity. Fruit set was a success and the culmination of every vineyard stage from the day the 2021 crop was picked until now has arrived: veraison.
Veraison is the clearest sign that harvest is near. Even more, it’s the first real window a winemaker gets to look into the quality of the vintage.
In red cultivars this stage is quite clear. Berries begin to change from green to pink to purple. In white cultivars the bunches go from a darker green to a lighter, more translucent hue.
What exactly is veraison?
Veraison is when fruit ripening begins. Now through harvest time, the vineyards will focus all of their energy on ripening the hanging bunches. With each warm day, sugars will rise. Simultaneously, acidities will drop. This is also the time when phenolic ripening occurs. Color, tannin, flavor and aroma compounds are all starting to develop in the grapes.
In cool climate Cape Agulhas, veraison happens later than in the rest of the country. It is also a longer process as sugars rise slowly and natural acidities remain strong. This longer hangtime is what allows our grapes to achieve full phenolic ripeness which ultimately provides our wines with stunning aromatics, vibrancy, and well-rounded mouthfeel.
Challenges of Veraison
Once viable fruit is hanging in the vineyards, the biggest challenge is keeping it healthy. Sun, rain, humidity, wind, etc can all damage and bring disease to a block.
The other major challenge from this stage forward is wildlife. Many animals including birds and baboons love this time of year as sugars rise in the grapes. Even a single peck on just one berry can ruin the entire bunch.
The only real solution for these challenges is to be active and vigilant in the vineyards from sun up til sundown.
Our friend Sugar here is probably about 4 weeks away from harvest time and Spice is about 8 away. However, harvest may begin for MCC base wines as early as next week for us.
Cheers to 2022!
