Monday, Apr. 13, 2009

Awaiting bud break

By Andy Perdue, Wine Press Northwest

Spring has been a bit late throughout the Pacific Northwest, and that goes for here in Washington's Columbia Valley, too. Normally, bud break will occur around April 10, but we are about a week or two behind.

In my humble backyard vineyard, neither my Sangiovese nor my Riesling is showing many signs of imminent bud break, perhaps just a bit of swelling so far.

On Friday, I visited a local nursery and picked up a Riesling vine to fill out a spot in my backyard and noticed most of the vines for sale had swollen buds, which was a good sign that bud break is imminent.

We are still in the danger zone for frost here in Washington wine country - and traditionally will continue to be so through the first week of May. After that, it should be smooth sailing through September.

I am hoping to add a few Petite Sirah vines to my backyard this spring. After that, I don't think my wife will let me get away with anything else.