Annual Grape Cycle: Viticulure

• January and February:

Pruning of shoots back to the main vine, and vine shaping.

  Caution: exposure of the cut vine to disease and to infection.  Sterilize pruners.

• February and March:

        Weed control and cultivation of the ground around vines.

• April and May:

        Bud break with the formation of small, tight clusters of buds.

           Caution:  vine training and reduction of buds

• May and June:

        Flowering of clusters of flowers

           Caution:  vine training and reduction of flower clusters

                       monitor stress in the plants

• June:

Fruit set: clusters of very small and very firm light green grapes

          Caution:  vine training and reduction of grape clusters

                       monitor stress in the plants

• July:

        Fruit cluster development and canopy management

• August:

        Verasion with the color of the grape changing to deep purple,

        and the brix registering at 9.5 – 12.5 brix.

• September and October:

        Fruit maturation with brix reading into the 20+

• November:

        Harvest is when brix reach 24 – 26, and oenology begins!