The Santa Clara Valley grape harvest began just this week at
many local vineyards, so wine makers were nervous when they woke up
Monday morning to see rain puddles next to the vines.
The Santa Clara Valley grape harvest began just this week at many local vineyards, so wine makers were nervous when they woke up Monday morning to see rain puddles next to the vines.
However, Sunday night’s light showers were followed by a steady breeze that dried the rain off the fruit, reducing the chance of mold collecting on the picked grapes. Plus, one vineyard owner said an end-of-summer heat wave expected through next week could boost the grapes’ sugar content just before they are picked, aiding in the fermentation process.
“This heat wave will help ripen the fruit that’s still on the vines. It should help with everybody’s sugar levels,” said Alexia Johnson, co-owner of Monte Verde Vineyards in Morgan Hill.
Temperatures in the valley are expected to begin rising Sunday, reaching a peak high of 102 degrees Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Johnson and her husband, Todd, just began harvesting their grapes earlier this week, picking the merlots first. That’s about a week or two later than usual, she said, due to the cool summer the valley has seen thus far.
Areas of South County got more than .25-inch of rain Sunday night, and Johnson said that wasn’t enough to cause any damage to the grapes or vines.
The biggest potential threat of heavy rains just before a harvest is that too much water could seep into the vines, diluting the fruit’s sugar content, according to wine maker George Guglielmo of Guglielmo Winery in Morgan Hill. But that didn’t seem to happen with this week’s drizzle.
“(Sunday’s) rain didn’t hurt anything. In fact, it washed the dust off the grapes, so that was a plus,” Guglielmo said.
A possible concern with light rain in the middle of a harvest is that water could stay on the grapes after they are picked. That standing water could introduce mold into the fermentation process.
“But the wind came up and dried everything off,” Guglielmo said. He too just started picking the grapes, and expects to continue harvesting and crushing for at least the next month.
“Everything looks good,” added Vic Vanni, owner of Solis Winery in Gilroy, which just started harvesting Thursday. In fact, Vanni noted that the rain was “beneficial” as it cleansed the grapes just before they were picked.
Another concern about rain before a harvest is more logistical – the mud in the vineyards could make it difficult for the farmers to get tractors and other equipment in and out, according to Jason Goelz of Jason Stephens Winery on Watsonville Road in Gilroy.
But that didn’t happen Sunday either. Goelz just started harvesting his Chardonnay grapes Tuesday, and will continue picking fruit for another six weeks, he said.
“We’re in the clear until the next one, but I’m always worried about the weather,” Goelz said.
