Hardscrabble Journal

Game Face

This week we will harvest most of our white grapes in anticipation of the arrival of hurricane Florence. We start at daybreak with Avenius Sauvignon Blanc and then head to Hardscrabble were the young vine Chardonnay will be picked. The week will be a continual cycle of picking and pressing.

If Florence changes course we may let up and take a break. Otherwise, as many grapes as possible need to be picked. Our concern is about the rain associated with the remnants of a hurricane. Heavy rains soak the ground. The vines respond by taking up the available water and storing it in the grapes. Watery grapes don’t make the best wine. An even worse scenario would be if the grape skins were to crack from excessive swelling. The fact that the ground is already saturated might actually play to our advantage as the vines can’t absorb much more additional water.

Our hope is that Florence tracks further north than is presently predicted. That would only produce wind and clouds here on the Blue Ridge. A direct hit to the Carolina coast would probably be a major rainmaker for us. We hope for the best, but plan for the worse.

Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal: September 10, 2018