Hardscrabble Journal

Old Vine, Young Vine

The next few days may be warm enough to stimulate bud break in our young Chardonnay vines. But old vine Chardonnay buds remain tight and unconvinced about this early spring. This is always the case. Young vines are impatient. They often start the season before it is frost safe.

Young vines have shallow roots. It is only after many years or decades that vine roots can burrow down and explore the subsoil. In the spring, the soil surface warms much more quickly than the deeper stratum. Young vines are therefore stimulated to start the season sooner.

This influences ripening times. If young vines start the season earlier, then all their cycles from flowering to ripening are earlier. Thus, at harvest we can anticipate picking young vines first.

Rooting depth plays another role. Old vines are less sensitive to rainfall fluctuations as the subsoil remains more constant in terms of water availability. During a dry spell in the late summer young vines become extremely water stressed and can shut down, thereby negatively impacting ripening. If a big rain is to fall, they can then be overstimulated, pump water reserves to the grapes and in extreme cases cause them to split. Tomato gardeners know what I am talking about.

Old vines are more able to handle extremes. Young vines can be a bit too enthusiastic and reactionary. But young vines eventually become old.

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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal: April 5, 2020