Hardscrabble Journal

Riesling

We pick Riesling today. It has held up surprisingly well this September. Riesling likes cooler weather which is of course why it does best in more northerly climes. This Riesling was planted at Hardscrabble in 1997. About half of the vines were removed ten years ago as they were planted on soils that were too heavy. Those vines were out of balance with excessive vegetative growth. The remaining vines are on two separate knolls and have done well.

At Linden, we adore Riesling wines, especially Alsatian Rieslings with lots of age. This is why we continue to grow and make Riesling even if it is not perfectly suited to our site. As we learn the parameters of our terroir, the wine continues to improve. It will probably never be a great wine, but it makes us happy.

Rain tomorrow. Not what we want, but it comes from a cold front which gives us hope that the impact will be minimal. A cold rain does far less damage to ripening grapes than a warm one. Rot organisms and fruit flies are much less active below 60F. The vines are less active too, so the roots don’t pump up much water. Less dilution to the grapes.

All our red grapes remain on the vines. Merlot will be first up, probably early next week.

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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal: September 28, 2020