Prepidation

Harvest is still weeks away, but recent rains have given us a reality check. We were enjoying a much drier than normal summer, but there were worries that the vines were becoming too water stressed. Some rain was desirable. Be careful what you wish for. This has been a humbling week. It has rained almost every night. Our biggest fear was Tropical Storm Fred, but Fred was all bark and little bite (wind and mist, but very little rain accumulation). Still, the anticipation alone was stressful enough.

We have been dutifully preparing for harvest and crush. Trailers, presses, pumps, and tanks are ready for action. Cleaning is ongoing and never ending. As are repairs and maintenance. We immerse ourselves in our work. This provides a mental diversion to keep us from obsessing too much about the weather as Fred passes over. Shari coined a new word: “prepidation”: preparation with trepidation.

There is nothing we can do about the weather. We are thankful that this is August and not September. The grapes are not yet susceptible to rot as they are still too tart and thick skinned. The vines have lots of time to recover from the recent hit of ground moisture. They should balance out by next week. This is when slopes, good soil drainage, and late ripening sites and grape varieties all work to our advantage.

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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal: August 18, 2021