Journal | July 19, 2022
Green, so Green
Summer thunderstorms have continually refreshed ground moisture this growing season. The vines, the cover crops, and the grass retain a spring-like green lushness. However, it is time to dry out. A good old-fashioned hot and dry Virginia mid-summer would be most welcome. If the soil dries by early August the vines will stop their vegetative growth (no more additional leaves and shoots). All their photosynthetic efforts will then go to ripening the grapes.
In the Mid-Atlantic, climate change seems to have brought more active summer thunderstorms along with more harvest rain threats from hurricane remnants. This is not a desirable scenario. However, we are now considering ourselves relatively fortunate given what our West Coast and European colleagues are experiencing. Heat spikes, drought, and smoke are more difficult challenges than rain.
We used to find ourselves apologizing for the lushness of our vines when receiving winegrowers from other regions. Now we encounter a sense of envy. Recently Linden had a visitor from southern France. All he could say is “green, so green” as he took videos and snapshots of our vineyard to send back home. His vines were suffering badly from drought.
It’s all relative.
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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal: July 19, 2022