Bloom

The vines are in bloom. While grape flowers are not very visually interesting, they are intensely aromatic. But our concern as winegrowers has to do with successful pollination. The weather during flowering will influence both the quantity and quality of the harvest.

Warm, dry days will allow for good fertilization of the flowers. Grapes are self-pollinated, so bees don’t get involved. Dry conditions allow pollen to release freely (as those of us with allergies are well aware). Warm weather allows vines to metabolize efficiently. This combination can lead to big, full clusters and a large potential harvest.

Vines can flower over several weeks. If it is hot, flowering will be quick. If it is cool, flowering can drag on for many weeks. Quick is best for quality, especially with red wine grapes. If each individual grape is pollinated at about the same time then all the grapes will be on the same cycle of ripening. Even maturation is very important for red wines, as ripe skin tannins play a critical role in the mouth feel and finish of the wine. In long, drawn-out flowering years, we may have to deal with underripe and overripe tannins in the same bunch. This can result in red wines that are disjointed.

In a couple of weeks the tiny berries will begin to form. We’ll be able to start to make yield estimates based on berry set (the number of grapes starting to develop). We’ll also note the uniformity of berry size. This will give us a sense of what to expect in terms of potential ripening uniformity.

There’s nothing we can do to change weather influences, but we can make plans.

Groups of Four

Visitors to Linden Vineyards will continue to enjoy a quiet, peaceful, and reflective atmosphere for tasting. All tasting and seating arrangements are set for a maximum group size of four people. Reserve on Tock

New Tasting Line Up

We’ve introduced some older vintages and a comparative tasting of 2016 and 2017 Hardscrabble Red. Tasting Now

Linden Vineyards is now on Social Media

Follow us @LindenVineyards for updates on Instagram and Facebook.

Linden Direct

We have modernized (for us) and streamlined purchasing for pickups and UPS shipping. Linden can now ship to Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. We do hope you will consider taking advantage of these options. During the summer we may need to delay shipping due to excessive heat.

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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Update: June 8, 2021