Tony Rynders Consulting

While 2009 started out cool and late in the Pacific Northwest, we have certainly made up for it in recent weeks.  An unprecedented streak (3 1/2 weeks) of sunny and warm weather in late May/early June really helped to catch things up.  The extended daylight hours during this time of year results in enormous gains in growth.  Bloom started around the 10th of June and completed by the end of the month.  This was followed by 5 days of 90+ degree weather that really moved maturity ahead.  Our 2 1/2 weeks delay has been erased and we are NOW about 5 days ahead!  Clusters are sizing up and vineyards look great.

As we approach the end of April, growing season in the Pacific Northwest is about two weeks late.  In Oregon, we saw bud break around the 22nd of April after a few days of 70+ degree weather.  But this past winter and the start of spring has certainly been cool.  In 2008, we experienced a similar start to bud break around the 25th of April.  The key here is that we can actually make up some growth this time of year.  So we will watch the next 4-6 weeks closely as we get a better feel as to the nature of this vintage.  The good news is that if we do repeat the growing conditions from last year, we could achieve the same glorious results in the subsequent wines!

Now that the dust has settled and the last of the 2008 wines have made their way to barrel, its time to resume regular blog posts.  Many apologies for the the long, dry season in this regard...

This has been an exciting vintage in many regards.  For the first time, I have made wine in two locations simultaneously (the Walla Walla and the Willamette Valley).  I wish to express my most sincere thanks to the great staff in both locations for making both harvests extremely successful.  And I also appreciate the faith that my clients have placed in me to make the best wines possible for them.

While the vintage began with some challenging weather in early October, the balance of the month provided the conditions necessary for ripening.  The Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley and the Cabernet and Merlot from eastern Washington/Oregon are stunning.  I can't think of a better vintage to start my business and to launch a brand.

Labor Day has come and gone, but harvest looms well off into the distance.  A series of rain events and cool weather has dramatically slowed down the development of the grapes.  In the Willamette Valley, Pinot Noir is 25-70% through veraison (color change or berry softening).   This is surprising as bloom was very compact and the first color was seen around the 10th of August.  Most of us, including Tony Rynders Consulting, expected veraison to complete within two weeks.  The slow completion to veraison can only be attributed to cooler weather in late August.

In the Columbia Valley, things are a bit further ahead.  I was in the Horse Heaven Hills and the Walla Walla Valley two days ago, and all varieties are well through veraison.  Merlot is 95 % through veraison while Cabernet is 75-80 % complete.  The cooler weather in August was a welcome arrival in eastern Washington as ripening has been very gradual in 2008.  This is good news as hot temperatures often dominate in August.

I was in eastern Washington a few days ago meeting with a couple of potential clients.  I also stopped by the Octave Vineyard in Walla Walla.  This is the vineyard in which I am a partner.  So far, the growing season has been absolutely beautiful.  The vines are looking very healthy and the weather is pratically ideal.  Daytime temps are remaining in the 80's while evening lows are in the 50's.  These are perfect conditions for fruit and flavor development.  So far, 2008 appears to be very promising.