Tony Rynders Consulting

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.