Down Time

Winegrowers are farmers and a farmer’s life is paced by the seasons.

During the busy growing season we are constantly reacting and reprioritizing. Weather and vine development dictate the work week. Now there is still plenty to do, but it doesn’t have to be done today. That’s a big difference.

We are enjoying the November shift. Manure spreaders, trailers and sprayers go to the back of the barn. They are replaced by snow plows and log splitters. It is project time: stone walls, landscaping and firewood take precedent over the vines. The vines are losing their leaves, but pruning is delayed for now. Sometimes even a dedicated winegrower needs a separation from the vines. Then there can be a fresh look and perhaps a new perspective.

Most of this year’s wines are now safely put to bed for the winter. But there are a few laggards that still need attention. In most cases it’s the last few grams of sugar that need to be converted into alcohol so that the wine is completely dry. The yeasts are tired and hungry. This was anticipated as they have had to work extra hard because of the high sugar content in the grapes resulting from a dry growing season. Additionally the vines were stressed and the yeast available nutrients in the grapes was very low.

So we can’t let go completely yet. But soon.

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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Hardscrabble Journal: November 15, 2023