Vineyard – Page 4 – Salado Winery Company & Salado Wine Seller

Trying to Predict Harvest

So here it is, almost mid-July and time to test the grapes and try to predict harvest. We tested the pH, TA and Brix along with visual examination, smell and taste testing. Pictured here is tempranillo from Journey Vineyards, merlot from our Salado vineyard and chardonnay from our Salado vineyard.

As you can see, the tempranillo has very red juice. Winemaker’s dream! The merlot hasn’t developed much color yet, and the chardonnay on the right, well, as a white, we don’t want too much color. You can also see the seeds in the picture. Still plenty of green seeds.

So the statistics?

From Belle Crest, Tempranillo: pH 3.21, Brix 19.2, TA 9.2 Malbec pH 2.94, Brix 16, TA 16 g/L plum, Cabernet Sauvignon pH 2.91, Brix 16.8, TA 17 g/L tart like orange juice

We predict Tempranillo harvest August 2nd, Malbec August 9th and Cab August 16 for Belle Crest

From our vineyard, Chardonnay was 1/2 green seeds and 1/2 brown, starting to golden, smells like apple cider, brown juice, green apple or pineapple flavor, pH3.21, TA 14 g/L, 14.5 degrees Brix, predict harvest on August 2nd

Merlot, too many green berries! very green seeds, brown juice, sweet carmel and plum smell, tart like orange juice taste, pH 3.08, TA 12.4 g/L, 12 degrees brix, predict harvest on August 9th

From Journey Vineyards, Tempranillo has green & beige seeds, almost fully colored grapes, nice pink juice, grape bubblegum and applesauce flavors, pH 3.15, TA 10 g/L, 13 degrees Brix, predict harvest August 9th

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Beginning of Veraison

Go,go, merlot!

Boy was it windy this morning! Gusts of 36 mph and I am trying to get ready for netting the vines this week. The very first grapes are starting to hit veraison! Now comes the hard part–battle with Mother Nature to get these grapes to the end without losing them to birds, deer, raccoon and rats!

Wildlife in the vineyard

The vineyard is looking pretty good. The fruit is all green and clusters are filling out. We’ve had some heavy rain lately and it is quite humid, so I am keeping quite a watch for fungus. Especially powdery mildew and downy mildew. I also try to scout for grape berry moth, but haven’t found much of the typical web in the grape clusters.

I DID however find a nice looking bird nest. The parent flew off when I approached with a loud flutter and gave the location away. I wouldn’t have noticed without the noise. I know it’s a great place for a bird, with the food being so close and all, but I REALLY wish they would go somewhere else.

For the first time, I found a LIZARD in the vineyard! There are lots of lizards around the winery, but I never see them out at the vineyard. The area is open grassland all around, but there are some trees near the road and perhaps this guy came from there since he turned up on that end of the vineyard. He was bigger than a tree lizard or anole. He made a noise like the previous bird and that was how I found him. What do you think, Texas Alligator Lizard?

Time for SEX in the Vineyard

sex in the vineyard

I admit it, I am just trying to get your attention. The sex I am referring to is the procreation of baby grapes. Bloom has started. What does that mean? Let me copy from Ed Hellman on the Agrilife Extension page:

The grape flower does not have conspicuous petals, instead, the petals are fused into a green structure termed the calyptra, but commonly referred to as the cap. The cap encloses the reproductive organs and other tissues within the flower. A flower consists of a single pistil (female organ) and fivestamens, each tipped with an anther (male organ). The pistil is roughly conical in shape, with the base disproportionately larger than the top, and the tip (called the stigma) slightly flared. The broad base of the pistil is the ovary, and it consists of two internal compartments, each having two ovules containing an embryo sac with a single egg. The anthers produce many yellow pollen grains, which contain the sperm. Wild grapevines, rootstocks (and a few cultivated varieties such as St. Pepin) have either pistillate (female) or staminate male flowers — that is, the entire vine is either male or female. Vines with female, pistillate flowers need nearby vines with staminate or perfect flowers to produce fruit. The majority of commercial grapevine varieties have perfect flowers, that is, both male and female components.

An individual grape flower is shown with floral parts labeled.

The period of time during which flowers are open (the calyptra has fallen) is calledbloom (also flowering or anthesis), and can last from 1 to 3 weeks depending on weather conditions. Viticulturists variously refer to full bloom as the stage at which either approximately 50% or two-thirds of the capshave loosened or fallen from the flowers. Bloom typically occurs between 50 and 80 days after budburst.

Picture with grape parts labeled also from “Parts of the Grape Vine: Flowers and Fruit” by Ed Hellman on the Agrilife Extension website

Vineyard Check

before hail storm

This morning I walked the vineyard and snapped some pictures. Everything looked beautiful and I was quite satisfied. Most shoots have several leaves, all of the future grapes are out and ready and flowering will begin soon. Obviously sooner for the chardonnay and the sangiovese than for the cab & merlot.

So now we’re getting pelted by hail and even worse, the forecast has a chance of frost twice this week! The old boys around here always say “watch out for the Easter freeze” and we have a decent chance of it this week.

Time to get the pruning done!

Wineryboy says the sun is out and it is time to prune the grapes!

Will you be my Valentine?

don’t wait too long to plan your Valentine’s Day!

These pictures are of my valentine, and he’s been working hard getting this place ready for Valentine’s Day.

Planning a great Valentine’s evening can be tricky! Don’t procrastinate, our Valentine’s events always sell out quickly.

and if those are sold out, check out our other events on eventbrite.com!

Vineyard Blessing 2014

Sunday, May 18, 2:00 pm

Join us at 2 pm, Sunday, May 18 at our vineyard for the Blessing of the Vineyard. Presiding over the ceremony will be Rev. Bob Bliss of St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Salado, TX. Following the blessing, at approximately 3pm, the group will travel to Salado Winery at 841 N. Main St., Salado, to bless the wine in production and enjoy a reception.

Friends & family are welcome. Children will enjoy the procession outdoors. Pets on leashes are also invited. Casual Attire. The vineyard is covered by grass, so we encourage you to wear sandals or sneakers, sun block, and perhaps bug spray. This event will be held rain or shine.

Salado Winery’s Vineyard

21724 Hill Road

Salado, TX 76571 I-35

Take exit 279, proceed east/south up hill and we’ll see you there! map

New year’s Eve

I am at it again, like every year. This year I resolve to take better care of the vineyard. To get all the pruning done on time, to get the bird netting done early, and keep it mowed nicely

Harvest is Done!

we survived the wasps & bees!

Finally, we’ve finished harvesting our two tons of grapes at our Salado Vineyard. Here is the Labor Day crew after destemming & crushing the cabernet sauvignon. Now on to fermentation!

Here are some statistics though to keep you entertained while the yeast does its job making wine…

2013 harvest (latest ever)

chardonnay 871 lbs

merlot 1000 lbs

sangiovese 842 lbs

cabernet sauvignon 1287 lbs