I got my first load of grapes this year. I went to pick them up in Sunnyside last Monday. It’s one ton of Cabernet Sauvignon and it is bubbling away. It has been a tough year for grapes: a slow start because of the cool spring, winter freezes, and late ripening. So, it’s a good year for me to cut back and catch up on my bills.
I am still hoping to get grapes from Walla Walla though I haven’t heard much.
And I am hopin to get local Pinot Noir from Monument Farm Vineyard. It is going to be close. Grape sugars are running about 17 brix and we are running out of time with less sun, more cool weather, and the potential for rain. Right now, if we were to pick, we might be able to make some interesting sparkling wine and maybe combine it with last years’ wine that is also destined to become sparkling.
It is really sad to see so much effort go into growing these grapes. Maybe I’ll make remarkable sparkling wine and we can then drown our miseries in bubbles….and maybe, like the champagnoise of France, we can turn it into something very unique.
