Flowering and Fruit Set

After falling dormant during the cold winter months, early spring brings the vineyards to life with the advent of bud break. Spring showers and increasingly warmer weather continue to foster development as leaves, shoots and ultimately flowers develop. Much like delicate tulips, grape flowers are fragile and subject to the vagaries of unpredictable spring weather. Heavy rain or strong winds can damage or remove flowers. Conversely, overpowering heat can turn the vine’s attention inward and leave flowers withering on the vine. Following the careful attention of our vineyard crew during suckering, the vine turns its attention to propagation and the flowers begin to self-pollinate. Within a few short days fertilized flowers not only form seeds but also berries are developed to protect the new seeds and fruit set has established the promise of a new vintage.