If you’ve driven by the vineyard lately, you might have noticed something new — color. Our grapes are entering veraison, the stage where they shift from hard, green berries into something that actually looks (and starts to taste) like wine on the way.
For the reds — Pinot Noir and Syrah — this means the clusters are turning from green to red to that deep purple-black we’ll be picking in a few months. The whites go through their own version, softening and turning a translucent gold. It’s one of the more visible signs that harvest is getting closer, even though we’re still weeks out.
Veraison is also when the vines hit pause on growing leaves and shoots and start putting all their energy into ripening fruit — sugar levels increase, acidity decreases, flavor compounds start to develop. We’ll check the vines a little more frequently and carefully over the next couple of months, watching for continued fruit development, bird and bee activity (they love the juicy fruit), signs of strain on the plants, and more. In a few weeks, we’ll start taking samples to measure sugar and acid levels – our primary indicators of when to harvest.
If you’re curious what else is going on in San Diego wine country this time of year, check out our guide to wineries near San Diego — plenty of neighbors along Highway 94 are watching their own vines turn right about now too.
Come by Friday–Sunday, noon to 5pm, to see how things are progressing — walk-ins always welcome.