Oregon Pinot Gris Harvest Better Late Than Never

Although the Oregon Pinot Gris Harvest is a little later this year than vineyard managers would like, good weather has ensured that this year's crop should be outstanding. The rule in Oregon has been that the even years (2004, 2006, etc...) are better than the odd years (2005, 2007), and it look as though the grapes will prove that theory right again.

A virtually rain-free summer with warm temperatures has slowly given the vines enough heat units to produce healthy fruit. There has been a lack of extended periods of moisture, or any other destructive types of weather. Last year's harvest was noticeably unfavorable, with several weeks of bad weather in September and October.

Oregon Pinot Harvest Delayed by Weather

The Pinot Gris harvest in Oregon's Willamette Valley was set back even further by rain, and even some hail last weekend. On Sunday alone, it rained over an inch in parts of the Willamette Valley. It also hailed in various locations. While any widespread damage to the grapes is unknown at this point, the continued cool, soggy weather can't be good for the grape development at this late stage.

Grapes need to attain a certain sugar level (measured in Brix) to achieve proper ripening and balance.

Pinot Harvest Looking a Little Spotty

Due to the unusually cool summer, and the recent rainfall, Oregon's Willamette Valley wine producers are nervously biting their nails, dreading a harvest with grapes that are not fully ripened. Without the proper heat units, the grapes will not reach full maturity, although they may look fully ripe. The cooler weather will likely mean that harvests in Oregon will be delayed as much as they can be, without pushing the grapes over the edge.

Look for the next two weeks to be crucial to the '07 harvest.

Global Warming Could Affect Wine Producers

As the polar ice caps melt away, and the oceans get warmer by a degree or two, winegrowing areas such as Napa, Sonoma Valley and other warm climate regions could become unsuitable for premium grape growing. Some scientists predict that the average temperature in the southwest United States could rise by several degrees, making California a less than perfect region for growing grapes.

This may lead some to start stocking away their Napa Valley Cabs and Merlots. However, any such changes should occur gradually, and probably wouldn't be noticable for a century or more. In fact, the average temperatures in the southwest U.S. have risen by a degree or so in the last hundred years, and the principal grape growing areas have remained virtually unchanged.