Early Summer Vineyard Update from the Walla Walla Valley

It’s been a very interesting growing year so far in our Walla Walla Valley AVA vineyards, as experience events like the coolest April in fifty (50!) years, and one of the wetter Spring’s in the last decade. Bloom time is about 14-18 days later than average. The vines are doing well, and we’re thinning crop to make sure we have grapes of full flavor and structure at harvest time. All our estate vines came through the Winter in great shape, but the Merlot crop will be very small this vintage. The weather has turned warmer this week and the vines are making great progress through the season now.