Lines on the Vines | Three Feathers 2023 Vineyard Growing Season

The last time we wrote about the 2023 Vineyard Growing Season was in February – March. Now we are magically in July, and the plants are growing out of the trellises. We are busy thinning pruning and getting the vines out of the way of the tractors. How did we get here, I wonder?

As always, the 2023 vineyard tale is unique. I tell everyone that Oregon does not have a wet climate, as most people believe; rather we have a wet season and a dry season.

We experienced record rains in April and May leading to a late bud break. Dormancy on Three Feathers Vineyard ended May 7 and in Torio Vineyard, our high-elevation site, not until May 15.

There was concern that we would once again have a late harvest as in 2022, but mid-May brought warmer temperatures and a few heat bursts that spurred the vines ahead fast.  Our plants started blooming by June 15.

Lines on the Vines – Moving Forward to Harvest

Although not early, or even average, the prognosis now is that we will be harvesting at a normal time of mid-September to early October.

We have had only a trace of rain since June 1st, now we are in our dry season and it could stay like this throughout the summer. This gives us an excellent chance to have superior fruit.

Many plants had lighter foliage and growth to start with but now, with the temperatures here in the 70-80 range, they are growing well and catching up. The challenge is keeping the uneven growth in the trellises and out of the aisles.

Fruit set looks exceptionally good and we have managed to keep the fruit load even and neither too light nor too heavy.

As you know, it is a long way until harvest and a lot can happen in that time. Just as the birds are making their nests in our vines and watching over their babies, we continue to closely monitor the plants and will give you another report soon.