The Life Cycle of a Grape

Pruning is a skilled practice with the purpose is to guide the grapevine in specific directions and for particular purposes.

First buds of the growing season emerge from dormant vines during bud break; this can take place over a few weeks.

Vine will develop tight bunches of tiny flowers, each flower could produce a single grape, flowering can stretch over two months, flowers are susceptible to frost and wind.

Pollinated flowers drop their petals, and tiny green spheres begin to emerge at the end of the stem. Frost is still a concern at this stage. As grapes grow, bunches start to form. Once set, the fruit will begin to ripen.

At some point, growth must be managed to ensure optimal conditions for the ripening of the grape. Complex decisions related to leaf removal, thinning and positioning to promote perfect conditions for each bunch of grapes.

Also called, green harvesting, is the intentional dropping of unripe grape bunches that have not ripened properly. Sometimes the thinning can remove half the yield from the vineyard.

All grape varieties start green in color. Around mid-summer, red and white grapes begin to go through a period of grape pigment development called veraison. This process occurs over an extended period and is dependent on the grape variety and microclimate.

Grapes are hand-picked off of the vines, usually at night. Harvest can start in August and run through November, depending on the variety.