Bloom in Chardonnay at Weinbau Vineyard courtesy of Brittany Komm

Bloom has begun in Washington’s Columbia Valley. Sagemoor Vineyards operations manager Brittany Komm noticed bloom in Block 5b Chardonnay at Weinbau Vineyard May 18th. Weinbau Vineyard is located on the Wahluke Slope.

This is generally consistent with recent years at this site for this variety. The exception is the cool 2022 vintage. (See table below.)

Looking at Washington State University’s measurement of Growing Degree Days, a measure of heat accumulation, they are slightly above the long-term average. However, it is still very early days in the 2024 growing season.

Bloom will be watched particularly closely this year as growers continue to assess the effects of the January 2024 freeze event. Bloom, generally speaking, also sets the schedule for when harvest will start. Looking 100 days out from May 18th, one could expect harvest to begin for white wine grapes the last week of August.

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