Bagging, bagging, bagging

 

I have been trying to bag all of the Rondo grapes on the five vines we planted in 2015. They are already ripening and the wasps have been all over them. But the key is to protect them from the birds. This is hard overhead work. I am also cutting away leaves that are shading the grapes. I have bagged so many and still have so many more to go. Ugh. Back pain, knee pain, debris in my eyes -- I wish there was a better way. 

Yesterday, the Pinot Noir looked like it was turning autumnal shades, but today it just looks like it's all dying. The grapes are far from harvest. It looks like the rest of the crops -- Solaris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir -- will be failures this year. Bummer. 

Alex and I opened a bottle of our red from last year a couple of nights ago. We expected toxic but it wasn't. It was young and could benefit from several years in the bottle, but it was pleasant. It had nice legs and hints of cassis, citrus and for me, sage. It's a lovely deep red colour, too, quite different from when we bottled it. There is hope. 

Veraison progressing rapidly

My cousin, Maria, better known as Mishka or Mouse, came to visit from Florida with her daughters Ara and Talia and son-in-law James. It was lovely to spend quality time with them. Naturally, we gave them a tour of the vineyard and gardens, the shed and winery, and the stunning view from the top of the property. In the morning it had rained heavily, but then it magically cleared up and we had plenty of time to explore and meet the donkeys, too.

It was disconcerting to see the Rondo grapes turning red so quickly. The first one just days ago, and many clusters yesterday. So we scrambled today and got the kites flying, the CDs hung and the bags initiated. Lots of work coming in the next few days as many more CDs and nets need to be hung in a hurry. 

The Solaris appear to be far behind the Rondo and the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir far behind those again. Very strange season. 

As we attempted to drive the Wild Atlantic Drive around Achill Island with our entourage, the skies opened up just as the forecast suggested clearing. We drove back to Nevin's and had tea and coffee, saw the robot, and awaited the sunshine, which duly arrived. We then continued on to an exquisite tour of Achill and lunch at the Beehive, which the Americans thoroughly enjoyed. 

Overnight we had deluges of rain followed by a day of exquisite sunshine. Thank the Lord for the reprieve. 

 

NOAA State of the Climate Report

 

NOAA has released the report on the state of the climate in 2023 and it is not encouraging. 

Highlights

• Earth’s greenhouse gas concentrations were the highest on record.
• Record temperatures notable across the globe.
• El Niño conditions contributed to record-high sea surface temperatures.
• Ocean heat and global sea level were the highest on record.
• Heatwaves and droughts contributed to massive wildfires around the world.
• The Arctic was warm and navigable.
• Antarctica sea ice sets record lows throughout 2023.
• Tropical cyclone activity was below average, but storms still set records around the globe.

Greenhouse gas concentrations, the global temperature across land and oceans, global sea level and ocean heat content all reached record highs in 2023, according to the 34th annual State of the Climate report.

Veraison has begun

 

We were surprised yesterday when showing a friend the vineyard that veraison has begun. The grapes are tiny, but the clusters are substantial and ripening is indeed underway. We are getting a lot of rain this week, so I hope the grapes will continue to grow for the next 2-3 weeks without becoming significantly diluted. 

The leaves of the Pinot Noir have also started turning, indicating the end of another season. The Pinot grapes are even smaller than the Rondo. 

International Terroir Congress

 

I just learned that the remnants of Hurricane Ernesto passed us sometime during the night and I missed it. The wind was gusting to 91 kmh at Belmullet and Mace Head on the West Coast not far from us. It would have passed square over us around 2 am. This morning was sunny so I visited the donkeys who were fine. We then did a few outdoor chores before the rain started. 

While I work inside today awaiting the arrival of Storm Lillian, which is producing heavy rain but thankfully not much wind for us, I am catching up on my wine reading. 

The 15th International Terroir Congress will gather for the first time in South America, in Mendoza, Argentina, November 18-22, 2024, bridging local wine industry with global terroir science. Oh, how I'd love to attend. The speakers sound brilliant and Dr. Laura Catena is among them and an idol of mine. It's 18-22 November. What a trip that would be. Mendoza. 

Scientific Sessions will cover soil, climate, and plant material and management. There will also be a session on the region's standout Malbec. I've loved Malbec since I first tried it after reading The Vineyard at the End of the World. It's all the stuff I want to learn. 

The Sessions

A | Soil

Innovation in terroir studies

Physical, chemical, and microbiological properties of soils

Soil health indicators

Adaptation to soil through viticultural practices

Performance of rootstocks in different soils

B | Climate

Projections and scenarios of climate change

Climate change impacts

Climate-related challenges and opportunities for viticulture

New technologies to assess climatic parameters

Index and climate characterization

C | Plant material and management

Selection of plant material and management practices in response to climate change projections

Epigenetic mechanisms in grapevine acclimation

Impact of soil and climate change on vines, wine quality and typicity

Adaptation to climate through viticultural practices

Grapevines phenotypic plasticity in response to changing environments

D | Malbec

Historical journey and terroir expression

Studies of Malbec cultivation and winemaking in Argentina and worldwide.

Properties of Malbec wines cultivated in different regions.

Ein joke?

From the Edinburgh Fringe Festival:

I've got a girlfriend who never stops whining. I wish I'd never bought her that vineyard - Roger Swift

I'm so sorry we missed visiting Edinburgh for my 70th birthday. I'll not easily forgive Ryanair for that one. 

Rias Baixas vines destroyed overnight

 

This is the most appalling thing I've read in recent days. On 2 August, vandals cut down centuries-old vines in the Rias Baxias region. With just weeks to go before harvest, they've destroyed a good percentage of this relatively new cooperative's harvest along with the vines' ability to recover.

That has to be a retaliative strike by the competition. Let's hope I'm wrong. 

How their hearts must have sunk to see this vandalism. It's incomprehensible that someone would be so vicious as to destroy ancient living beings. 

Here's their letter to the perpetrators. I hope they get what they deserve.