Summer Solstice in the Vineyard
The longest day of the year, June 20, is here and while it’s felt like summer for quite a while in Texas already, it is now official. But what does this have to do with growing grapes in East Texas?
Summer solstice marks the beginning of a transformative time in the life of a grapevine. Throughout the spring the plant has been making buds, flowering, setting the fruit, and now that fruit will begin to ripen.
The berries that have been dense, matte green, bitter parts of the plant start to soften, accumulate sugars, and their acids start to decrease. This shift is crucial for the grape’s flavor profile and balance of the final wine.
The sugar levels determine the timing of the harvest and each different variety of grape ripens at a different time. This is great for us so we can space out the timing of harvest and not all the grapes hit the winery at the same time. Sugar levels also determine the final alcohol level of the wine, so getting this balance of sugars coming into play in the grape clusters at the time if year is crucial.
What I love about grapevines is they show their transformation. Every stage of the year they have a different look. If only people were so clear! And even though this stage is an internal transformation within each grape with sugars accumulating and acids decreasing, the external show these grapes put on at this time of year is spectacular.
For a few short weeks during this transformation we call veraison, white grapes change from matte green to a golden translucent yellow and red grapes change from a similar green to red, purple, or black depending on their variety.
Often this color change happens in individual berries and clusters can be seen throughout the vineyard with some green grapes and some purple grapes in our red varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese.
The 2024 vintage is hanging on the vine and harvest is just around the corner. Make sure to visit Kiepersol this summer for the spectacular views and award-winning wines and spirits.
Kelly Doherty is the Branding and Marketing Director of Kiepersol. A photographer, graphic designer, and writer at heart, the winery and vineyard are the inspired backdrop for Kelly’s creative endeavors.
She holds a WSET Level 3 Award in Wines from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and loves educating people about wine.
