After experiencing above average rainfall this winter we are starting to see the impacts of all the extra soil moisture this spring and early summer. We have already mowed the vineyards three times before the month of June, and will most likely have to mow the vineyards again later this summer. Noticing the effects of the wet winter on our cover crops and annual grasses we then turn to think of what this means for our vineyards and growing season. The vines are off to a great start! For one, we will delay the start of our irrigation schedule until possibly the middle or end of June. This will allow the vines to use up the moisture in the soil early in the season, and still give us the ability to stress the vines towards the end of the summer when we want the vines to be under some amount of plant stress in order to increase the concentration of flavors in the fruit. The other aspect of having above average rainfall is that it will be crucial to shoot thin, leaf pull, and in some cases hedge the vines in order to have healthy canopy management. The abundance of rain will produce an abundance of new growth, and without proper care and management the vineyards can easily turn into a jungle. We can’t wait to see how this vintage starts to take shape in the vineyards part way through the growing season!