Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/619725
84 WINES&VINES January 2016 VINTAGE 2015 quality. Replanting of old and diseased vines was common, and some new vineyards were planted. Eutypa-affected vines and old blocks were removed for replant; some acres went to walnuts and almonds. SONOMA COUNTY Rhonda J. Smith Viticulture farm advisor University of California Cooperative Extension Bud break was early again by more than a week. Consistent mild temperatures in January and February included days in the 70s and a few in the low 80s that started the growing sea- son even earlier than the previous two years. Frost risk began in February. Depending on pruning date and location, shoots were out a foot or more in early April. The warm winter caused a long bloom period, and May temperatures were too low for uniform fruit set even in the warmest appellations. Large and small berries—hens and chicks—were common, and cluster weights were down sig- nificantly. Lighter crop and early start meant 2015 was earliest harvest ever for most growers. Harvest for sparkling wine began in July and August, when maximum daily temperatures were often just at or below 90° F. Two brief heat spikes in September saw temperatures reach or exceed 100° F when fruit was coming off vines fast regardless. Rain fell a few days that month, but rot was not an issue. A huge increase in Pierce's disease occurred in vineyards that are traditional hot spots as well as in sites not normally affected, pointing to an epidemic associated with warm winters. Grow- ers removed tens of thousands of dead vines in spring and replanted, but demand for plants outstripped supply. Cool weather during bloom reduced fruit set, and growers picked 20% to 50% less fruit than normal. Total county wine grape yield in 2015 will return to levels seen prior to the past three large harvests. Labor costs continued to climb as supply con- tinued to drop. December rainfall totals of 12-15 inches filled many onsite storage ponds; how- ever more storage is need to capture water from fewer storm events that increasingly deliver the majority of annual total rainfall. ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° Great numbers on the grapes; pH seemed a bit lower than normal considering the higher sugar levels at harvest. Carmine Indindoli Indindoli Family Vineyards Sebastopol, Calif. info@vintegrate.com 800 • 487 • 3363 vintegrate.com Winery Software M ake • M anage • Sell Fermentation bins bubble at Wattle Creek Estate Winery in Cloverdale, Calif.