We can’t be too picky

When it comes to the weather, whether (see what I did there?) it is summer, spring, fall or winter, is it ever exactly what we want it to be? Probably not! However, this past harvest season was pretty close with the mild temperatures so that we could elongate the pick to give longer hang times for the clusters and be a little less crazy in the cellar. And the 2023 fruit came in beautiful! So thank you very much, Mother Nature!

This winter, as a whole, has been great so far. It has been relatively wet, so the underground water is being replenished and the plants are getting a good soak. Knock on wood, so far it has been a winter without too much water and wind, all at once, so that we have not had a lot of damage to our forests, farms and communities. However, if I can complain a little, it has been slightly on the warm side. The snow pack, which we depend on for water throughout the year, has remained mostly in the high, high elevations instead of blanketing the Sierras. 

So if I could make one request of Mother Nature, could February and March continue to bring the moisture with a little bit more of the white stuff lower in elevation and without the damaging winds or quantities? That way we can continue to get the water we so need, it will last longer into the year and the colder temperatures will keep our vines dreaming in their winter slumbers until we are ready for them to wake up deeper into the Spring.

Am I asking too much? Probably…I should just be grateful for what we have. That sounds better, right?