Posted in Growing Season, NVG News on Feb 22, 2018
by Jane Firstenfeld
Bay Area, Calif.—The Feb. 15 announcement that grapevines had broken bud in southern Napa County might have seemed like a boast to non-farmers. In fact, it sounded an alarm not just in Napa but throughout Northern California vineyards.
After a record dry and relatively warm winter dormant season, the early bud break—followed by persistent sub-freezing temperatures—forced some grapegrowers to switch from passive to active frost-control measures.
Posted in Growing Season, NVG News on Feb 22, 2018
by Henry Lutz
Napa County’s grapegrowers are working to shield their early-waking vineyards from an extended frost threat, while coping with a lack of rainfall during what are typically the wettest months of the year.
Pushed by weeks of abnormally warm weather, vineyards in the southern Carneros region have begun to stir weeks before the typical onset of bud break – the appearance of shoots that will eventually yield grapes.
Click here to read the complete article in the Napa Valley Register.
Posted in Growing Season, NVG News on Feb 21, 2018
by Michael Livingston and Geoffry Mohan
Hoodies and jackets were the uniform for residents and commuters in Los Angeles pm Tuesday, as a cold snap had Angelenos digging for little-used winter clothing.
The National Weather Service issued a freeze warning for parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, with the coldest weather expected from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Click here to read the complete article in the Los Angeles Times.
Posted in Growing Season, NVG News on Feb 21, 2018
by Bill Swindell
Below-freezing temperatures that can damage Sonoma County’s $575 million grape crop before it even develops are prompting some growers to launch an unusually early campaign to protect their vineyards from frost.
Pockets of vineyards across the county have been awakened early from their winter slumber by mild, dry weather over the past week, leaving them vulnerable to frost damage.
Click here to read the complete article in the Press Democrat.
Posted in Growing Season, NVG News on Feb 15, 2018
by Henry Lutz
The year's first signs of life have come to Napa Valley vineyards, marking an exceptionally early start to the grape growing season here.
The Napa Valley Grapegrowers announced Thursday that bud break, the first stage of vine growth wherein vines emerge from their winter dormancy and begin to produce shoots that will one day bear grapes, has begun in areas like the southern Carneros region. Vines in the area are typically the first in Napa County to begin the growing season and are among the first to be harvested each year.
Click here to read the complete article in the Napa Valley Register.