The hot, dry summer weather has definitely not been good for most crops, but some do better under drought stress than others. Grapes are one of those crops, and many Kentucky producers are expecting a good harvest, in part due to the arid conditions.
With that said, however, location has played the biggest role in the grape harvest. Vineyards in western portions of the state endured the hottest, driest conditions, creating more problems than those closer to central and northern Kentucky.
Neil Vasilakes and his wife, Rachel, are owners of Wildside Winery in Woodford County. He said the vineyard is on track to have a good year.
“The vineyard is just looking beautiful,” he said. “We have 11 acres of grapes. We also have an orchard and a couple of acres of berries, and we make wine out of everything, but most of our wines are grape wines.”
Vasilakes noted that his grapes are grown in two different areas of the county, one of which suffered from a spring frost after warmer-than-normal temperatures last winter created an early growing-season environment. That patch had to be started over, he said, causing a slight decline in the yield expectations. Still, he said, it was expected to produce a good crop. The other area was not hit by the frost, and those grapes are right on target to produce a quality crop.
But just because grapes handle dry conditions rather well, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to worry about during drought-stricken seasons.
Patsy Wilson, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture viticulturist, said with the below-average rainfall and extremely high temperature spikes experienced here in Kentucky, grape growers should monitor their vineyards for symptoms of water stress.
“This is especially true for newly established vineyards,” she added. “Mild water stress occurring between bloom and veraison [the onset of ripening] may actually be beneficial. However, a high level of water stress on vines between veraison and harvest is less desirable due to its negative impact on fruit ripening and potential vine quality.”
Wilson also said that simply walking through the vineyard and feeling large leaves that receive direct sunlight can be a quick and useful tool to identify drought stress; the leaves will feel warm.
Dennis Walter, owner of StoneBrook Winery in Camp Springs (Campbell County), has managed to get through the growing season thus far with little trouble. He thinks this year’s crop could turn out to be a banner year, quality wise.
“Actually none of the vineyards in Campbell County and northern Kentucky were showing any drought stress,” he said. “I think there are vineyards in western Kentucky that were — here again, it’s where you are.”
Walter noted that his grapes are smaller because of the weather, but quality wise, he thinks that will be good this year.
“Grapes are a [drought-resistant] crop to an extent, and the vines are in relatively good shape,” he said. “We should have a pretty good harvest. We’ve been fortunate.”
Walter added that grapes are grown in arid regions all over the world, creating a good backup crop to others during drought situations. It is because of the fruit’s ability to produce well under a little stress that Walter went into the grape business 12 years ago, supplementing an already existent farming operation.
StoneBrook Winery is just one part of the Walter farm, which has been in the family for 140 years. It is also home to beef cattle and forage operations. Through the years, the farm has diversified many times to remain sustainable.
Wildside Winery is nestled on a 30-acre farm in the heart of the Bluegrass region. The Vasilakeses began growing grapes in 1998. Each year, they have tried to increase the number of grape vines on the farm, as well as enhancing the surroundings and improving the operation. That includes a new building for fermentation this year.
As part of their efforts, the couple also hosts many events at the winery, including a free summer concert series, community events and weddings, to name a few.
According to information from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, there are more than 113 grape producers growing 583 acres of grapes, with 280 acres ready for production. There are also more than 60 small-farm wineries in the state.
Walter said he hopes to continue to get the rains when he needs them, along with ample sunlight to get back to a bit of “normalcy,” although this abnormal year may yet produce at least one bumper crop.
That remains the hope of grape producers as harvest time approaches. The remnants of Hurricane Isaac however have rolled in at a crucial time. Vasilakes said that shouldn’t make too much of a difference.
“Because of the weather, most of the grapes are ahead of schedule, and that should help. The maturity of the grapes, that’s the key,” he said. “A little bit of rain isn’t going to make any difference, as long as the growers let it dry out for a few weeks before harvest.”