Winegrape growers are taking extra measures to protect their vineyards during this long heat wave.
The high temperatures can be a bust or a boon to what goes into the barrel.
Hot, hot, hot…that pretty much sums up the week weather wise in the Lodi vineyards.
Lucas Winery owner David Lucas like many other growers is making sure his zinfandels and other varietals take in 10 to 12 hours of daily watering.
“The biggest impact could be on the size of the crop because the heat stresses the vine which stresses the berries and their sizing and they may not get as big which could be a real benefit in terms of wine quality,” says Lucas.
He also says the heat isn’t just hard on the crop, it’s brutal as well for the workers in the field with crew members finishing up early each day.
“You can’t drink enough water or pour enough ice on top of your head, so just get everybody out of the fields including me,” Lucas says.
He says one thing is for sure, this heat wave will produce an early harvest.
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