Are the grapes doing magic tricks?

If you’ve visited the vineyard in the last couple weeks, you may have noticed that some of the grape bunches have started to change color. No, this isn't a magic trick the grapes are preforming to impress vineyard visitors. It is simple science and part of the grape life cycle called veraison. Veraison is the onset of ripening and is signaled by the changing colors of the grapes. 

Red grapes, like Chambourcin for example, will slowly start to turn from bright green to a deep, dark red. Some bunches will change quicker than others and certain grape varietals also take longer to change color and ripen, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Not only will the grapes change color, this time frame is also when the grapes will naturally start to sweeten. White grapes also go through this process, although not as obvious or magical. Instead of turning another color, white varietals become translucent. 

These images of the same chambourcin bunches were taken just three days apart and you can clearly see how the grapes have ripened.

​Before veraison, the grapes are hard and very acidic. Once the grapes start to ripen, the acidity starts to lessen as the sweetness increases. You can also feel the difference as the grapes become squishy and you can pinch them between your fingers and they burst (just like in the videos below).

If you haven’t seen this beautiful change in the vineyard, come by within the next few weeks and see them for yourself! While videos of squishing grapes is cool, please do not do this when you visit the vineyard. One, it makes your hands very sticky and two, we need those ripened grapes to make wine. We are about a month or so away from the beginning of harvest, which is a very exciting time of the year! Our Chardonnay grapes are usually the first to come in followed by the other whites and reds will begin coming in thereafter.