Labelle grapes are ripening startlingly fast. The darkest colored berries are close to plausible as juice grapes, though still a little tart even for that. The Leon Millot, which started the season, is progressing slower, perhaps because it is relatively over cropped vs the Labelle. In the picture above, if
Golubok and LaBelle are showing the first signs of the grapes turning color. That means harvest is expected by Mid September, maybe earlier.
I'm seeing these pretty butterflies in the vineyard lately. Over the weekend I was able to get feedback from several friends on the Sangiovese. Despite its youth, it is shaping up pretty nicely and has plenty of yummy berry fruitiness and rich red wine lushness. The muscats and
Monastery Muscat has a pretty fuzzy underside of the leaf. This woolcarder bee decided it's worthy nest material.
I only learned about this species this year. Just like a car that you recently bought, now I am seeing them everywhere. I was particularly happy to see they're willing and able to tackle a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, since those are grapevine sapsuckers. Grapes are vigorous, to
Another beautiful reason to stay away from pesticides, this moth found at our vineyard. Meanwhile, the growth in the vineyard has been spectacular. We'll have at least eleven LaBelle vines on the 6' high cordon wire this year. Four or five Monastery Muscat, a few Jupiter and
Style: off dry Varietal: Chenin Blanc, plus 15% Sèmillon and a splash of white muscat Source: Paradisos del Sol, Zillah, WA, Paul Vandenberg Initial brix: 22 Initial pH: 3.4 Ingredients & Additives 85% Chenin 15% Semillon Preparation & Procedure Crushed and destemmed 2025-09-07 Topped once with muscat.
Life is absolutely popping in the vineyard right now. I saw a pretty lupine and went in for a closer picture, only to discover a grasshopper hidden within the inflorescence. After that I started noticing quite the community of tiny , cute green creatures.
People say grapevines are "weeds" but my experience has been mixed. Many of my young transplants have struggled to gain a foothold. Quite the opposite result with this LaBelle vine that I transplanted as a mature plant. Between that success and the first blooms from my Drouhin Zephirine
#ThingsIFoundInTheVineyard I'm going to continue cataloging the various species I find in the vineyard. First because I like to learn all their names and second, I like to know all the things that can survive in a spray-free vineyard.
Style: Plain red, minimal American oak chips during fermentation. Varietal: Sangiovese 85%, Leon Millot 15% Grape Source: Paradisos del Sol Zillah, WA and Woodland WA, respectively. Both vineyards operated with no fungicide sprays. pH 3.35 Drink from fall 2026 to 2031
Looks like Leon Millot is the earliest flowering vine I have. It's been blooming for a week now. LaBelle just started today. It makes sense, they are two of the earliest to complete ripening. Cayuga White and the Muscats won't be far behind.