What’s Happening in the Vineyards

​June and July in Napa Valley mark one of the most dynamic stretches of the growing season. Following fruit set in late spring, berries are now in the early stages of development, moving through a period of rapid cell division before entering the lag phase, when growth slows and the vine begins shifting its energy toward ripening. Growers are watching closely, walking rows and counting clusters to assess crop load and make early decisions about cluster thinning.
 
Meanwhile, canopy management is in full force. Teams are shoot positioning, hedging, and leaf pulling in the fruiting zone to improve air circulation and sun exposure, critical steps for managing disease pressure and encouraging even ripening. By late July, the valley's earliest varieties will begin veraison, the moment growers wait for all season: color change in red grapes, softening in whites, and the first true signal that harvest is on the horizon.
 
From fruit set to the first blush of veraison, every choice in the vineyard right now is a decision about the wine to come.

Vineyard Glossary

​Fruit set: The stage after flowering when fertilized blossoms develop into small green berries.
 
Lag phase: A mid-berry development period when cell division slows before sugar accumulation begins.
 
Cluster thinning: Removing excess grape clusters to concentrate the vine's energy into fewer, higher-quality fruit.
 
Canopy management: The collective practices used to train and shape vine foliage for optimal sun exposure and airflow.
 
Shoot positioning: Guiding young shoots upward and into the trellis wire to create an organized, open canopy. (photos above)
 
Hedging: Trimming shoot tips to control canopy height and direct vine energy into the fruit.
 
Leaf pulling: Removing leaves in the fruiting zone to improve light penetration and reduce disease risk.
 
Veraison: The onset of ripening, marked by color change in red varieties and softening in all grapes.