The Wine Knows

Cooler temperatures last week turned into beautifully warm days this weekend. No doubt those who came to the Columbia Valley for Catch the Crush enjoyed the cloudless skies and 80-plus degree weather.

This is the kind of weather that makes Washington's Columbia Valley famous. Temperature shifts of 40 to 50 degrees between day and night allow the grapes to pick up ripeness when it's sunny out, yet retain that all-important acidity once the sun retreats in the west.

I hope to get out to my little backyard vineyard today to check the sugar levels. My last measurement was a week ago, and it was up to 18.5 brix. If I can pick up one degree of sugar per week (through ripening or dehydration), my grapes will be perfect by the time I harvest the third weekend in October.