Monday, May 25, 2009

Spring at the Farm and Winery

A Late Frost and a New Riesling Vineyard

The vineyards are flush with new growth about ten inches long (or at least they were yesterday - they grow fast!)- all a tender lime-green color. At least the buds that were not frozen are a lime green color with a delicate, and what looks like a miniature grape bunch, at the end. The frozen ones are all brown and crispy.

One week ago, a cold spell threatened many of the area's vineyards with damaging frosts. By and large, the damage to our vineyards was limited to the most northern of our vineyards, particularly the Chancellor vineyards (a French hybrids that were Frederick Johnson Sr.'s favorite wine grape). Unfortunately, some other local vineyard owners were not so fortunate and their concord crops will be seriously diminished.

Our vineyard manager, Ron Guzzetta, is very busy and this week's major task was the planting of a new Riesling vineyard - with the assistance of laser technology, which significantly reduced the time required to plant these new acres of vineyards.

Jennifer Johnson

Johnson Estate Winery - Letters from the Owners