Some varieties ripening quickly (Aug 29 Brix)

I was out in the vineyard yesterday, and collected some berry samples to test sugars.

Marquette and lacrescent are looking good. By taste, I think the acids are in the right range.

Only Lacrosse seems to be strugling to get sugars up .... maybe over-cropped?

Marquette. 24.0
Prairie star. 18.6
Lacrosse. 14.5
Lacrescent park. 20.3
Lacrescent vineyard 3. 23.3
Foch. 18.8
Frontenac 23.5
St pepin. 19.4

Latest brix numbers from August 22

From this afternoon:

St Pepin - 16.3

La Crosse - 11.9

La Crescent (5th year vines) - 18.9

La Crescent (4th year vines) - 20.1

Foch - 17.4

Prairie Star - 16.6

Frontenac- 21.5

Marquette - 21.0

Looks like a few varieties may be ready labor day weekend.

Veraison has begun .... in July!

Veraison started July 30-31 in Marquette and Frontenac. A couple of weeks ahead of schedule. Foch are not quite there yet. Looks like an early harvest ... probably the end of August or very early September.

Note: I will not have sufficient quantities this year for commercial wineries, but any home wine makers should be able to find plenty of nice grapes this year. All varieties of hybrids (lacrescent, lacrosse, st pepin) available at $0.75/lb (in any quantity.) I also have some very limited quantities of prairie star, foch, marquette, and frontenac.

If you're interested in buying pick-your-own wine grapes email info@sampsonvalley.com or call 331-grapes1 (331-472-7371) to schedule a picking.