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In
early June, the vines bloom with tiny white flowers.
These flowers are pollinated by wind,
which we have in great abundance at Sonatera!
Pollinated flowers which stay attached to the
vines produce set, clusters of baby grapes. But
good set is not always a sure thing. Rain or
heavy fog during bloom can prevent pollen from
sticking, and excessive wind can blow the delicate
blossoms right off the vines. After bloom, we
assess in detail the level of set. For each vine,
this guides us in how to best position the foliage
and adjust the ratio of leaves to fruit by additional
pruning. For the vineyard as a whole, this gives
us a rough estimate of crop yield, provides a
guidepost for irrigation, and with petiole testing
(below), helps us plan nutritional supplements
for the remainder of the growing season.
During bloom, we collect petioles—the short stem
which attaches a leaf blade to the shoot. The
collected petioles are grouped by vineyard location
and vine clone, then are sent to a laboratory.
The chemical analysis of the petioles provides
our most complete picture of vine nutrition.
We view the petiole analyses through a long-term
lens. Most nutritional deficits do not respond
to ‘quick fixes.’ They can only be ameliorated
through long-term adjustments to the soil.
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