You may not realise it, but wine is much like other produce in that it is at least somewhat seasonal. Grapes are a natural product that is subject to the climate, weather and localised growing conditions in similar ways to other crop plants and this is reflected in the yearly wine calendar.
One thing that complicates things is the fact that wine grapes are grown pretty much all over the world in places that have distinct climates, topographies, and cultural attitudes towards wine production.
Another factor that conceals the seasonal nature of wine is that it is not something that goes from farm to fork within days or weeks. Wines take varying amounts of time to reach their peak, and even then they can be left to lay down for future consumption which can take months, years, or even decades.
As consumers it is easy to forget that the wine doesn’t magically appear once the grapes are harvested, mostly because we tend to be quite removed from food and drink production processes in general these days.
In effect, the winemakers’ calendar varies wildly from region to region, and country to country, and is largely unimportant to most wine consumers. Having said this, it is still a fascinating thing to consider and will surely be of interest to many casual wine lovers with a curiosity for what goes into making their favourite wines.
What is the wine calendar?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, there is a lot of work that goes into producing quality wine. It’s not simply a case of planting vines and juicing grapes; it is far more complex than that and the process becomes a lifelong passion and obsession for many producers.
Any good wine producer will time their efforts so they fit in best with the grapes’ natural cycles while factoring in the local climate and other things that can affect the process.
Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that grapes are not the only type of fruit that is used in wine production, which complicates things even further. For example, wines that include wildflowers such as gorse and dandelions will need to be started off when these blooms are in their prime.
Bud break
Rather than looking at specific months or seasons as these can vary depending on geographical locations, it is more helpful to consider the lifecycle of the vines themselves when looking at the wine calendar. The bud break is a process vital to everything from making burgundy wine to making dessert wines.
Taking place early in the season before spring has begun, the bud break refers to the new buds forming on existing vines. Grapevines develop fruit only on new growth, so these new shoots and leaves are treasured and well looked after to help ensure a good harvest. The vines will have been cut back rather aggressively in the previous season to make way for new growth.
Flowering
A juicy wine grape starts with a flower that is pollinated either naturally or by hand and then goes on to develop into a fully formed fruit. The flowers put forth by grapevines are largely unremarkable and are not exactly known for their attractiveness, but they are treasured nonetheless. Flowering takes place in the spring and summer, generally around May in the Northern Hemisphere. Depending on the local temperatures, this takes place around 40-80 days following the bud break.
Fruit setting
This next stage takes place almost immediately following the pollination of the flowers and involves the grapevines developing seeds, as well as the protective fruit that covers the seed which allows it to mature safely. Unfortunately, not every flower will go on to develop a grape and the general fruiting rate is roughly 30% to 60% of flowers.
Veraison
As with most natural processes, things take time. Grapes need to remain on the vine long enough for the sugars to develop within the fruit and the process tends to take place around 50 days following the fruit setting stage. It is the beginning of the ripening process and takes place in the summer months.
Final ripening
The level of ripening required depends on the type of grapes and wine being made. Once the optimal level of ripening has been achieved the grapes will need to be harvested in a timely manner. This generally takes place around October in the Northern Hemisphere, though some varieties will be harvested earlier or later in the year.
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