The cyclical life of the vineyard repeats its process year in and year out. New and old vineyards go through the same life each year from bud swelling to leaf emergence to shoot growth to flowering, blooming, clustering, veraison (berries begin to turn color) and picking. This is one of the most beautiful aspects of the vine and one of the reasons that people spend their lives following grape harvests and vintages.
So where are we in the cycle at this point in May? First lets start off by how we got here. After Fall’s Harvest, the vines lay dormant until January/February. At this point, buds begin to swell and the vine pumps life up from its roots. Bud break and leaf emergence happens next followed by shoot growth, which leaves crops susceptible to frost in March and April. At this point, flower clusters emerge and subsequently bloom. It is at about this point that we are at now – at the blooming stage. Grape flowers are self pollinating and soon afterwards berries start to swell and fruit set occurs. 
Wine club members are invited to the Lafond Vineyard in August for our Annual Wine Club BBQ. At this point veraison will be near complete on the road to ripe and balanced clusters that will be picked for what is predicted to be a bountiful 2009 Harvest.
Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery
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