« The season we've all been waiting for: Autumn! »

If you have been following along, you may know that I've done two essays so far for Rick VanSickle's "Wines in Niagara" website, highlighting the vineyard year in Niagara. Well, it's time to post Autumn - the season we've all be waiting for - September 22 to December 21, 2019.

"In our third part of the series, Autumn in the Vineyard, Elena takes us through the most crucial season for grapes when wineries around Niagara begin the long process of harvesting grapes to turn them into wine.

"In late August (some years) and early September the first grapes to be picked are for sparkling wines with the table wine grapes following in a mad progression until icewine grapes are picked typically in the dead of winter. This year, however, was no ordinary year as you will see in Elena’s photos — some icewine grapes were picked in mid-November before the rest of the red grapes were even harvested.

"The fall harvest of 2019 will go down in history as one of the wildest on record. Heading into harvest, the weather was generally cool and sunny. This cool weather, combined with low humidity and sunshine provided a boost for grapes in terms of phenolic ripeness and prevented breakdown of fruit allowing an extended period for grapes to fully ripen.

"October was mild but damp, followed by an unusually early cold snap in mid-November. Most white varieties were harvested early but harvest extended into early December, sometimes taking place in the snow. With the early cold, several wineries harvested icewine grapes on Nov. 12 – the earliest date recorded by VQA Ontario."

View images of Autumn

See also Summer

See also Spring