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Historical Phenological Data, Based on Ridgecrest Vineyards

Growing parameters for the last four vintages at Ridgecrest Vineyards, plus what is typical. Gives a sense of variability, even between very good vintages--all vintages, even great ones, are not alike.

		2003	2002	2001	2000	TYPICAL
TIMING						rule of thumb

Budbreak:		17-Apr	14-Apr	25-Apr	13-Apr	15-Apr
bud opens to formal leaves			approx

Flowering:		17-Jun	22-Jun	23-Jun	21-Jun	20-Jun
barely visible flowers bloom and hermaphroditically pollinate

Veraison:		22-Aug	26-Aug	25-Aug	23-Aug	20-Aug
seed hardening and color change, begins ripening

Harvest:
	Corral Creek	28-Sep	5-Oct	4-Oct	29-Sep	1-Oct
	Ridgecrest (1st)	4-Oct	14-Oct	10-Oct	7-Oct	10-Oct
	Ridgecrest (last)	7-Oct	20-Oct	15-Oct	15-Oct	17-Oct

Growing Season:		2003	2002	2001	2000	1971-2000
	Degree Days (>50° F McMinnville, Year Total)	2555	2281	2320	2219	2100
	cumulative heat during year
	Degree Days (>50° F McMinnville, April-October)	2463	2196	2195	2203	2100
	cumulative heat during growing season only
	Other Years:	1999	1998	1997		1961-1990
	Degree Days (>50° F McMinnville, April-October)	1968	2352	2167		1970
	computed using hi-lo average

Harvest Parameters:		2003	2002	2001	2000	TYPICAL
	Days from Bloom to Harvest	109	114	109	108	110
	gradual, cool ripening giving finesse

	Yield (Tons/Acre, all varieties)	2.37	3.05	2.38	2.31	2.25
	cropload to ripen, as pruned

	Cluster Weight (g)	152	149	137	114	125
	measure of plant vigor

	Berry Weight (g)	1.10	1.24	1.13	1.22	1.15
	color, extract, juice ratio

	Brix	25.2	24.2	22.9	23.7	23.5
	sugar, alcohol, ripeness (+ correlation)

	pH	3.46	3.40	3.29	3.33	3.25
	K+, acid content, ripeness (inverse correlation)

	Titratable Acidity (g/L)	5.09	6.58	6.47	7.32	7.00
	acid, ripeness