March 24, 2010
Rebirth
March came in like a lamb, and looks to be leaving like a lion. Out in the vineyard, the winter pruning is done and clean up will be done with one more day of work. This winter will have been a good test to see how our Vitis Vinifera grapes will really stand up to a hard Kansas winter. Vitis Vinifera is the species of grape, that makes up most of the more well known wine grapes for the world. Most all of the European grapes come from Vitis Vinifera. We have never imported any grapes from outside of the state of Kansas and never will. Kansas has some of the best farm land in the world.
Davenport winery strives to really show what a Kansas-grown grape can do in every glass. We grow 21 different varieties of grapes, but only a couple of these grape varieties are Vitis Vinifera. The best news is that this winter is almost over, but the danger of a late frost is the next concern. In the next couple of weeks the buds (the part of the grapevine where growth occurs) will start to swell. If a late frost comes it may damage the most important part of the vine at this stage. Grapevines have a fail safe in case this happens. Every bud is made up of several buds. The primary bud had the greatest potential for a crop, so it is the bud that is hoped to survive. The latent buds may emerge later which will delay the crop if any is viable.
With spring on our doorstep, the vineyard will soon appear to come back to life. The vines that looked dead, only appear to be. It is no wonder that the ancient people thought that a god must have been the answer for this rebirth. The Greeks thought it was Dionysus, and in Egypt Osiris took the glory. Of all of the gods, the idea was the same, what was dead was brought to life again. Coming soon will be pictures of this rebirth. Keep checking in to see life renew itself.
