After a long and heavy winter wrecked much of southwest Idaho’s 2017 grape harvest, local vineyards and wineries alike are excited to see that this year’s harvest is on the upswing.
According to the Capital Press, recovering and re-training vineyards last year really paid off for this harvest. Re-training is the process of cutting damaged vines away and helping new vines up onto the wire.
Earl Sullivan, owner and head winemaker of Telaya Wine Co., points out how re-training can raise a bit of a problem:
“The new growth has to come up and be put on the fruiting wire. That takes as much effort and manpower as if they were having a harvest because they have to go back and retrain everything, so you know, it’s essentially a new vine.”
But all that work paid off. With the typical grape harvest starting at the beginning of September and finishing up in mid-October, Idaho wineries are starting to see their fruit roll in. Their barrels may not be overflowing, as the vines are still recovering, but the crop is a lot healthier than last year.
For more local news, follow the KBSX newsroom on Twitter @KBSX915
Copyright 2018 Boise State Public Radio