Published: September 22, 2009 07:25 am      

Area grape crop makes late-season recovery

Warm, dry, sunny September was 'saving grace'

TRAVERSE CITY -- The waning weeks of summer were a blessing to area grape growers, but the crop isn't off the vine yet.

The region's grape crop is running weeks behind past years, as growers dealt with a cool, damp summer that stunted vineyards' ripening and sugar content development. Fortunately for growers, the waning days of summer were warm, sunny and dry, helping the grape harvest rebound from what looked like a troublesome growing season just a few weeks ago.

"The last couple of weeks have almost been miraculous in what they've done to develop flavors and overall ripeness in the fruit, especially for the white varieties," said Lee Lutes, winery manager at Black Star Farms in Leelanau County. "It's been a blessing, for sure."

The vineyard should produce "very good" white wine grapes this year and the Pinot Noir variety "should be fine -- maybe not great, but good," Lutes said. "We're crossing our fingers for Cabernet Franc."

More sunshine and temperatures above 60 degrees are needed through October for that red wine grape, he said.

The slowness in the grape crop's development is entirely related to cool weather this summer, said John Kroupa, an owner at Peninsula Cellars on Old Mission Peninsula.

"We'll make something, that's for sure," he said. "I think the fruit will come around."

The last few weeks went "extremely well," but Kroupa agrees that grape growers need more warm weather out of the last days of the growing season.

"We don't have sugar levels where they need to be," Kroupa said. "I'll be happy if we're still harvesting at Thanksgiving."

The watch is on for the first major frost in the low-lying grape-growing areas of northwest Lower Michigan. It would be best if it doesn't freeze for another four weeks, Kroupa said.

"I think this September is a saving grace for grapes this year," said Nikki Rothwell, director of the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station in Leelanau County.

Growers were nervous just a couple weeks ago, she said, but the consistent warmth and dryness since then has benefited the bounty.

Monday's rainfall was the first in Traverse City since Aug. 29, said Scott Rozanski, meteorologist at the National Weather Service station in Gaylord.

Average high temperatures in July were nearly six degrees cooler this year, while August was about four degrees below normal, Rozanski said.