The vintner's year – July

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Jim Law of Linden Vineyards, Virginia, reports on his recent experience of blood, sweat, tears, and hail

July is usually the month when vine growth slows down, our vineyard work eases, and we begin to gravitate back to the cellar. This was not the case in 2013 as sub-tropical rains and heat kept the vines in a full vegetative growth cycle.

To the untrained eye, the vineyard looked great, lush and dark green. In fact, the vines were too happy. This is the time when we would like to see some water stress. Hydric stress, as it is referred to...