Grape ripening in northern Wisconsin

[wood1954]

I was planning on harvesting my grapes September 16th, but they are pretty ripe already, the Itasca grapes are a little sweeter than the Marquette right now. The Brix is about 20 on the Marquette and 22 for the itasca.

 

[Rice_Guy]

We had some picking of Itasca and Briana in the wine club. The logic with Briana is to get it before foxy and bitter flavors develop

 

[wood1954]

Good to know, the winery in Weyauwega is offering Upick on their Brianna and Frontenac Gris for 60 cents a lb. I think I will pick 100 lbs to blend with my Itasca.

 

[countygrapeguy]

I'm sitting on 15 brix for my Marquette here in Ontario. Verona is only at 13.

I've not had much experience forecasting harvest dates, but is 1brix/week gain a reasonable guess? If so I'm looking at picking in mid October

 

[wood1954]

That’s how my Marquette went last year at least from 21 Brix to 23 Brix. It might go a little faster from 15 to 20.

 

[Rice_Guy]

Three tests from clusters picked Tuesday;
Itasca 1.104 / 3.20
Briana. 1.066 / 3.14
Edelweiss. 1.064 / 3.06

I was emailed my invite to pick grapes at Drumlin Ridge winery Monday.

 

[wood1954]

Wow! Itasca numbers look great.

 

[wood1954]

I picked about a cup of grapes from throughout the vineyard today. After mashing and straining the Marquette juice is at 20 Brix or sg 1.083, not bad for a whole vineyard snapshot. The itasca is at 22 Brix or sg 1.092. Didn’t check ph as the juice is very tart so no need. Not much (any)change but I wanted to get an accurate reading before the coming hot weather.

 

[Ohio Bob]

1.803 is not a correct number. You may want to edit that post.

 

[hdgypsyman]

I picked about a cup of grapes from throughout the vineyard today. After mashing and straining the Marquette juice is at 20 Brix or sg 1.083, not bad for a whole vineyard snapshot. The itasca is at 22 Brix or sg 1.092. Didn’t check ph as the juice is very tart so no need. Not much (any)change but I wanted to get an accurate reading before the coming hot weather.

I live in Southern Minnesota and checked my Marquette grapes two days ago. Brix was at 25 which is great. But the ph was at 2.73. I'm hoping that the ph will move up soon so I can grab them before the birds and the yellow jackets get too busy

 

[wood1954]

I would think your ph will come up to 3 in a week or so, then you can add potassium bicarbonate to raise it a little more