Grape ripening continues in Van Buren County in what could be banner season
LAWTON, Mich. — Drive through the rolling hills of Van Buren County, and you're sure to spot one of the many grape vineyards located in the West Michigan fruit belt.
This year, the rolling rows of grape vines are looking green, healthy, and beautiful.
"This year has been an amazing year," Bill Harrison, manager and part-owner of Lawton Ridge Vineyard, said. "We didn’t have any cold weather in the winter, or a late season freeze."
Near-average temperatures and precipitation this growing season have been favorable for a healthy crop as well.
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Most grape vineyards in Southwest Michigan are planted along ridges or hills. Sandy soil types in these areas typically protect vines from cold air at higher points in the terrain.
“Weather is our best friend, but it’s also our most feared enemy," Harrison said. "Here in Michigan we’re growing grapes at the northern fringe of where grapes can be grown. So we’ve had to select the varieties that are more tolerant of cold weather."
Extreme cold during the winter can devastate the grape vines.
"If the temperature gets below about minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit, it can kill the vine all the way down to the snow line," Harrison said.
Thanks to a mild winter and spring, this year's grapes didn't suffer losses like the those seen during the winter of 2018-2019.
Michigan's climate, geography, and soil diversity allow for a wide variety of grapes to be grown, Harrison said.
Chambourcin, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Chardonnay are just a few of the grape varieties grown at Lawton Ridge Vineyard. Grapes at the vineyard are used for winemaking at Lawton Ridge Winery.
Most of the growing is finished by late summer, but grapes at Lawton Ridge Vineyard still have a couple weeks of ripening left. Farmers shift their focus to controlling disease and managing birds to protect fruit before it's harvested.
Harvesting has started at some vineyards in the southwest part of the state, with only early season varieties for sparkling wine picked so far.
Lawton Ridge's earliest varieties still need about two more weeks of ripening before their sugar content is high enough winemaking, Harrison said. Harvesting will continue at their vineyard through mid-October.
After fermentation and processing, the wine produced from this season's grapes will be available by late spring and early summer of 2023.
Harrison has high hopes this year's vintage will be one to remember.
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