Some on the east coast were introduced to a meteorology term “training” also called the “rain train.” From southern Virginia to New York, a narrow swatch of land witnessed a few inches to a few feet of rain that kept on pelting the area for several days. This rain system came on the heels of Hurricane Irene that also dumped record amounts of rain on parts of the same area. How will the unharvested grapes handle all this water?

There are many variables such as what happens with the weather next. The grapes absorbed water but sunny days would help. Some grapes that may have taken up too much water may bloat and crack allowing disease to set in. Others may just swell up. If harvested soon or if the rain continues, the grapes will produce lighter wines with more juice and less sugar, aromas and flavors. The absorbed water can dilute what is good about the grape. There are other criteria that relates to rain fall including how well the soil drains and how many days until harvest.

Winemakers have few options. One is to start talking about terroir. Vertical tastings of 2009, 2010 and 2011 wines will show very different wines from the east coast. The intensity of the grapes’ potential will be different each of those years. Winemakers can also blend the wines made with other wines. Another option is to make and promote rosé wines.

The good news was that the rain train wasn’t very wide. So there are many vineyards that were not affected by record amounts of rain. For wine enthusiasts who want to see the effect of terroir, compare wines made from grapes harvest this year after the rain train with previous years. Wine can often tell a story of the weather.

Cheers,
Terry