This year on the East Coast vineyards showed a lot of potential for a great harvest until Hurricane Katia came along followed by the rain train, where Hurricane Katia and Hurricane Lee had become tropical storms that rotated and kept a constant stream of rain clouds caught between the two swirling masses.

The rain train extended in a vertical column from Virginia into Pennsylvania. Vineyards in the narrow path have been severely affected by the days and days of rain. Fortunate were the vineyards whose grape varieties had already fully ripened and were previously harvested.

One thing wine enthusiasts can be sure of, as one Pennsylvania winery owner who was affected by rains, the wines from this 2011 harvest will be “worth your while.”

Cheers to all those winemakers and vineyard growers who deal with Mother Nature every year and yet continue to create the best wines possible.

Cheers,

Kathy