The rain has come and with it shades of yellow, red and green. Chances are that the heavy winds during the next few days will eventually leave behind barren vineyards exposing each remaining cluster; either intentionally or unintentionally left behind. My guess is that the majority of the wineries have brought in the last of their fruit for the season, but for those who have not, the stark forecast calls for seven straight more days of rain. With that said, it is probably safe to say that the best of this season’s weather is behind us.

Looking back, one must make note of the extreme fluctuations in temperature this year. The warmth that was experienced for the majority of the growing season will most likely have its place saved in Oregon’s record books for many years to come, as will the stretch of cool weather that Mother Nature started the first half of October with. In a year like this, it becomes difficult to make comparisons. I have heard discerning winemakers claim similarities to the most recent vintages of 2006, 2004 and 2003. There have been rumors of post harvest irrigation (i.e. adding water to fermenters) leaking throughout the valley in efforts to dilute high sugar levels. Some say that “this will be a great year for the white wines, but not so much for the reds”. Already there has been a great deal of conflicting opinions, but one thing is always for certain, every block of every vineyard will be affected differently by the weather and every winemaker will process these variations differently from one another.

In the end, its years like these that reveal the makeup of each winemaker. Will they become extremely hands on and play doctor by adding everything from water to acid. Or will they rely on their picking decisions, let the wine be what it is and blend accordingly 10 or so months down the road. Only time will tell and until we get a chance to taste our first barrel samples of what has been a vintage of extremes, we will just have to wait and see.

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