Grape temptations

If you have visited a vineyard recently, you will have noticed a magical transformation as grapes change from hard green berries into deep purple (if it is a red variety) or a golden green (if white). The animal world seems to know this veraison only occurs once the grapes reach a certain level of sugar. If the rows of vines have not been netted or surrounded by an electric fence by this time, the now sweet grapes attract birds and raccoons.

The birds enjoy the grapes to support their migration. The raccoons to feed on them in order to beef up for the leaner months to come. Regardless of how much care is taken in netting the vines, the birds always manage to somehow peck through the netting and, in so doing, damage the fruit clusters. The resulting sweet juice then attracts yellow jackets. Raccoons, on the other hand, will bulldoze their way through an electric fence to sate their appetite and, in the process, cause significant damage to the outside rows of vines.

No wonder it is common, at this time of year, to see and hear an array of devices deployed to protect the grapes. Throughout the County you might see balloons with faces of predator birds, or kites depicting predator birds hovering over the vineyards, or even multi-coloured foil strips attached to the top wires. These three devices fool some of the birds some of the time—but they are more effective when combined with a noisemaker that mimics the call of distressed birds. The most effective, however, is usually an air cannon that randomly creates the sound of a shotgun being discharged in the vineyard. And while all this might work on the birds, once raccoons get a taste of the sweet clusters it is almost impossible to prevent them from taking some of the harvest.

So it is easy to sympathize with the County grape growers at this time of year. But it could be worse. Italy, Germany and many other European countries face the problem of wild boar: they can literally obliterate a vineyard when they go on a rampage. At this time of year, the hills in Liguria, Piedmont and elsewhere resonate with the sound of shotguns and hunting rifles as locals hunt the wild boar in order to minimize the damage and keep them away from the vineyards. Don’t worry. I’m not convinced that that would work here.

THIS WEEK’S PICK
We are gaining a wonderful reputation for not only producing wine, but also craft beer and hard cider. Needless to say, Barley Days leads the way with its now-extensive line of craft beers. The County Road Brewing Company has also attracted a devoted following. Lake on the Mountain Brewing Company proudly serves its beer at the Miller House, which offers the most beautiful dining vista in the County.

The County Cider Company continues to make stunning hard cider, and Waupoos has developed a wonderful line of fresh ciders.

It’s no wonder that the County attracts more and more visitors.