Bud break begins, marking start of new season

Buds have begun popping in Sonoma County vineyards where microclimates have guarded the delicate, young shoots from the morning chill, and continued warmth this week should speed bud break throughout the region.

In the hills of west Sebastopol, "we're probably in about 20 percent bud break in certain areas," grape grower John Balletto of Balletto Vineyards said Tuesday. "Our Russian River Valley vineyards are one or two days away from bud break."

Bud break marks the annual spring season in Wine Country when once-dormant vines come to life, and when grape growers roll out their frost-protection measures as evening and daytime temperatures vary greatly.

"From here on, growers will be worried about frost if they're in a cold area or frost-prone area," said Nick Frey, president of the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission.

"If it stays warm, next week there will be a lot of bud break throughout the county in probably every (grape) variety," Frey said. "This week, it's pretty favorable."

Opening of the buds varies by grape - with chardonnay breaking out first and cabernet sauvignon last - and by climate and location.

Growers employ irrigation to coat the plants with a protective layer of ice when the temperature drops, keeping the bud inside from freezing. They also draw warm air out of the atmosphere with wind machines to fend off a freeze, Frey said.

Balletto and his counterparts were watching the weather forecast, which holds a prediction of rain Tuesday.

High temperatures for nine out of 13 days this March have topped the average monthly temperature of 65 degrees, according to the National Weather Service, but the rain is expected to coincide with a cool-down.

"We have some pretty strong north and northwesterly winds bringing cooler air from the North," National Weather Service forecaster Brooke Bingaman said. "Tuesday it looks like the beginning of a possible cold front coming through."