A lot of people are complaining about the extreme heat we're dealing with, but not everyone. It's actually benefiting local vineyards after an early season frost.
Winemakers in the QCA have had a difficult time keeping up with our strange weather this year. First we had frost in April and now we're looking at extreme heat. Thursday it'll be 100 degrees with a heat index of 110 here in the Quad Cities.
Back in April owners at Creekside Vineyards in Coal Valley, said they lost about 50% of their production. Frost had hurt the buds on the vine, which are the most delicate part of the plant and the most valuable.
Now extreme heat is helping them recuperate.
"Grapevines need a certain amount of heat units and growing days for optimal perimeters for harvest, so it's actually allowed us to recuperate frost damage and lost time we had early on," said Owner of Creekside Vineyards, Jennifer Mital.
Each grape plant has two buds, and while they lost the first bud due to the frost, the second and third buds have flourished.
"Were about halfway through our season and the vineyard seems to be very strong with nice deep root systems and so this heat and humidity were very much enjoying," Mital tells KWQC.
Most QCA farmers are desperate for rain and relief from the heat, but it may be a surprise these wine makers need the dry heat. Jennifer Mital says the vineyard has not suffered any long-term problems and their wine is as good as ever.
However, while the vines are soaking up the sun and enjoying the heat one problem owners are dealing with is humidity. The humidity attracts Japanese beetles, which eat away at the vine leaves. The leaves attract sunlight and moisture, which are an important part of the grape and wine-making process.
Creekside Vineyards offers wine-tastings every Saturday and Sunday from 1-6 PM.
