Veraison: when grapes turn from green to red
Véraison, is the French term for the change of colour of the grapes that is used by English speaking winegrowers – usually spelt without the accent as ‘veraison’ (‘verre-ray-zon’). With or without the accent veraison is an exciting time for vignerons (winegrowers).
During veraison red grapes change from green to purple and white grapes change from green to more translucent green or yellow.
Veraison Merlot at Chateau Feely
Véraison signifies the change from grape growth to grape ripening. Most critically after véraison the fungal disease risk for the fruit disappears and we can sigh with relief that we are into the home straight to harvest.
Throughout the process of véraison the grapes increase in volume, sugar content and softness while acidity decreases. From post véraison to harvest the size of the grapes won’t change much but the composition will continue to change. After véraison, as they ripen, their acidity continues to decrease, and their sugar content continues to increase.
This critical moment usually happens late July / early August here in France. In 2024 after a challenging season that has seen frost (the link is to our article about frost in 2017 – we were frosted in April 2024), hail (the link is to our article from hail in 2022 but we were similarly badly hailed on 6 May 2024) and mildew (which was bad in 2023 and again in 2024 from a humid hot growing season) create drama for us winegrowers, it is only just starting, and we are in the middle of August.
It is also taking its sweet time…. With lots of heterogeneity (mixed colours on a bunch and between bunches). We have bunches that are way behind as they are from the second fruit set after the hail. It is lucky that we handpick as it is going to need serious sorting.
We usually say it will be 30 to 70 days from veraison to harvest depending on the grape and the wine style we are making. The clock is ticking but we know it will be a late harvest. Fingers are crossed for good weather in September.
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