Four Magical Words: "Bud Break in Napa"

Hello, bud break. Here in Napa Valley wine country, we’re farmers, first and foremost. So, it’s quite normal that conversations dwell on the weather and the life cycle of our beloved grapevines. And bud break is breaking news.  

“Wine lovers can appreciate that this is a special moment — we even celebrate with Bud Break Festivals in wine country,” said Angela Duerr, Founder & CEO of Cultured Vine. “It’s a wonderful time to walk among the vines with a winemaker, gently treading in places where very few people may venture, while discussing the circle of life.” 

Of course, our personal calendars highlight events such as daylight saving time, first day of spring, and Easter plus special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, and honeymoons (all great reasons to plan a visit). Here in Napa, we also mark the passing days, weeks, and months by all-important natural events such as mustard seed bloom, bud break, and harvest.

Now to the weather report. March came in like a lamb, not a lion. As a string of warm and sunny days closed out February, all eyes were on the youngest vines and early varietals such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir awaking from their rejuvenating winter slumber. On the second of March this year, Napa Valley Grapegrowers announced that the first chardonnay vines to swell had experienced bud break in the Carneros AVA. Other vines followed within a week or two, putting the valley about seven to 10 days ahead of last year.

Angelina Mondavi, Co-Proprietor and Winemaker for Aloft Wine, Dark Matter Wines & Fourth Leaf Wines, shares her close-up observations of the vineyards, “Bud break is just showing signs of emergence within a few of our vineyards, Chenin Blanc and Zinfandel (both earlier ripening varieties) whilst we are patiently waiting for signs of life in our Cabernet vineyards atop of Howell Mountain. As bud break begins with little rain in sight, you will also start seeing vineyard rows being disced to demolish the cover crop so no more moisture is pulled out of the soil, and to allow for all the energy and nutrients to go directly back to the soil then to the vine that is waking up.”

Let’s get out into the bursting-with-life vineyards to walk among the bright green shoots. Who would you like to walk with and when are you coming for a visit?


Written By: Laurie Jo Miller Farr