Veraison Has Started in the Marquette

So, what is veraison? Veraison is when grapes start to change color. Purple grapes change from a milky green to purple and green grapes change from a milky green to yellowing, almost translucent green. This is like the sprint to the finish line (harvest). Acid levels (especially malic acid) start to drop and sugar levels increase. This is the time of year that rain will cause the grapes to swell and literally water down the flavors. If we have too much rain right before harvest, the grapes will split, attracting insects and spoiling the fruit.