A Look at This Season With Grape Expectations

Autumn is the time of year when grape growers allGiven the West Coast's good harvest conditions,
over the world lovingly harvest their crops andthey are confident in the quality of their 2007
celebrate their bounty.vintage.
However, the recent adverse weather could put aWine festivals
damper on much of the merriment. Our world'sThis past weekend, there were three separate
shifting weather patterns have made it challenging forfestivals celebrating the fall harvest. The Naperville
grape growers across the globe. Locally, with theWine festival was held at the Naper Settlement. Your
recent rainstorms and flooding, I was concernedentrance ticket included a souvenir wine glass and 10
about its impact on Illinois wine production.tastings from more than 200 wine selections. Geneva
Harvest forecastcelebrated the 25th anniversary of their Festival of
Overseas, it has been very difficult for grapethe Vine. Twenty local restaurants offered their
growers. France experienced a cold, wet summer andsignature dishes along with 14 wines to sample. Local
had widespread attacks of vine mildew, translatingmerchants offered Festival specials and horse drawn
into lower production this year.carriage rides were available. The Fox Valley Winery
South Africa and Argentina also have repeated pooroffered grapes in large vats for stomping, and
harvests. Parts of Australia have suffered from aparticipants received a complimentary shirt with
very hot, dry growing season and fires. The resultantspace for their grape stained footprints. One of the
ash will dominate their grape juice with notes ofstate's largest wine festivals was held at Starved
smoke and bacon.Rock State Park. This festival featured wines from
On the other hand, California experienced ideal20 award-winning Illinois wineries. Both days featured
growing conditions. Grapes love warm, sunny summerIllinois grape seminars.
days, cool nights and light rain. Winemakers check theThere's still time to enjoy this fall tradition. Coming up,
grapes pH, acidity and brix (the amount of sugar,there are two local wine festivals that are well worth
which is available to convert to alcohol) levels. Whenchecking out:o Harvest Fest When: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
right, the growers rush to pick the crops before anySaturday
heavy fall rains occur. Grape growers prefer a drier,Where: Held at the Faltz Family Vineyards, 2714 N.
warm summer as it creates some vine stress4251st Road, Sheridan.
(resulting in better wine) and allows a grower to add,Who: Fox Valley Winery
through irrigation, the amount of water the cropWhat: This fun day includes vineyard tours, wine
needs. You can always add water, but cannot take ittastings, a vintage baseball game, grape stomp and
away.grape spitting contests and musical entertainment.
Locally, our Illinois winemakers had a more challengingFor more information: o Lynfred's Annual
year. Kori Faltz of the Fox Valley Winery reportedOktoberfest, Pig Roast and Grape Stomp
the early summer provided weather the grapes love.When: 3 to 9 p.m. Sept. 29 and noon to 7 p.m. Sept.
The heavy rains in August adversely affected the30
grape pH, acidity and brix, so more time was neededWhere: 15 S. Roselle Road, Roselle.
on the vine to hopefully restore the grapes to theWho: Lynfred Winery.
proper levels. The recent Labor Day sun helped.What: Lots of wine, food and fun are guaranteed at
Assuming some fall sunshine, our wet August willthis annual event. Activities for the whole family with
delay the harvest and only affect the winemaker'sGerman sing-a-longs, grape spitting, grape stomping,
production schedule.cork tossing and barrel races! Plentiful food with
Andres Basso, the Director of Winemaking atroasted pig, warm German potato salad and all the
Lynfred Winery of Roselle informed me they sourcefixings plus bratwurst and "heavenly" sweet corn.
some grapes in Illinois and Michigan, but the majorityTasty desserts are also available.
of grapes come from California and Washington.