It's a magical time up here in wine country. It's called "Bud Break". This event marks the beginning of the new growing season. What makes it so exciting is the way the vines look so barren all winter, and then these tiny green buds break open and then things pretty much move at full speed until harvest.
This season of rebirth typically occurs in mid to late March. For a month following bud break there is always a concern about possible frost or heavy rains, which could damage the fragile buds and have a very negative impact on this years yield.
It's fun to watch the life come back into the vines after the cold season. When we lived in Southern California, there were no natural indicators of the changing of the season except for the decorations and advertisements at the local department stores.
Without the opportunity to stop growing and extend the roots deeper into the ground, grapes would not be able to become stronger and more complex for the next vintage. In life, you need some down time every now and then -- time to relax and recharge the batteries. It's what allows us to keep going and perform at our highest levels without burnout.
Take a hint from the grapes and relax for a little while. It's the natural way of things.
