Michigan wine grapes benefit from hot, dry weather

This warm, dry weather isn’t great for a lot of fruit and vegetable crops. But wine grapes are one exception.

Typically, cooler, wetter weather this time of year makes it harder for fruit to fully ripen before the end of the growing season.

“When we have wet falls or wet late summers … the plants tend to put a little too much water into the grapes and that dilutes some of the sugars,” said Mike Reinke, a viticulture specialist with Michigan State University Extension. “So we get less ripe-tasting grapes, or less capable grapes for making quality wines.”

But hot, drought-like conditions have the opposite effect.

“In this case, it actually is concentrating the flavors, concentrating the sugar and giving us better grapes going into the winery,” Reinke said.

Drier conditions also make it harder for diseases to take hold. There are still challenges, though. Reinke said the lack of rain can stress grapevines, especially young plants.

He said southern Michigan grape growers might come in with a slightly below-average harvest, while northern Michigan growers are on track for a more normal volume of grapes.

“Some northern [Michigan] wineries do grab grapes from southern Michigan and vice versa; there’s some [fruit] sharing that happens,” he said. “So overall, volumes in the winery might be close to normal or maybe a little bit below normal, but still plenty of wine. Don’t worry.”

Crop volumes aside, Reinke says this year’s fruit will be nice and ripe at harvest.

“I would be watching in the next year or two for 2024 vintage wines coming out of Michigan,” Reinke said. “They’re likely going to be pretty darn good.”