The impacts of the April 21^st frost will be felt for the remainder of the growing season. Mostly in the form of extra work for less fruit. That’s generally the game mother nature likes to play. When she gives you perfect growing conditions, the vineyard requires less labor, and the quality of fruit is inherently better. In a difficult year, you must work twice as hard to obtain the same quality, if you’re lucky.

On the morning of April 21, 2026, we lost roughly 50% of our crop in just a span of a few hours due to frost.

As I approached the vineyard that morning, instead of seeing beautiful and brilliant hues of green illuminated by the sun, I saw dull shades of grey and brown, with upturned leaves as if a storm was ready to hit. From there I saw a sea of wilted shoots showing no signs of life.

Bud break is officially here. The promise of a new vintage lies ahead. As we see the 10 acres come to life, I can't help but think of the past five years that led up to today.

Another vintage bottled, laid down, and handed over to time.

We’re excited to announce that Catoctin Breeze is now 100% powered by the sun! In the sunniest months, we have the ability to generate enough electricity to not only sustain the winery, but to also “sell” the surplus energy back to the grid, which we happily receive monthly payments in return.

Pruning is my favorite task of the year. I love the cold air, opportunistic beard icicles, and the smell of a nearby chimney. The natural world seems quieter in the wintertime – no rustling of leaves or the hum of tractors or lawnmowers in the distance.

Prior to farming, winter used to be my least favorite season. It’s cold. It’s grey. And you can’t do much outside. But now, winter has become a favorite. A season of reflection, clarity, and relaxation.

There’s a joke in the wine industry that pokes fun at the producers who claim year after year that “this is the vintage of the century!”

We’ve had sunny skies, warm days, cool nights and only 1” of rain during the past four weeks. I’d say that’s the best that a mid-Atlantic grower could ask for. Both grapes and winegrowers don’t like rain in September.

If you’ve ever been to wineries in Napa Valley (or most regions of California), you know that they love talking about “diurnal shifts”. A diurnal shift is defined as “dramatic temperature differences between daytime highs, and nighttime lows”.