Budbreak marks the arrival of the growing season. Prior to budbreak, vines lay dormant throughout the winter months. During this dormant period, vineyard crews prune back the previous year’s growth on each vine. With the arrival of warmer temperatures, buds begin to swell and eventually open to reveal shoots. There are several challenges during this initial growth period that can dramatically affect yields. The young shoots are particularly vulnerable to morning frosts. Additionally, in many growing regions, rainy and wet weather provides ideal conditions for vine diseases such as powdery mildew to assert themselves.
