You’ve probably been wondering how the Albemarle Wine climate has been progressing in 2010.  The short summary is HOT!   The graph below provides both:

1) A comparison of Albemarle County 2010 daily average temperatures (green line) and average temperatures (purple line)  since May 1, and

2) A comparison of Albemarle County 2010 growing degree days (blue line)  and average growing degree days (red line).

The graph indicates warmer than normal temperatures in Albemarle County during the grape growing season as indicated by the 2010 GDDs being approximately 500 GDDs higher than average.     A visual inspection of the temperature comparison also indicates  the purple line is generally above the green line, also indicating higher than normal temperatures.

Unlike temperatures,  precipitation has been lower than normal so far during the 2010  grape growing season.

Those who live in the Albemarle with me know that it’s been quite warm.   Last summer we experienced cool nights and those have not materialized this summer.

The  2010 conditions should be beneficial to the red varietals typically grown in Virgina but potentially negative to the white varietals.