The Evolution of Finger Lakes Viticulture: 2023 to 2025

2023: A Season of Recovery and Resilience

The 2023 growing season was defined early on by adversity. A late spring freeze devastated many vineyards. Some growers lost up to 50% of their primary buds. The damage was uneven and highly site-specific. This created significant variability in vine development across the region.

To complicate matters, early June brought another unusual challenge. Thick smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed much of the Northeast. Between June 6–8, the Finger Lakes experienced several days of heavy haze. This severely reduced sunlight and poor air quality. While short-lived, this “blackout” slowed photosynthesis and disrupted vine metabolism during a critical window for shoot elongation and canopy development.

However, the Finger Lakes rebounded with an extremely hot June and July. High temperatures and ample sunlight helped secondary shoots develop. In some cases, they compensated for earlier losses. Phenological stages were delayed, but ripening caught up somewhat by harvest. Crop size was down, but quality was surprisingly strong in many white varieties. This was thanks to favorable fall weather. Rainfall was moderate throughout the summer, helping to maintain vine health and canopy vigor.

2024: Heat Early, Cool Late

If 2023 was the comeback year, 2024 was the curveball. Veraison began nearly two weeks earlier than average due to a heat wave in June. The warmest GDD accumulation on record was noted by mid-July. Many vineyards entered ripening with a dense, healthy canopy and a larger-than-expected crop.

But just as quickly, the pattern shifted. August and September saw cooler daytime highs and notably crisp overnight lows. While some growers worried about slowed sugar accumulation, others celebrated the preserved acidity and extended hang time. Wines from 2024 are expected to showcase high aromatic intensity, freshness, and balance—especially in whites and early-ripening reds. Rainfall was minimal in late summer and early fall, allowing growers to delay picking without increased disease pressure.

2025: A Return to Normal?

As of late July, 2025 is trending close to average. We reached 1391 growing degree days (GDD) by July 25. This is nearly 10 days behind the record-hot pace of 2024 but slightly ahead of long-term norms. Bloom and fruit set occurred on time, and veraison is just beginning in early varieties like Dunklefelder, Agria, and Alicante Bouschet.

Rainfall has played an influential role this season. The early part of the growing season was marked by heavy rains. This led to lush canopy growth and increased disease pressure. However, July has brought a stark contrast: warm, dry conditions that have reduced disease risk but raised concerns about drought stress in some blocks.

This shift in rainfall also significantly impacts our nursery operations. Unlike mature vines in our mother blocks—which mirror what most growers experience in their own vineyards—our young grafted vines are far more vulnerable. Excess rain early in the season can lead to root zone saturation, increased weed pressure, and heightened risk of fungal infections. Now, with July’s dry stretch, we're managing irrigation closely. This ensures young vines don’t stall out or suffer transplant shock. These baby vines don’t yet have the established root systems to buffer against extreme fluctuations. So, the stakes are higher, and every weather swing requires a timely response.

The upcoming forecast suggests a brief stretch of heat and humidity, followed by a drop into cooler, drier conditions as we move into August. This could mirror the somewhat favorable acid-sugar dynamics we saw in 2024. However, much will depend on how August temperatures play out. If overnight lows settle into the 50s, we may see another vintage marked by balance and restraint.

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Looking Ahead

Viticulture in the Finger Lakes is inherently variable. Weather extremes are becoming more common. The ability to adapt quickly is now part of every grower's toolkit. While 2023 demanded resilience and 2024 rewarded patience, 2025 seems to be asking for vigilance. We're keeping a close eye on cluster development, canopy balance, and weather shifts as we enter the most critical stretch of the growing season.

The same is true on the nursery side. Rapid weather changes force us to be even more attentive to irrigation, shading, and vine training. This is crucial to keep our young plants healthy and thriving.

One thing is clear: nature sets the tempo, and we adjust our rhythm accordingly.

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