Michigan wines improved by hot weather

By Andi Anderson

While hot, dry weather isn’t ideal for many fruit and vegetable crops, it’s proving beneficial for Michigan’s wine grape growers.

Typically, cooler and wetter conditions in late summer make it harder for grapes to fully ripen before the growing season ends, often diluting their sugars and affecting wine quality.

Mike Reinke, a viticulture specialist with Michigan State University Extension, explained that wetter conditions cause grapevines to absorb more water, diluting the sugars in the fruit.

“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 Reinke. This can result in grapes that are less ripe and less suitable for making high-quality wines.

In contrast, the current hot and drought-like conditions are enhancing grape quality by concentrating flavors and sugars. “In this case, it actually is concentrating the flavors, concentrating the sugar, and giving us better grapes going into the winery,” Reinke added. Drier weather also reduces the risk of diseases, which is another plus for winemakers.

However, the lack of rain does pose some challenges, particularly for younger grapevines that can experience stress due to dry conditions.

Reinke noted that grape growers in southern Michigan might see a slightly below-average harvest, while northern Michigan vineyards are on track for more typical yields.

Despite regional differences in harvest volumes, fruit sharing between northern and southern Michigan wineries helps balance overall production.

“Some northern wineries do grab grapes from southern Michigan and vice versa; there's some sharing that happens,” Reinke said. He reassured consumers that there will still be plenty of wine available, even if overall volumes are slightly below average.

Looking ahead, Reinke is optimistic about the quality of this year’s harvest, suggesting that the 2024 vintage wines from Michigan are likely to be exceptional.

“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.”

This year’s weather conditions have set the stage for a promising vintage, demonstrating how even challenging weather can have silver linings for Michigan’s wine industry.

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