Wine consumers pay careful attention to the vintage year of a wine, because the ripeness of the grapes at harvest time indicates the quality level of the wine to be made from them. And since not every harvest season is alike, there can be great variance in the ripeness level from year to year. But for the producer, the fall weather is only part of the picture. Every month has its weather significance.

April is especially tricky. This is the month when the sap begins to rise, and it’s also the month when a sudden frost can attack. Indiana farmers are cautioned that May 15 is the most predictable date for the end of frosts, and most farmers can plan to plant before or after May 15. Not so with the wine producer whose vines are in the soil year round. They have to deal with the effects of weather on their crop every day of the year.

That’s why we’re out here in the Creek Bend vines of Oliver Winery just out of Bloomington, Indiana. April 2009 has given us a lot of rain, a few tornado watches, and more than a normal number of overnight frosts. Watch the video to learn what April has done to the Oliver Winery vineyards.

Be sure to watch the video at right featuring Dr. Allen Dale 'Ole' Olson and Bill Oliver, owner of Oliver Winery, Bloomington, IN »