Maragas Winery starting to see buds break in the vineyards after late cool spring brings delays

(Update: Adding video, comments from winemaker)

CULVER, Ore. (KTVZ) -- At the Maragas Winery in Culver, they are finally seeing breaking buds on their vines. This late spring has caused some delays in the process.  

"They're all going to be like this, some of them a little bit more than others," winemaker Doug Maragas said Sunday, displaying some examples. "But that's what we call breaking bud -- you see how the bud is now opening up and, the leaves are formed."

The delay happened due to the recent weather being very wet and cooler than last year.

"This year, because of the delay -- which is tough in that you want to get the ripe fruit, but it's good in that you're much less likely to get a freeze after that," he said.

Last year, Maragas Winery harvested at the end of August through November. This year, the delay means harvesting is expected to start in mid-September.

Maragas said last year's crop was reduced because of the weather, and he's hoping it won't happen again this year.  

"The primary buds -- the only bud that will grow will stay intact and stay there until the warmer weather. If a primary bud breaks, there will be a secondary bud to replace the first bud," he said, walking us through how it's stored. 

"They (the barrels) are a little larger than what is typical in the United States," he said. "They're called barriques. So they're 70 gallons each instead of 59, and as you go up, you can see they're different types of barrels."

 Next Sunday, May 14, there'll be live jazz music from 1-4 p.m. to celebrate the "bud break" -- and Mother's Day. There is no cover charge to attend.