Locals hoping for good weather until harvest

Monsignor Harmon Skillin blesses some Sauvignon Blanc grapes with General Manager Brad Alderson Wednesday morning at Woodbridge Winery. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

Locals hoping for good weather until harvest

Grapes blessed in annual ceremony

By Chris Nichols
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Thursday, August 2, 2007 6:31 AM PDT

Comments (8 comment(s))

The holy water has been flung and the first grapes have been crushed.

Now local grape growers will pray for continued clear skies, and a bountiful harvest.

Monsignor Harmon Skillin performed the 28th annual Blessing of the Grapes on Wednesday morning, surrounded by more than 100 winery workers, growers and media at Woodbridge Winery. The ceremony kicks off the region's grape harvest, expected to start in full next week.

"I'll bless the grapes and let God do the rest," said Skillin, shortly before dousing eight tons of Woodbridge's sauvignon blanc grapes.

This year's warm days and cool nights should produce high quality grapes, though total production might be down slightly, growers said.

Several said they're at the mercy of Mother Nature over the next two months, hoping for continued dry days.

Other blessings at a glance

Grapes aren't the only things splashed with holy water. Many people, animals and objects are blessed in ceremonies around the world.
The Blessing of the Fleet — The annual ceremony notes the perils of the fishing trade in coastal communities from Seattle to Biloxi, Miss. It's thought to have originated centuries ago among Mediterranean nations. In San Francisco, the ceremony — officially The Madonna del Lume Celebration — is held each year. It is named for the patroness of fishermen and preserves an ancient Sicilian ritual. A memorial mass is held for fishermen and seamen lost at sea, followed by a fishing boat parade and memorial ceremony at sea.
The Blessing of the Pets — This tradition is held Oct. 4, marking St. Francis of Assisi's love of all creatures. Processions of animals, from dogs and cats to hamsters and even horses, are led to churches for a special ceremony on this October day.
The Papal Blessing — Following a long tradition, the pope leads a recital of the Angelus every Sunday at noon (when he is in residence at Vatican City). During the blessing, the pope appears to visitors gathered at St. Peter's Square from the balcony of the Papal Apartments.
— News-Sentinel staff.

"Excessive rain would create a bad situation," said Brad Lange, a longtime local grower.

Water mixed with grapes can lead to rot, and even shut down an entire harvest, said Craig Ledbetter, of Vino Farms.

Wineries can reject loads of grapes with too much water, or reduce payments to growers.

Ledbetter noted that his family's farms will hope for good weather all the way into November, when they typically finish their harvest.

Much of the massive winery shut down yesterday during the ceremony.

Workers in blue jeans and uniforms sipped glasses of wine and attended a lunch after the blessing.

Brad Alderson, the winery's general manager, praised the plant's many employees for their hard work.

"Everybody comes out (for the ceremony)," exclaimed Carol Freel, who works on the winery's bottling line.

"It just makes sure that we have an awesome harvest this year," she added.

Contact reporter Chris Nichols at chrisn@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

Why not bless other wrote on Aug 4, 2007 6:40 PM:

" why not bless other fruit? SUCH AS MAYOR BOBS favorite DRY BEANS? "

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Delta Instructor wrote on Aug 2, 2007 9:50 PM:

" I had to laugh at the comments. You folks bring up some good points. So, when are we going to have the blessing of the Weed and Meth? "

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Anny wrote on Aug 2, 2007 1:05 PM:

" I find this article pretty funny and amusing. About a couple months ago there were articles about Teen's and Alcohol, in the lodi area and how something should be done. Now there having church meetings to bless the grapes in hopes that this years wine batch will be Holy and Abundant. Way to set an example for the youth in lodi. Now they think it's an exception from god to just Drink wine instead of Vodka, because the grapes were blessed! "

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Taxpayer & Citizen wrote on Aug 2, 2007 12:06 PM:

" Rerun, you sure did! Same time, same place, same grapes, same low price along with the low quality and quantity. That's why the prices are so low and Lodi won't ever attract any REAL wine drinkers. Same family monopolizing the leased fields with too much product and nowhere to sell. Copy "

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Chuck wrote on Aug 2, 2007 11:32 AM:

" Blessing grapes??? What a waste of time.... come on people... much better things to do.. "

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Rerun LNS wrote on Aug 2, 2007 8:51 AM:

" I think I saw a similar story last year, year before that... "

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T & C wrote on Aug 2, 2007 7:56 AM:

" For $40,000, I'll bring two-buck Chuck here and break every local winery, while bringing lines of tasters to downtown. The only good vintners here are those private winemakers that still take pride in their product, not just mass production generic wines. "

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Taxpayer & Citizen wrote on Aug 2, 2007 7:53 AM:

" Looks like Mr. McNerney incognito here in Lodi spying on the wineries and the city council over that $40,000 giveaway to VanRuiten winery for that downtown tasting room they can't afford with all that land, building, and gigantic home on 12. Maybe they should sell one of their hummers! Copy "

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