Hot and dry summer means sweet success

ENON, Ohio (WDTN) - While many of us have been sweating this summer grapevines are enjoying the blazing sun.  The lack of rain and high heat means sweet sweet success for the local wine growers.

The sprits are a little higher at Brandeberry Winery in Enon.  All of the great grapes means a little less work in the field. 

Jim Brandeberry, says  "I'm not doing a lot to them now.  Tucking them back into the trellis and sometimes pruning them but they're not growing so much.  Some years they're hanging down and you can hardly see the grapes if I didn't get in and prune it."

Brandeberry is a retired dean from the College of Engineering at Wright State University.  He turned his hobby into a business a few years ago. 

His 350 vines have loved the hot and dry summer. "Grapes put down pretty deep roots and don't need a lot of rain that's why they do so well in California is almost like a desert," says Brandeberry. 

Grapes like to be stressed and when they are the sugar content becomes higher.  This means Brandeberry won't have to add as much sugar when it comes to making the wine. 

The lack of rain and hot temperatures has put a sweet taste in his mouth but mother nature did send him a sour punch.  Scars can be seen from a hail storm during the summer.  However while the exterior may look a little rough the content is still expected to be great. 

In another month or two these grapes will be ready to harvest.  They won't be ready to bottle until May or June of next year - Brandeberry is still bottling wine from last year's crop.  

It may take a lot of patience but by next year a sweet bouquet will fill bottles and noses here in Enon.