PORTLAND, Ore. — The big story again this week is going to be our heat. As of Monday afternoon, the greater Portland area's heat wave stood at four days in a row, and the second day in a row with temperatures over 100 degrees.
One place that isn't worried about the heat is Willamette Valley Vineyards. Founder and CEO Jim Bernau told KGW there are certain temperatures for grapes to thrive in.
"The perfect temperature for growing our wine grapes is between 70 and 90 degrees," Bernau said. "Anything over 90 degrees slows down the photosynthesis."
You might think these grapes are going to have a hard time during this first heat wave of summer, but Bernau said if we're going to see heat during the summer, it's best for it to hit right now for wineries.
"We're lucky the temperatures are occurring at this time, because grapes are just beginning to develop and this is when they are most tolerant to high temperatures," Bernau said.
He said it's in the latter part of the summer when they get a little nervous if temperatures soar above 100 degrees. Bernau said if this heat were to take place late in the season, around August or September, there would be a real problem.
That's a problem Bernau and all the other winegrowers in the area hope they don't have to worry about this summer.
One thing he is making sure of: keeping his employees safe from the heat. Bernau has his crews come in earlier in the morning, so they can be done for the day by the early part of the afternoon.