April is a pivotal, nerve-racking month in Northern Hemisphere vineyards. Budbreak is underway, with tender green shoots emerging and growers on constant alert for frost events that can wipe out a season overnight. Vineyard teams focus on early canopy work, repairing trellis systems, and managing soil health as growth accelerates. In the winery, attention shifts to wines from the previous harvest: monitoring élevage, topping barrels, and preparing blends. Spring bottlings often begin, especially for whites and early-release styles. It’s a transitional period—part anticipation, part vigilance—when……...