Verasion is in full swing... or ... Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

I still don't know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets
And every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I've never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
(Turn and face the strange)
Ch-ch-changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
(Turn and face the strange)
Ch-ch-changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time

“Changes” –David Bowie

I’m Changing! Today began the most visibly dramatic change in my life to date. Yes, pollination was fun, but this is huge…this is bigger than John Boehner changing color after he gets a spray tan touch up…this is a change inside and out. So what’s happening? Well, I’ve pretty much hit my full size…cell division has slowed to a crawl…now it’s the physiological changes.

Over the next several weeks, chlorophyll inside me is going to break down as anthocyanins start to form in my skin, giving me that red to purple to almost black appearance. Meanwhile, on the inside, malic acid is going to start to degrade and tartaric acid will take over as the primary acid present. Finally…and most importantly, the vine is going to start pumping sugar into me…I mean a LOT of sugar. By the time I’m picked, I’ll probably contain 25% sugar. As I start getting VERY ripe, pyrazines will begin to break down…these chemicals are responsible for herbaceous aromas (think of the green bell pepper aromas predominant in the the Napa Cabernets made in the 70s and 80s). With these pyrazines gone, my fruity aromas will be much more noticeable.

I’ll keep updating this blog post with photos as my changes continue.

Here's an updated photo, taken mid-day, July 26th.