After a blazing hot period in late June, we have settled in to a typical Foothills summer pattern with very warm days and cool nights.  Training of the lateral cordons in our new port vineyard is completed and shoot growth is good, suggesting that we will be able to get our first taste of the Portugese varietals selected next season.  In the main vineyard, the vines remain healthy but experienced some water stress during the hottest period.  The berries continue to enlarge and secondary fruit has formed.  We are beginning the process of dropping fruit ahead of veraison to hit yield targets.