July in Virginia has been wetter and cooler than usual. This is not a problem if you’re a city gardener, glad to save on the water bill, but it’s worrisome if you are growing grapes for wine. The vines become too vigorous, needing constant, careful pruning to encourage the grapes to develop. Once the bunches are well established, they need heat and sun to concentrates their sugars. A lot depends on August sunshine. I’m thinking of this as we spend a gentle afternoon at Linden Vineyards, our favorite Virginia winery. Snuggled under the Shenandoah mountains, the well-tended vines create sinuous rows along the hillsides. From the deck overlooking the vineyards, it’s obvious that this is agriculture, not entertainment, and a lot of attention and plain hard work goes into growing grapes for wine. Owner and vintner Jim Law has been making fine wines in the European style for many years, but he can’t predict from year to year how his vintages will turn out. He likes to say that climate is what you plan for, but weather is what you get. He has learned to trust his instincts when it comes to caring for the vines and planning his wines. Mellowed by sipping a refreshing rosé, it seems this is a good guideline for dealing with the capricious weather of life.