2018 Vineyard Grower’s Update
The 2018 season in the vineyard began with pruning in early February. The winter was cool and dry punctuated with rainy periods, but not characteristically wet.
Even spring was not very wet despite lingering cool temps and Bud Break was a month later than last year, on May 2. Once the plants started growing it was off to the races as we sought to keep the vines inside their trellis wire. Healthy vines require proper disease protection and nutrients so we sprayed organic products every 2 weeks; magnesium, boron, calcium, sulfur etc.
Our French crew arrived from Paris on June 22nd and immediately went to work pruning and tying vines. The result of all this labor is a continuing improvement in the balance and condition of the vines and an increase in fruit production.
Our season continues to be dry and we do not expect rain anytime soon. Although the dry summers are normal for us this drought compounded with the winter dryness stresses the plants and our irrigation system. At our elevation of 800-1200 feet we enjoy cooler temps by 7-10 degrees which in these hot summer days benefits the cool loving Pinots.
As August approaches, the vines slow down and so do we while the vine’s energy is concentrated in the ripening clusters. This year, birds have been a great topic of conversation in our family, with the discovery of several nests in the vines and the successful rescue mission of a hawk.
We take a breather, enjoying the gorgeous sunny days and family gathering for a photo shoot in the vines.