In the Winter

Although the vineyard sleeps in the winter, the caretakers don't have that option.  This winter we have planted a nursery block for our rootstock.  We have found that 3309 works best in our soils and so we have planted enough vines to allow us to expand at a rate of 2-3 acres per year.  It will take about 3 years before the rootstock is producing the desired quantity of rootstock.  The vines are not trellised, but rather allowed to sprawl.  We are also entering our "third leaf" on the Chardonnay clone 76 and the Pinot Noir clone 828.  This additional 4 acres will have a partial harvest this fall.  We have finished the trellis wires for the chardonnay and the photos  are of the 828.  In between rains storms I get a few more rows completed.  The past two days have given us our first freezing temperatures of the year and this will assist greatly in putting the vines into the "deep sleep" they need for the winter.  We will wait until Februrary to begin pruning.  Then in April we are off to another exciting year in the cycle of the vineyard.  Every year is more to learn......