From Our Vineyard

We’ve started the preparation of the harvest estimate. This is a multi-step process that starts with a sample count of clusters on vines of each variety in each block. We make a big assumption that the grape bunches are going to be the same weight as last

Preparation of the annual harvest estimate is finally possible. This is a multi-step process that starts with a sample count of clusters on vines of each variety in each block. We make a big assumption that the grape bunches are going to be the same weight as

Last week, we talked about our mechanical hedging trial. We decided to wait a couple of weeks until the vines had slowed down their vegetative growth for the season and then go ahead with a trial on just a few rows of grapes. If we hedge too

In addition to routine tying and combing, the vineyard crew will try to mechanically hedge a portion of the Marquette and La Crescent blocks. These vines are particularly vigorous and if we don’t remove some of the growth, the fruit is excessively shaded and it doesn’t develop

The root system of a grapevine contains more energy than the vine needs to start growing each season so it directs some of that energy into potential new trunks that we call suckers. In a healthy vine, suckers are not welcome because if they are allowed to

Planting started on Friday at Maple Woods, Newport Lane, and Meadowcreek. It has gone faster than we expected. We finished up at Tassel Ridge on Tuesday. The vineyard team will tuck and tie the La Crescent and then tuck the Marquette. Both varieties have VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) 

One part of our vineyard crew is tying and suckering our Marquette vines while another is tightening the trellis wire at Tassel Ridge. We’ve just received a new Environmist sprayer for applying herbicide safely under the rows of vines. We will continue spraying the area immediately under

We have a small amount of pruning to finish. Rainy weather last week made it impossible to hold to our original pruning schedule. Our new vines will arrive late next week. This year, we are only replanting about 650 vines, the smallest amount of planting in three

All of our 38,500 vines have been long pruned (most of them mechanically) and now we have the Edelweiss that needs to be short pruned. The grass in the rows between the vines is loving the rain and is growing FAST. We’ll be mowing every day we