Native Cover Crops | Rabbitfoot Clover
Rabbitfoot clover is the final native cover crop to spread under the vines. It is flowering now.
Read MoreHeat Wave
Last week's heat wave was crippling for the winegrowers, but the vines fared well. Rains from a few weeks ago provided adequate soil moisture, so the vines were not stressed. However we did see a bit of sunburn on some of the exposed clusters as a result of unrelenting solar intensity and temperatures climbing into the 90°s F. This is something never seen before here at Hardscrabble. I selected this mountain site in 1983 to take advantage of the cooling elevation. But that was then and this is now.
Read MoreNative Cover Crops | Red and White Clovers
Clovers are now in full bloom under the vines. Red clover is lush and vigorous.
Read MoreGrowth Spurt
The vines are finally taking off. Late May rains combined with June sun and heat have provided ample fuel for rapid shoot growth. Vineyard activity is at peak. All hands on deck. Start times have shifted to 6:00am.
Read MoreFlowering and Set
Finally a weather break. We’ve had ideal conditions for flowering over the past 10 days: hot and dry.
Read MoreNative Cover Crops | Black Medic
Black Medic is my favorite native cover crop. I only really noticed it ten years ago when its abundant but tiny yellow flowers were in full bloom.
Read MoreRhythm
One beauty of wine is vintage variation. Every year’s bottling is different because of the weather. For the winegrower each growing season also has a rhythm.
Read MoreI Don’t Know.
Read MoreNative Cover Crops | Blue Field Madder
We are shoot thinning in earnest right now. Our eyes are focused on the low growing trunks and canes. Looking down all day, we are especially appreciative of the often overlooked.
Read MoreNative cover crops | Catchweed Bedstraw
Catchweed bedstraw is not super prevalent at Hardscrabble Vineyard. In some instances it does get a bit too tall for my liking. It barely qualifies to be included in my list of desirable native cover crops.
Read MoreTypicity and Climate Change
Typicity is my favorite wine tasting word. A wine can be typical of the grape (aka varietal character), but it is most satisfying when it is an expression of place. I always search for typicity when blind tasting. Certain aroma markers can trigger an unmistakable terroir. A crystalline mineral acidity makes a connection.
Read MoreNative cover crops | Chickweed
Chickweed is one of my favorites. It germinates in late March, grows profusely in April, then browns and dies in early May leaving a natural dense mulch under the vines.
Read MoreNative cover crops | Dead Nettle
Deadnettle is the first of a season long sequence of native cover crops at Hardscrabble Vineyard. Emerging in early March, it is delicate with tiny purple flowers.
Read MoreNative cover crops in the Vineyard
We’re still pruning, but the bittersweet end is in sight. Most of the pruning cuts are made at the vine heads, which are waist high, so we spend most of the day looking down or on our knees. We therefore get very intimate with the emerging flora now growing on the vineyard floor. This growth under the vines is called cover crops.
Read MoreGeese
March is pruning month. Warm weather stimulates the vines. Sap flows. After every cut the vines bleed (or cries depending on what appellation you work in). The surrounding environment also wakes. In March birds take center stage.
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