Hardscrabble Journal

Replants

I’m often asked about vine longevity. How long does a vineyard last? While it would be easy to simply throw out a number, the answer is often based on economics rather than physiology. At Hardscrabble we still have two original blocks, Chardonnay and Vidal, going into their 36th year. They produce some exquisite wines, but not a lot. Yields are a fraction of what they were a few decades ago. If the wine is so good that the bottle price will reflect the intrinsic quality, then the vines remain.

There is also a sentimental value. I’m determined that they will outlast me.

Truth be told, these old vineyard blocks are not all 36 years old. Over the years, individual vines are lost. Tractor blight, lightning strikes, and an assortment of diseases can contribute to vine gaps in the rows. So, on a regular basis we replace the missing vines with new vines. This starts today with Petit Verdot. 

We will spend the next couple of weeks walking up and down the rows, shovel in one hand, and a bucket of vines in another. A day or two before, I walk the block with pruners and a can of florescent orange marking spray paint. This time of the year if a cut is made into a live vine it will be bright green. A dead vine will show a dull green or even brown. Dead vines are unceremoniously sprayed. 

Planting a new vine is pretty easy, but having to dig up an old vine with massive roots is not. It can be pretty back breaking, which is why we only do this for a few hours each day, and then go back to pruning or tying canes to the wire.

Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal: March 30, 2020