Spontaneous wildlife sightings are some of rural living’s greatest rewards. A brief unexpected appearance can turn a bad day around. Bear, deer, raccoon and fox are our closest neighbors. They are adorable, especially their young. They love to eat grapes, and they add a good deal of stress at harvest time.
Read MoreMerlot fermentations are complete, with the Cabernets close behind. Fermenters are buttoned up with the new wine still soaking on the skins. Post fermentation maceration is the fancy technical term for this. Now the fun begins: two-day tastings.
Read MoreYesterday we picked our last grapes under a hot October sun. Petit Manseng and Vidal Blanc are two varieties that were planted with the intention of making special sweet Late Harvest wines. For several decades this worked out quite well, but with climate change, the weather often dictates a drier style wine.
Read MoreThe 2019 harvest has been relaxed and evenly paced. Until now. Continued dry, warm conditions have quickly spiked ripening in Cabernet Sauvignon. Seemingly overnight the grapes transitioned from “almost ready” to “pick now!”
Read MoreThe continuation of warm, dry conditions have given us the opportunity to precision pick. Instead of massive hectic harvest days, we have a relaxed approach.
Read MoreAt harvest time I drink a lot of good wine. Not to drown sorrows (2018) nor to celebrate (2019), but to learn. As the season unfolds I look to my colleagues for inspiration. These are other winegrowers, mostly in Europe where the vintages can also vary considerably. The inspiration is their wine.
Read MoreThis glorious dry weather brings us an extra benefit: down time. No rush to beat a rain. A four-day pause from harvest is rare and special as we are afforded an opportunity to get caught up with cellar work and attend to some vineyard fine-tuning.
Read MoreDry conditions have afforded us the opportunity to precision pick. We have seven different plantings of Chardonnay at Hardscrabble. They range in age (35 years to 4 years), soils, and clones. By harvesting and vinifying each block separately we are able to better understand the personality of each parcel.
Read MoreSo far this has been a very, very good September for harvesting grapes. Better yet this means really good wine. All we got from Dorian were a few stiff breezes. Harvest has been fabulously uneventful. Pick. Crush. Sleep. Repeat.
Read MorePatience rewards, but the wait has been agonizing. The Dorian threat didn’t help, but it looks like we are all clear. Our big push starts tomorrow at Avenius Vineyard to continue at Hardscrabble.
Read MoreIt is fitting that we should take a break from harvest and crush over Labor Day Weekend. The first small flurry of ripe grapes is “in the barn.” Now we wait. And watch Dorian’s track.
Read MoreChardonnay harvest at Avenius and Hardscrabble is still weeks away, but we are starting to zero in on strategies now.
Read MoreYesterday was Linden’s first day of crush. But we didn’t crush. We whole-cluster pressed. Perhaps some explanation is required.
Read MoreYesterday was our first day of harvest. Last week’s heat and this continuing dry spell accelerated ripening.
Read MoreAll the usual signs are pointing towards a very good vintage for 2019. The vines and clusters are healthy. Numbers (sugar and acid) are good. Very little rain. However I’m restraining my enthusiasm. At least for now.
Read MoreThe soil is dry and the vines are slowing down. Right on time. You have no idea how exciting this is to winegrowers.
Read MoreThe vineyard has now entered lag phase, which is the transition period from growth to ripening.
Read MoreTwo weeks ago both Hardscrabble and Avenius Vineyards experienced a moderate hail event. Yield losses are modest, around 10%. However, the lingering damage could adversely affect the quality of the vintage.
Read MoreLinden was lucky this week. Daily predictions of heavy rainfall from thunderstorms never materialized (with the exception of a 15-minute deluge on Monday). Soils are beginning to dry out.
Read MoreJune is our busiest and most demanding month in the vineyard. Vigorous vine growth is fueled by soil moisture, heat and abundant sun. This spring has provided us a hat trick on all three accounts.
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