Millions of Years In The Making

The Process

Planting 1400 grapes and their support structures is a huge job alone!  This is followed by constant shaping and taping to train the new plants, which start out 3 inches tall to the trellis.

Every year the vines need to be pruned back, and about 2,000 lbs of old vine removed and mulched into the soil. This requires approximately 200 hours and 50,000 pruning cuts. The best part is that it must be done in the cold months of January and February (brrrr!).

Spring brings its own set of issues. The entire crop depends on not having a killing frost in April. There's not much to do here except hope and pray.

Shoot thinning, which takes about another 40 hours, occurs every May.  Spraying for micronutrients is also done, determined by the lab, twice a year.  This goes along with any necessary control of fungus, as well.

As the grapes ripen in July, birds become the issue.  Therefore, large nets are placed to keep the little aviators off the fruit. These are then taken down in the fall.

Harvest (if we have one) is another adventure! Picking, hauling, destemming, crushing, and pressing must be done shortly after harvest, yet early to keep the fruit cool.  This process usually takes 6-9 days, and we are incredibly blessed to have friends, neighbors and family to help.  However, all are welcome!

When all of that is completed, it is FINALLY time to send the grapes off to the lab to make the wine.  Cheers!