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Grapegrowing is a year round business, marked not by the passage of months but by the cycle of the vines. The romance of wine begins with the reality of the vineyard. To make a masterful wine, you must begin with the grape. Carneros grapes are famous for their quality, rooted in the terroir and the distinct character of the vineyard, producing wines that reflect their environment.
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To
the naked eye, vineyards tend to look the same, but each is unique in
its soils, slope, sun, and wind exposure. As a result, the vine
varieties and farming methods vary. Our growers experiment continuously
to find the best combination of grape variety, rootstock, vineyard
layout, planting patterns and
husbandry techniques for a specific site. The seasons of the year and
the cycle of the vines are marked by Pruning, Bud Break, Bloom,
Veraison and Harvest.
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Clones
Grapevines are propagated by cuttings, not seeds. Clones are the genetic heritage, the DNA, of a grape. Plants grown this way are genetically identical to the parent plant. Over time small genetic changes do occur, so that today there are many slightly different versions of all wine varieties— to become recognized as clones themselves.
Vineyard layout
Vineyard layout is as much art as science. Rows are perhaps the most distinctive feature of a vineyard landscape. On the most basic level, rows provide the most efficient use of the land, placed just far enough apart to allow a tractor to pass. Longer rows give longer, more efficient tractor runs. Rows running up and down a slope provide better air circulation and minimize soil erosion. North-side rows allow both sides of the vine equal exposure to the sun. Planting perpendicular to the wind gives vines better protection
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Trellises
Trellises are the system of posts and wires that support the growth of grapevines. As canes climb the trellis wires, the leaves are exposed to the sun. Tendrils wrap around the trellis wires to help the vine grow as the grapes mature.
Irrigation hoses
Irrigation hoses carry water for drip irrigation. In water-challenged Carneros soils, these hoses can be seen running horizontally among the trellises of the vines.
Cordons
The permanent arms of the vine which produce each year’s new shoots. Each year the vine is pruned back to almost the cordon, with a select number of spurs left to grow the leaves and shoots of the next vintage.
Canopy Management
Canopy management allows the maximum light and air to reach the grape clusters by removing excess leaves and shoot positioning. This helps produce better color, flavor and ripeness.
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