Growing like the weeds they are!

So, it’s been quite a while since my last posting. We’ve been busy tying and training vines for the past few months. The sleep, creep, and leap theory has proven true. Finally, after 2-years of puny activity – the vines are getting with the program! I guess they have settled-in and established a healthy root system. For a few weeks – they were extended their shoots at a high rate of speed (some grew over a foot per day). Now the majority are trained-up and onto the cordon wire. Some already have huge clusters and the canopy shoots have been topped to avoid wind damage.

That's Farming

This second year for our vineyard has been filled with challenges and leasons learned.

The Barbera was well on it's way to a great year and reaching for the cordon wire when a late frost came. A large percentage of vines with new shoots were hurt and are still way behind this year.

Next, with many windy days in the Spring - we had to battle mites in the Primitivo. In addition, the wind hindered out ability to do weed control all around the vineyard.

Then of course we have our regular visitors - deer. They've done more than enough hedging. The deer fence provisions have to be in place before next Spring!

Finally, the smoke from the many fires around the Golden State. Look closely at this photo and you might even see the sun.

The good news is - we have 210 new Chardonnay vines planted and they're doing great.

Crush in the Foothills

Harvest has come a few weeks early for many of the vineyards here in Placer County California. With a neighboring vineyard of Syrah on the verge of being over-ripe and wasted - we picked about 2300-lbs, crushed/destemmed, and coaxed approximately 200-gallons of must on it's way to being wine.

Vineyard Progress

All line posts and the cordon wires are in place. Drip tubing is off the ground, on the wire, and irrigation is working better than ever. It's starting to look like a real vineyard!

Chickens for the good of the order

We have quite a variety of chickens at the vineyard(grapevine farm). Fourteen total (13 hens and 1 huge rooster). Here's a shot of the rooster, he's a two year old Black Giant. Shaq lives-up to his breed; weighing-in at over 12-lbs and around 2-1/2 feet tall. Most of the time he's nice but when the girls are out and about he gets pretty cocky.

2008 - Summer's on the way

Here's another shot of the vineyard from the cooler season. Always wonderful scenes at PaZa!

We are awaiting delivery of some replacement Barbera and an additional lot of Chardonnay. There is still a lot of work to do for the development of the vineyard.

5/2008 - Springtime in the Foothils

We pruned the vines back to 2-buds back in January. It was a difficult time - waiting to see them start over. But they did!

The Barbera began bud-break before the other varietals and were doing great until a late frost. Now, several weeks later - they are all starting to push again with new growth.

The Line Posts are in place now and we're ready to get the Trellis System installed.

2008 - Winter into Spring

Vines sleeping in the midst of Winter.