2011 SEASON — Tenth Harvest (twelfth leaf)

A very wet winter. The creek overflowed, depositing sand and pebbles over the vineyard floor, and the pruning was done between storms. Four people with electric pruners and tie machines moved easily through the blocks.

The wind machines were placed in the vineyard in the first part of March to protect from frost. The last two weeks of April a crew of 20 women traversed the vineyard shoot thinning and suckering the plants, a balancing act. Into May, weather cooperated with no frost. Yes! Spring, as always was a flurry of tractor work: mowing and chopping the cuttings, spraying copper, sulfur, and a micronutrient made from seaweed, berm sweeping... while we watched the plants and soil for signs of dehydration and got ready for another crew to position shoots on the trellis...

Hail! May 15— and then rain again on the 25th just in time for bloom. We didn't need that...

Through July, with the turn down wire in place for the thin separated canopy, we were through the lag phase and waiting for veraison, there looked to be just the right number of small bunches.

It's always exciting to see the canes brown and the grapes swell and turn purple. By August 12 we were about 99% turned with nice cane lignification. A week later, we sent the crew through to drop any bunches that still had green on them. September 1st, Fred paced as we counted the days. We watched the weather and irrigated a little.

First pick for Papapietro Perry, Zepaltas and St. Rose was September 21st from Muzio Blocks and Three Oak—sixty days past veraison. It's the perfect number as the last ten days develop the delicate aromas. We repeated September 26th for the Geyser View and Big Barn 777's; The 27th for Matrix, St. Rose and Belle Glos; 28th and 29th went to Belle Glos. We were  fortunate to get all the harvesting behind us one day before the rain came. We had only four empty boxes to swap between wineries over the next few days around some wonderful celebratory meals.

<< Last Season  Next Season >>

Harvest Photos

The Good Parts  — A gorgeous sunset from the office

What's Ahead — Dorothy's block from Home

Berries  — June 21, we're happy to see these berries

Ripe  — Sept 27, Home Block, these guys are ready!