Vineyard News

The saying goes that “Great wine is made in the vineyard“.  Here we will chronicle what takes place in the vineyard with some of the top winemakers and viticulturalists.  Bookmark this page and come back frequently as will be adding new videos which will give you an idea of what happens in the vineyard throughout the year.

The “Crush” is on! Paul Sloan and his vineyard crew began picking in late September.  Here is a brief look at how things went on the first two days.  The crew starts picking around midnight and finishes around 9:00-10:00 AM, getting the grapes to the winery or crush pad in perfect condition; cool and fresh.  On September 27th they started picking at the DuMOL Vineyard, and the next morning picked a good portion of the Small Vines MK Vineyard.

In the Vineyard – To ensure the vineyards produce the best fruit possible in any given year, some tough decisions have to be made.  Not the least of these is the decision to thin the fruit load and drop some of the fruit through the growing season.  Paul Sloan explains his thought process as he gets ready go through the vineyards with his crew and drop fruit.

Sometime during August veraison occurs in the vineyards, which is when the sugar starts to develop in the grapes and the red grapes start turning color.  It is also a time when birds start to take an active interest in the grapes.  In this video we see how vineyard managers use netting spread to minimize damage and the loss of crops.

The narrow spacing of vines can have a huge effect on the end result.  Paul Sloan of Small Vines Wines and Viticulture is a viticulturist and winemaker who manages vineyards in the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast appellations.  In this video Paul discuss the effects of narrow spacing and the age-worthiness of the resulting wines.

The Russian River Valley is a unique and ideal region for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, in large part due to the maritime influence of the Pacific Ocean that pushes the fog into the valley to provide a cooling influence.  Paul Sloan explains why.

Organic Weed Control with Paul Sloan of Small Vines Wines and Viticulture – Featuring the Caval Tractor Imported from Burgundy, France

The Importance of Shoot Positioning with Cane-Pruned Vines

Starting a New Vineyard – Field Grafting with Andrew Blok at Small Vines Wines and Viticulture

Gus Gamba on Old Vine Zinfandel in the Russian River Valley, and the Moratto Vineyard in particular