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With the arrival of Spring 2009, we are
excited to announce that 4.3 acres in front
of our winery will become an experimental
vineyard - three unique clonal selections of
Zinfandel grafted onto St. George
rootstock. Each vine will be given a wide
berth – 8 feet by 8 feet. The first step
will be to plant the actual rootstock. If
you happen to visit the winery this Spring
or Summer, it will look like we are growing
milk cartons in front of the winery. After
the roots take hold, the next step is to
“graft in” the different Zinfandel
selections – this will probably happen in
the Fall after harvest. The process of
“grafting in” is very precise. A small
incision is made in each new vine and
budwood is implanted and then wrapped with a
piece of tape to hold it in place.
The preservation of these old vine vineyards
is, in our estimation, vitally important to
maintaining the Dry Creek Valley’s unique
character and charm. Our vision is that in
3 to 4 years time, once the vines have
matured, we will be able to run trials and
experiment with the different selections of
Zinfandel – perhaps even make a different
wine from each. We’re really not sure what
to expect, which adds to the excitement and
experimental nature of this vineyard.
Be sure to check back for more details and
photos later this year! |
