Master olive tree pruning
Francisco is a master at pruning olive trees. It’s not easy work. He gets in the tree and prunes from the inside out carefully selecting where to cut and being mindful of the final look.
Here are a couple photos from this week. If you have olive trees that need to be pruned be sure to reach out via the contact page!
It's Here! Website Redesign
We’re excited to announce the launch of our newly redesigned website!
Our goals with this redesign were providing our visitors an easier way to learn about Solorio Vineyard Management’s services, improve the aesthetics, and simplify our content. Cleaner and clearer.
We’re also working on a couple new features that will give us an opportunity to expand our content and services. Stay tuned…
Your feedback is important to us, as we strive to develop a website that is valuable to you. Please submit any questions, comments, or concerns using our contact form.
Thanks! and Cheers!
Grapes
Note - this post was originally published 05.28.2015
The grapes have set and in the warmer regions we farm are growing fast! All the grapes are green at this point. In another month or so they'll start to go through verasion - the process when the red grapes turn color and start developing their sugars. Looking good!
At Home in the Vineyard
Note - this post was originally published 05.26.2015
It seems every spring we come across a little nest of baby birds. We're always careful when we go through the vineyards, just in case, and then be sure to leave a buffer around these babes so they can grow and leave the nest on their own.
Backyard Tourist: Bale Grist Mill
Note - this post was originally published 04.28.2015
Last week we went for a walk in the trees. Once the summer weather rolls in and the rains stop for the season, anything without deep roots turns withers away in the sun. So, it's nice to walk among the vines or head to a park and enjoy walking among trees.
The Wine. The Dinner
Note - this post was originally published 04.23.2015
Sauvignon Blanc is the latest grape gaining respect here in Napa Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon is still king and commands the highest price. Many of the top or cult wineries in the valley have added a stand out SB to their portfolio.
What I like about this change is the opportunity to taste site-specific SB's that due to selective vineyard sites show unique traits and elegance beyond the crisp, refreshing wine we enjoy. I hinted at this in our post about Rudd's Mt. Veeder Sauvignon Blanc. I also recommend checking out this article published in The Wall Street journal last year about serious SB's.
This leads to me to the SB we enjoyed this week with dinner.
The wine: SR Tonella Cellars Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc 2014. This wine is unique in that the grapes were sourced from the west bench in Rutherford and that the wine was aged in a combination of neutral French Oak, Acacia, and Stainless steel - resulting in a lovely SB with light aromatics, a round, lush palate, with minerality and acidity on the finish that won't tire your palate.
The dinner: Vegetable curry served with fresh cheese, lime wedges, and tortilla chips.
Salut!
Tended Vineyards
Note - this post was originally published 04.16.2015
Vines that are cared for are happier and healthier. They respond by growing and showing their green leaves and grapes-to-be. It is a great feeling to see, in this case literally, the fruits of your labor. The 2015 vintage is looking good.
Good Morning!
Note - this post was originally published 04.15.2015
Driving south through Napa Valley one morning, we had this beautiful view of hot air balloons taking flight. Good morning!
Suckering
Note - this post was originally published 03.31.2015
Spring is here and has brought with it summer weather. Now when we look out our windows, we are greeted by a sea of green! We've got good growth on the vines and this week we've started suckering in the vineyards. We sucker the vines to thin the growth and concentrate nutrients to achieve better quality fruit.
Taping & Tying
Note - this post was originally published 02.11.2015
After pruning the vines, when the weather starts to warm and the new growth is flexible, we tie the vines to the trellis system to train them and lend structural support. After the rains this past weekend, we're back in the vineyards taking care of the vines.
Mountain View
Note - this post was originally published 05.15.2014
For one reason or another we traveled over multiple mountain ranges this week. Luckily for us, vineyards stretch out in every direction. This photo was one of our favorite views on the north end of Napa Valley, well no longer in the valley but up the side of the slope that hugs the valley at over 1000ft in elevation.
Tractor Work
Note - this post was originally published 05.01.2014
The biggest news has probably been the weather. We had a couple chilly, rainy days which gave a lot of people a much needed break/weekend. Then summer roared and we've got a little heat wave with highs in the 90s. Happy first day of May!
Our photo from this week is from our tractor work. Keeping everything clean. There is a wonderfully satisfying feeling of taking care of a vineyard, being stewards of the land, and turning around after a hard day's work and seeing the beautiful, maintained vines.
California Sunshine
Note - this post was originally published 04.23.2014
Everyone talks about it. People fly thousands of miles for the guarantee of soaking up some of the rays. What we find amazing is the growth it inspires. It's April and we've been eating pints of super lush, sweet, large strawberries by the pint this week. And of course, the grapes. The vines have sent out shoots and now we're just trying to keep up:
Napa Valley
Note - this post was originally published 04.16.2014
Why is it we rarely play tourist in our own back yard? It seems it's only when we receive visitors from out of town and want to show them the highlights of the area that we stop to see the sights and take a break from all those other things that keep us busy.
A few photos from Napa Valley this week:
Suckering Time
Note - this post was originally published 04.09.2014.
Spring has sprung and so have our schedules. We're finding ourselves busier and busier which is exciting. The Russian River Valley grapes are a little ahead of the Napa Valley vines in growth. We started suckering this week and getting excited about this vintage of grapes. Can you see the little clusters to-be in this photo?
Out here suckers are what we call the new growth. And the vine sends out shouts all over, not just the places we've prepared for during pruning. So, suckering is when we remove the extra shoots. Less shoots leaves more resources (nutrients, water, etc) for the grapes to-be and gives us higher quality fruit.
All this lovely green after the last couple of winter/rain. Here's a photo... making wine in the rain and hail last week:
A Little Green
Note - this post was originally published 3/21/2014.
This week it was a pleasure to drive around the Russian River and Napa Valleys. The first signs of green. Only a little rain this year and yet we still get to enjoy greenery. Spring is here:
