Rattlesnake

Every season we come across rattlesnakes in the vineyard. It’s one reason we’re so serious about keep the vineyard rows clear and clean - giving the snakes less area to feel comfortable and hang around. Here’s a picture of one we found working the vineyard rows one day we were…

Rocks

The landscapes we work are generally not that rocky, but sometimes we have projects - drainage, building retaining walls, that require the right rocks.

New Vineyard Infrastructure

Laying out and building new vineyard infrastructure is exiting. The new growth and shiny wires. Here are a few photos from when we added trellis wires to help support the new vine growth.

Veraison 2021

When the grapes begin to turn their purple, pink, red colors we call it veraison. It’s exciting and begins the count down to harvest. Here’s a photo of the change.

Grafted

We always enjoy grafting. It’s another example of how awesome life is. Take one plant, add the other, wrap them up, so they are in close contact and they grow together, giving each other life, and eventually giving us wine grapes.

Keeping It Clean

It’s hard work, but also satisfying working. Tending the the vines, and keeping the vineyard clean. When the vineyard looks this good, there’s no doubt that it’s been well taken care of.

Second Pass Suckering

The vines are growing, summer sun and all... This gives us an opportunity to do a second pass through the vineyard and sucker the plants. Here are some photos from vineyards that we’ve worked again this month. Cheers!

Nets

We’re not the only ones in the know… that know what good fruit looks and tastes like. The birds are on it. In some of our vineyards. We net the fruiting area of the vines to keep the birds at bay, and the wine grapes in tact.

Field Views

We talk about the vineyard as the field. We’re farming. We’re farming grapes. Some of the vineyards we tend have other fields around them. It’s good to be in the field.

Wine Grape Update

Most of our vineyards are on the cusp of veraison - getting ready to be ready, so to speak. They’re looking good…

Good Vineyard Views

There’s no argument that the light at sun rise and magical. Match that with work in a vineyard, tucked between mountains, and well… good view. Cheers!

Home Garden Update

The corn is now taller than all of us, and we see the ears of corn starting to grow. The birds have started stealing blueberries. We have a baby watermelon. We picked another squash and plan for cucumbers this weekend. Tomatoes are growing but not ripe yet (it always feels like such a long runway to tomato deliciousness).

How about you? Pick anything summery good from your garden recently?

2021 Grapes

2021 wines grapes - they’re growing and we’ve got bunches and bunches hanging from the vines. No longer baby grapes, but definitely still green.

Sunshine in the Vineyard

The sun has been shining strongly; we’ve had heat waves and the vines are soaking it up and reaching to the sky. It’s an exciting time in the vineyard with all the new growth (yes, we’re bias and love being in the vineyard all times of year)!

Suckering vines

As the vines grow, we continue to guide them towards the best growth - funneling their energy towards growth and premium grapes. We’ve been in the vineyards suckering the vines and removing shoots.

Home Garden Update

Our plant starts have been in the ground for about 6 weeks and we had our first veggie pick of the season this past weekend! (not counting herbs and greens) Every year we learn more about the space we have to grow, what grows best here, and what we enjoy watching grow, picking, and eating. This season, so far, it’s become really apparent where the sunshine hits first and longest. We have a zuchinni plant on either side of the garden. One we harvested a giant squash from and the other just has its first flower. Each to its own.

Did you plant a home garden this summer? What are you most looking forward to picking and enjoying? Let us know in the comments!

Early June in the Vineyard

The rows are looking good and we’re starting to see baby grapes!

Weed Whacking

Summer weather is here, and we’ve had our first red flag warning (hot temps, high winds, fire potential). We’re keeping up with weed whacking requests, and staying safe.

Orange

We upgraded our safety equipment and are loving it. Thumbs up!

Burn Clean Up

Unfortunately, as we all know, we’ve had a few intense wild fire seasons in the past few years. We’ve helped cleaned up in burned vineyards, and continue to help properties stay clear and clean in anticipation of the next season. For more information, you can also check out the blog post on the Ceres blog “With fire now a fact of life in wine country, vineyards plan for aftermath.”