Farming Practices
In addition to sparing no expenses on proper vineyard
development, we also adhere to the best and most recent sustainable
farming practices available to viticulture.
As
soon as young vines start coming out of their cartons, field crews train
the vines to the trellis system keeping all shoots off the ground. Cordons
are trained to wires as soon as possible, to ensure clean healthy growth
and good air flow around the vines.
Two
year old vines are carefully pruned for ideal shoot and spur positions.
Doing this in the early life cycle of the vines ensures better spray
coverage and penetration, good air circulation and sun light penetration
in the young canopy. It also avoids future overcropping and overcrowding
of the grapes clusters.
Winter strip spraying with roundup is used to keep weeds from growing
under the vines. In summer an Environmist sprayer allows the use of
roundup if additional spraying is needed.
Cover crops are used extensively between rows to help
reduce vigor as needed in certain varieties.
Three
weather stations were installed to continuously monitor weather data
and relay that data to a central computer. Temperature, humidity, wind
direction and speed, solar radiation, rain, wet bulb temperature and
dew point readings are permanently recorded. This information together
with moisture sensors and deficit farming practices help control canopy
size and keeps fruit berry size small for better quality fruit.
Lastly every year petiole analysis of all blocks is done
to aid in fertilization decisions during the season.
