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Charlie’s January Vineyard Update

Curious about what is going on in the Vineyard this time of year? Here is an update from Charlie:
Winter is a quiet time in the vineyard. We completed the harvest with the Mourvedre grapes in early November, then trimmed the vines, tilled the soils in the vine rows, and planted the winter cover crop.
The cover crop is an organic mix of 40% Cayuse Oats, 30% Bell Beans, 20% Magnus Peas, and 10% Common Vetch. The legumes enrich the soil with nitrogen and improve soil biological activity and organic matter content. According to the USDA, cover crops help feed soil life and contribute to soil organic matter, help soil better absorb intense rain and improve water holding capacity, help reduce the property’s carbon footprint, and most importantly, improve vine health and yields.
We are convinced our extra care of the vineyard makes a big difference in the quality of our wine grapes and wines, and we love the emerald green colors the cover crop creates during this dormant period for the vineyard! Check out these photos, or visit the vineyard and wine cave to see for yourself.
– Charlie Havill

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Charlie’s Vineyard Update: October 11th 2023

Here is the latest on what’s happening in the vineyard from Charlie!
As of October 10, several grape varieties are stubbornly ripening in our estate vineyard: Barbera, Petite Sirah, and Mourvedre.
Mourvedre has always been the last grape to ripen, so it was not expected to be ready yet, and it is often harvested in early November.
However, Petite Sirah and Barbera have always been picked in September. The cool and wet fall weather has slowed everything down, and some local vineyards may never be able to get their grapes as ripe as the wineries want.
Our Barbera (check out the pictures), will be picked early Thursday morning. The grapes are perfectly ripe to harvest, and since the clusters hang looser than some other varieties, the rainfall should not affect them negatively. Since Barbera is known to be a grape with higher acidity, the vines will absorb some of the rainwater and lower the grapes’ acidity.
We look forward to finishing this historically good harvest and spending more time with Lucy! Come visit us soon in Plymouth, CA at our Vineyard & Winery in the heart of Shenandoah Valley.
Cheers!
– Charlie Havill

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