Pruning Strategies
Snow cover and bright blue skies have made a wonderful start to the beginning of pruning season. Just like the good old days when we had real winters.
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Fiano di Avellino Winemaking: Respect Requires Restraint
There are often long periods of silence when driving between winery appointments. Jonathan drives and needs to keep his eyes on the narrow windy roads. Jim navigates using unfamiliar tools (I’m still a map guy, but paper maps only exist as historic documents). On a rare stretch of straight road Jonathan blurts out “respect requires restraint.” This captures Irpinia’s winemaking approach.
Read MoreNext Step | Fiano | 3 of 4
The Vines
We traveled to Irpinia to get a better understanding of the nuances of the Fiano grape in the vineyard. There is no substitute for being there. Seeing the growth characteristics of the vines, literally feeling the soil, and walking the slopes can’t happen on the web. Broken language conversations become more fluid when pointing, gesturing, and touching the vines.
Read MoreNext Step | Fiano | 2 of 4
In Situ | Visits
Winegrowers have a passion for sharing information and ideas. Internships, exchanges, technical visits, and random emails are all part of our profession. This is an extension of our farming roots. Farmers are introverts by nature and live a fairly isolated life by design. But when the occasion arises, we enjoy sharing our experiences with others who work the same way. Over the years I’ve sometimes been received at other vineyards with an air of skepticism, but once we talk the talk, and it becomes apparent that we do the same work and have the same struggles and rewards, a bond quickly forms.
Read MoreNext Step | Fiano | 1 of 4
Intro | Vineyards and Climate Change
We’re just back from the region of Irpinia (also known as Avellino) in southern Italy. We were there to learn about a grape that I had never heard of a decade ago. Fiano produces a white wine of great character and aging potential. Its stellar performance in Linden’s Climate Change Trial Vineyard has been the inspiration for us to make a pilgrimage to its source.
Read MoreRed Leaves in the Vineyard
Red fall colors in the vineyard have been dramatic this year. The foliage of black fruited vines (the Cabernets, Merlot, and Petit Verdot) has turned a deep crimson. (White fruited vine leaves remain yellow.) Winegrowers in this region have never seen this before.
Read MoreLast Day of Vintage 2024
Today we are picking Petit Manseng. This grape can withstand just about anything Mother Nature will throw at it. Most importantly it survived ten straight rainy days. This past week of sun has dried out the grapes and added some exotic flavors.
Read MoreQuick end to red harvest
Linden’s 2024 Harvest is nearly complete. Only Petit Manseng remains on the vines. Weather events and rain forecasts called for a final push this past weekend. Given the current string of damp, gloomy days it was a good call.
Read MoreRain Pause
Yesterday we wrapped up a very active five-day harvest push. All our Merlot and Cabernet Franc were picked in advance of the soggy weather we are now experiencing. Cabernet Sauvignon is not yet ripe.
Read MoreMerlot Ready
We have a very active 4 or 5 days ahead of us. Merlot is ripe, concentrated and flavorful. As with the white grapes, ripening happened faster than anticipated. Next week’s forecast does not look promising with showers possible every day starting Tuesday. This may force our hand to also pick some Cabernet Franc from our earlier ripening young vines.
Read MorePerfect Harvest Weather
Finally it all feels right. One should always begin a harvest morning wearing a jacket or sweater. The Chardonnay grapes taste like there is a chill in the air: crisp, crunchy and vibrant. I’ll never really know if this perception is in our heads or on our palates, but spirits are lifted.
Read MoreHarvest Update
Harvest this past week was very active. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are now starting fermentations. Chardonnay is underway and will be the main focus this coming week.
Read MoreVintage 2024 Begins
This is it. Harvest is in full swing. Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and some Chardonnay are ready. Ready is subjective. When to pick is never an easy decision, but it is the most important winemaking decision.
Read MoreStart of Harvest
Vintage 2024 will commence on Friday, August 23 at Boisseau Vineyard. We’ll be picking Chardonnay and Viognier. This is our earliest start of harvest. Avenius and Hardscrabble Sauvignon Blanc will most likely follow next week.
Read MoreBirds
We are not seeing much bird damage this year. There are those who have theories as to why (heat, drought, hurricane winds), but bottom line this is just one less thing to lose sleep over.
Read MoreVeraison nearly complete
Veraison (color change) of our Cabernet Sauvignon cluster is nearly complete. The waiting game starts. There is now very little that we can do in the vineyard to make improvements in wine quality. We turn our attention to preparation for harvest and crush.
Read MoreDebby and the Grapes
As I write this, Debby is passing just to the west of Linden. We’ve had a lot of rain. Four+ inches is my guess at this point.
Read More50% Veraison
Our Cabernet Sauvignon cluster went through the 50% veraison stage on Thursday, August 1.
Read MoreStart of Veraison
A few berries on our Cabernet Sauvignon cluster have turned color. This transition is called veraison. This year it is early. All indications point to an early harvest.
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