The Birth of a New Vineyard
|
Spring is in the air, and it has never felt better. Having just returned from Southern California where the air is generally a dull beige color no matter what time of day, I am especially grateful to see bright blue skies and feel our warm sunny sunshine. Springtime also means it’s planting season. This is particul As avid Zinfandel lovers, we’re creating an experimental Zinfandel block using 4 different clonal selections. This vineyard will be head pruned with no trellis system, much like the historic Zinfandel vines planted in the days of horse and plow. Just recently, we completed the important first step of planting the rootstock, which in this case is St. George-a phylloxera resistant rootstock that has been used since the late 1800s. It doesn’t look like much, just small lumps rising up from the ground. As soon as the roots take hold, (probably late summer or early fall) we’ll then go through the arduous process of grafting in budwood from the four different clonal selections. This will essentially complete the planting process. Then it’s a matter of patiently waiting the 3-4 years for our first crop. Eventually our hope is to be able to make several different wines from this experimental vineyard. We have no idea what to expect, but who knows, one of them could be the next great cult wine of Dry Creek Valley! |
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
The Birth of a New Vineyard.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.wilmaswineworld.com/cgi/www2007/mt4/mt-tb.cgi/87
4 Comments
Leave a comment
welcome!
This is a blog about what it's really like to be in the wine industry...so sit back, take a sip and enjoy!
about me
our wines
our winery
our events
whatisfume.com
contact me
privacy statement
favorite posts
A Lifetime in Wine
Top 10 Traits of the Successful Family Winery
The Dreaded Family Meeting
Board Meeting Jitters
Is the Future of the Winery in Danger?
The Case of the Overweight Bottle
Wine and Dementia
Wanted: Talented (Normal) Individual for Family Owned Winery
A Sea of Wine
The Heroes of Our Industry
monthly archives
subscribe
Hopes & Dreams
Owning a Coastal Cottage
Sailing for 6 Months
Getting a 100 Point Score
Favorite Haunts
Coast of Maine
Dry Creek General Store
Dry Creek Kitchen
Ravenous
Healdsburg Bar & Grill
Sonoma Country Antiques
The Farmhouse
Zizi
Bad Ass Coffee
Bistro Ralph
Bits of Press
Food & Wine Magazine
The Wine News
Wine Enthusiast
Wine Spectator
Press Democrat
Sunset Magazine
Connoisseurs' Guide
Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences
2008 Sonoma County Harvest Fair
Oprah Magazine
The Washington Post
Coastal Living Magazine
Wine & Spirits Magazine
People Magazine
SAG Awards Magazine
Favorite Magazines
Coastal Living
Down East
Sunset
Country Living
Quarterly Review of Wines
Wines & Vines
Wine Spectator
Wine Enthusiast
California Grapevine
Wine News
Connoisseurs' Guide
Practical Winery & Vineyard
WineReviewOnline
Vineyard & Winery Mgmt
Blog Buddy List
Fermentation
Hip Tastes
Pinot Blogger
All The Best
Julia Flynn Siler
Vinography
Winery Web Site Report
The Pour - Eric Asimov
Dr Vino
Steve Heimoff
Start Up Ladies
Good Wine Under $20
Blind Muscat
The Wineroad Blogspot
Gabe's View
Wine Peeps
Vici Vino
Cellarmistress' Cellar Talk
Uncork Life
WineVine-Imports Blog
Honorable Mentions
Fermentation
Wilma Hits The World of Blogs
Most Intriguing New Wine Blogs of 2008
Julia Flynn Siler
Meritage wines - and a fascinating glimpse into family business
Winery Web Site Report
New Winery Blog: Wilma's Wine World
Start Up Ladies
Insider’s View of Family Owned Dry Creek Vineyard
The Glue that Keeps the Whole Thing Going
Atlanta Dish
Blog of the Week
Blind Muscat
The Merits of Meritage
Wineries.net
Boston Wine Expo exhibitors, and the reason why winemakers are so darn happy
JohnLopresti said:
April 19, 2009 10:52 AM
Your news is wonderful, from my vantage, Wilma. I imagine you know of the DNA work with zinfandel professor emeritus Carole Meredith from UC Davis accomplished with respect to zinfandel clone origins history. http://www.lagiermeredith.com/ That is her website, the published papers are elsewhere, however.
The soils and climate in DryCreek produce some interesting zin. Maybe someday I will enjoy the results from the new planting.
Kim (aka Wilma)
April 20, 2009 9:57 PM
We are well aware of Professor Meredith's important research although I didn't know she had her own vineyard now. I loved reading about her small winery but found it interesting that she isn't growing Zinfandel. Thanks, as always for sharing this info John.
And, I hope you'll have a chance to taste the results of our newest planting...we should have something from the 2013 harvest!
JohnLopresti said:
April 21, 2009 4:38 PM
Allowing 2+ years from premier cru to tasting room first sale for that new zin would make 35 years since I last visited. I recognized the photo, though, as DCV's locale.
Carole also did DNA typing for cab. I have yet to research my notes of her materials. I thought likely the syrah was an early choice, perhaps before the trips to Croatia yet maybe incorporating interest in syrah as both seem well adapted to Napa, though for her purposes ultimately reflecting principally varietal selection there based upon climatology and terroir of the Mt Veeder site of the LagnierM premises.
Dry Creek, and our as yet unnamed subAVA OatValleycreek likely are some of the prime zin zones, and Napa will regard us with admiration beginning in 2013. See you then, for sure.
LisaBForbes said:
April 23, 2009 9:32 AM
We winemaker types are really excited about the new Zinfandel vineyard in our front yard. Zin is arguably one of the most difficult and rewarding varieties to make. A vineyard that is both new and a throwback to the old style (of head-trained vines) is something I'm looking forward to working with. Unfortunately we have to wait -- winemaking and grapegrowing are not for the impatient! This vineyard dovetails nicely with our Heritage Zin vineyard right next door and will give us 4 selections to make fabulous wine from. Hopefully Kim will be able to track the vineyard's progress on this blog for everyone to see. In the meantime, pop open a bottle of Heritage Zin and fire up the BBQ!
Lisa Bishop Forbes, winemaker, Dry Creek Vineyard