It might sound strange, but in my 50-plus years on the family property, I’ve spent more time in the vineyards this year than perhaps ever before. Seeking improved health and the morning’s peaceful quiet, I’ve been walking almost daily since March.
Living on the farm, without sidewalks or busy roads, the vineyard avenues offer the best option for my morning stroll. These walks have renewed my appreciation for the ranch, the seasons, and the hard work involved in bringing the harvest to fruition.
From bud break to harvest, I’ve been able to participate in the entire process, experiencing the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. Watching the vines naturally do their thing and witnessing how farmers guide the process toward our goals is truly awe-inspiring.
Each September, our state celebrates California Wine Month, a reminder of California’s rich winemaking history spanning over 250 years. California produces over 80% of the United States’ wine and over 10% globally. If you’ve lived in California or visited its wine regions, you know we’re spoiled by the abundance of regions and wineries. California boasts over 150 distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).
While this might seem excessive, the past 18 years have taught us that wine, more than most products, is profoundly impacted by its place of origin. Even within our AVA, the Mokelumne River Sub-AVA, we find distinctions between vineyards.
Being 100% estate-grown and produced, we’ve had the opportunity to explore these unique characteristics. We’ve observed how the vineyard is reflected in the wine and, year after year, made minor adjustments to our farming or winemaking practices to continuously evolve and excel. Kyle and I, though different in many ways, share a drive for constant improvement, including in vineyards and winemaking. As you can imagine, without control of the full process, most wineries are never able to fully experience this in the same way. This is why we love to offer things like our Harvest Tours and our Zinfandel Tasting as well as other educational events. Being able to share the passion and art that goes into the glass is an honor.
We sometimes feel we do a disservice to wine with our discussions of mouthfeel, bouquets, tannins, and residual sugar. These descriptors do little to highlight the vineyard’s sense of place. They can overshadow the agricultural aspect and the labor of love behind winemaking. Consider our 120-year-old Lizzy James Vineyard and the countless hands that have shaped it over the years.
In a globalized world of convenience, “where” might seem less important. But I argue that, with wine, it absolutely matters. While I encourage you to support Harney Lane and the Lodi region, I also hope that next time you pick up a bottle of wine, you’ll consider the region it comes from and how that influences the wine. When you drink a bottle of our wine, you’ll feel connected to the vineyard and the stories it tells.
