Well, nature continues to move ahead with her project at a much faster pace than we seem to. I’m sure that just like a great wine, it will all be worth the wait! As you can see, the crop has “set” and crop loads appear to be somewhat lighter than average in some varieties. Despite this, our crews are very busy this time of year. Shoot thinning has been done and now they are “fruit thinning”. This means they remove part of the immature bunches to improve the quality of the rest. From here on…
>>> READ MORESeriously, how many people knew that grape vines bloom? I guess it shouldn’t be surprising since any fruit that I can think of, off hand, does bloom. But unlike a cherry orchard, you will never even notice a grapevine blooming unless you get up close. (Be sure to click on the pic so you can see it up close.) In a grape cluster, the tiny little grapes make tiny little blooms and then they pollinate each other. Pretty good plan really for a fruit that grows in a bunch. No bees needed….self sufficiency at…
>>> READ MORESpring has sprung in the vineyards and it is amazing to watch the transformation. This is my favorite time of the year in the vineyards. Everything looks so clean and fresh…..ready to start anew for another harvest. The changes happen at an amazing rate. The pictures represent a three week span in our 100+ year old zinfandel vineyard. During this time the vine has gone through bud break and is beginning to develop those tender little grape bunches. Now the foliage is exploding, working to support the vine. Enjoy the pictures!!! March 31, 2008 April…
>>> READ MOREBud Break! Well, as luck would have it the buds are breaking before we’ve broken ground. And by this I am referring to our new winery planned to open later this year. It’s an exciting and rather crazy endeavor but we feel it’s the right step for our family. Our family has been living and farming on Harney Lane for over 100 years now, so what could be a better name that “Harney Lane Winery”? So, we’ve been busy with architects, engineers, contractors, designers, goverment agencies, etc., etc., etc. trying to move this project forward….
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