Oh Man!  This weather is driving us crazy.  A long cool season followed by intense heat makes for stressed out grapes.  Some Pinot vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains are really suffering under the intense sun. We have been biting our nails as we watch the thermometer. Fortunately, the Pinot and Chardonnay at Trout Gulch are doing great thanks to Prudy Foxx and her team. They have been so thorough this season with canopy management and a rigorous spray program.  The fruit tastes divine and is well-balanced. The brix level (sugar content) is almost there. Harvest should be around the week of Oct 11. We are keeping our fingers crossed that mother nature will cooperate until then.

On the other hand, our 3-year old vineyard on Branciforte has a different story.  It had its first bit of fruit. We were so excited. Then the birds came and devoured every single grape! Our new little babies–gone! Looks like netting is in our future next year!!! We have learned so much.

Some of you have expressed an interest in helping out with harvest at Trout Gulch–I’ll be contacting you shortly.

Stat Tuned!

Cheers
Robin

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