Summer & Harvest

What a year! The weather in September was unusually warm and pushed the grapes to ripen early. Everyone was setting records for earliest harvest dates. We picked both the Petit Verdot and the Cabernet Sauvignon on September 13th, which is over a month earlier than average. We were on pins and needles, trying to keep the grapes on the vine long enough to develop the great flavors and soften the tannins, but not so long to lose crop to dehydration. The total tonnage was down, but the early indications were that the quality was good.

With such an early harvest, we had plenty of time to start winter preparations and had the vineyard seeded with cover crop by the end of September. We sowed a combination of Nitrogen fixing plants in blocks B & C , bell beans, peas, oats and barley ( “Organic Soil Builder” from Le Ballisters Seeds www.leballistersseed.com ) and continued the perennial grasses in blocks A1 – A4.

We continued to replenish the vineyard, and in July we planted the new block of Merlot on the approximately 4 acres that we had prepared last year. The new vines are doing very well and within a few weeks were already showing green leaves above the grow tubes.

We also managed to get the main Insectory laid out and the perimeter stone wall built before the rains started. So next spring we can have an early start on planting the selection of plants that should provide for a colorful display and useful habitat for a variety of beneficial insects.

We broke ground on our house at the end of June and construction is moving along quickly, helped in large part by the great weather. Seeing the wine cellar being dug into the hillside was exciting and emotional. For the first time in 5 years of working on the vineyard we are really seeing the fruits of our labors take shape. We can’t wait to fill our cellar with Puma Springs’ new crop!