Budbreak & Blending Trials

Even with the warmth over the past week, budbreak doesn’t feel quite imminent. The buds are a bit larger, a little softer, but still holding. Not quite ready to push. That said, with this stretch of beautiful weather continuing, it feels close. The season will be here before we know it.

So this week is about finishing the last of winter’s work.

In the vineyard, we’re moving with focus. Canes are being tipped and tied down, setting the structure for the year ahead. The remaining rows of prunings are being flail mowed back into the soil. In a few areas, we’re replanting where vines are missing, slowly bringing those sections back into balance.

At the same time, we’re preparing for spring’s unpredictability. The overhead frost system is being tested and readied so that when budbreak does arrive, we’re in a position to protect it.

In the cellar, things are shifting as well.

Blending trials are nearly complete, and the wines are showing beautifully. Each one feels distinct, with its own sense of identity and place. With bottling coming up in mid April, we’re turning to the practical side, organizing the cellar and preparing tanks so everything is ready.

It’s a short window where everything overlaps. The end of winter, the start of a new season, and the final shaping of last year’s wines.

A lot happening, even if it still looks quiet from the outside.