Today we picked the first grapes of the 2010 vintage. As usual, Seyval Blanc was the first variety to ripen. But we’re astonished at how early this year – it’s the earliest picking date in our winery’s history. Thus far, the earliest harvest for Seyval had been in 2009, and we picked on September 4th. All season you’ve heard us saying that the vineyard appeared to be running about two weeks ahead as a result of the hot, dry, weather. So far, these estimates are showing to be true.
Continue reading Harvest Begins!
After a winter such as this past one, with record setting snowfall and heavy rains, one would think drought conditions in the summer months would be improbable. And one would be correct; if one were not a grapevine. While the water table and other reserves of drinking water currently remain at stable levels, the lack of rain combined with record high temperatures have created ‘drought like’ conditions in most vineyards in the area.
Continue reading Drought Hits the East: Tom’s Viney...
As mentioned in my first quarterly update, the vines are at risk from frost during the spring months, and as fate would have it – that’s just what happened. On the morning of April 29th, we had a frost event. Of the three vineyards we farm, only one was seriously affected.
Continue reading Vineyard Update, June 2010
Thursday, 15 April, 2010 by Tom in
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Spring is upon us, and things are moving right along in the vineyard. With unseasonably warm weather and wet soils from heavy precipitation this winter, the vineyard has responded with an early bud break. What does this mean?
Continue reading Vineyard Update, April 2010
Thursday, 4 December, 2008 by Tom in
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Another harvest has come and gone and I finally have a chance to settle down and reflect on the past season. Although we started the year with an unusually warm winter, by in large 2008 was a typical Virginia season. We had average rain fall through most of the year, characterized by a cool and overcast spring, passing afternoon thundershowers through the summer months and threats of hurricanes in the late season.
Continue reading 2008 Harvest Report
March is here and spring is just around the corner and that means and fresh start for a brand new growing season. We cannot forget however, that winter is not over and there is still much to be done! During the month of March, we continue to prune the vineyard (see last months edition) to what we refer to as a ‘rough prune’ stage. This means that we have completed all of the work necessary to replace or extend the cordons (arms) and cut everything back to spurs that are 8-10 inches long.
Continue reading Vineyard News March/April
Friday, 18 January, 2008 by Tom in
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Wahoo and Louise “Weezie” come to Rappahannock Cellars from the Charlottesville SPCA. Our friend and contract grower Scott Ellif at Ducard Vineyards brings two dogs from the SPCA to guard his vineyard against deer every harvest and we have adopted Wahoo and Weezie through him.
Continue reading Wahoo and Louise
Friday, 18 January, 2008 by Tom in
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Greetings from Glenway Vineyard!
Many of you might assume that the winter months are a slow time in the vineyard but nothing could be further from the truth. The months of January, February, and March are spent pruning the vines, and with four separate vineyards to prune, we’ve got our hands full!
Continue reading Vineyard News – January/February
