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Pretty Pictures

A collection of 349 posts

Photo Essay: The first vineyard hike of spring

By Lauren Cross I couldn't resist hiking through the vineyard today. The sun was warm and bright, there was a slight breeze and the floral smells of spring were intoxicating. The first day of spring is a turning point for the vineyard, a definite end of dormancy, and

Why we're dreading the 2014 frost season

Last week, we saw budbreak in our Grenache, Grenache Blanc and Viognier blocks. This week, it's been joined by most of the other grapes, with only Roussanne and Mourvedre still fully dormant. It won't be more than another week or two before they look like the

After our recent rain, reassessing California's drought

Since last Wednesday, we've received 5.71 inches of glorious rain. It was nicely spread out, starting with two inches the first day, followed by thirteen hundredths the next, then another two inches Friday, another inch Saturday, and finally a half-inch yesterday. That meant it nearly all

Dusk in the Vineyard: Moonrise at Sunset

Followers of the Tablas Creek Facebook page have likely noticed a burst of sunset beauty shots in recent weeks. That's partly a function of the early winter sunsets, when I'm around more often to take photos, but equally a function of the winter weather patterns, with

Photo essay: After the Rain

Yesterday, we got about half an inch of rain. That may not seem like much, but it was most welcome, and along with a similar storm last weekend provided a marked change from the weeks of sun and warmth that preceded them. We're still securely in a serious

Why we're celebrating our frosty mornings

This morning I arrived at the vineyard to find a landscape encased in frost: This was the fourth time in five nights we've gotten down into the teens. The one night we didn't freeze we received about six-tenths of an inch of rain. Between the

Winterizing the vineyard as we wait and hope for rain

By Levi Glenn The falling leaves mark the commencement of the “slow time” of the year in the vineyard. Harvest is in the rear-view mirror. All the grapes have been fermented and the wines are resting comfortably in their respective vessels, yet one last series of tasks needs to

Reining In Harvest 2013

By Chelsea Franchi I was standing in the entrance of the cellar on Monday with my hand wrapped around a steaming mug of coffee, watching as a storm rolled over the hills of Paso Robles and finally touch down on our vineyard. And I had a smile on my face.

Photo essay: Autumn in the Vineyard

This is such a beautiful time of year in the vineyard. As the vines gradually shut down photosynthesis for the year, vibrant fall colors appear. The low angle of the light in the mornings and evenings bring out the contrasts. And the moderate temperatures invite you to spend time appreciating

Harvest 2013 Recap: Down 21% in Yields; Quality Excellent

On Monday, October 7th we picked the last fruit off our estate. On Thursday, October 10th we brought in our last purchased lot for our Patelin de Tablas. And just like that, we're done. Viticulturist Levi Glenn and harvest assistant Jordan Collins clown in front of the last