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Vineyard

A collection of 414 posts

Harvest, Week of October 2

This week we began bringing in more of the red varietals, including almost 20 tons of Syrah and a small amount of Grenache. The Syrah is put into open-top tanks to ferment, and as the grape skins float to the top of the tank, we pump the juice over

Roussanne "Bergeron"

We're enjoying probably the last relatively mellow day before harvest starts in earnest. From sampling we have done, it looks like we're going to see significant amounts of Syrah, Viognier, and Grenache Blanc this week. Ripening is proceding under ideal conditions: low-90s daytime temperatures, upper-

A great shot of ripening Mourvedre

You think these grapes aren't sweet? Yellowjackets and honeybees have a feast on ripe grapes as harvest approaches (Mourvedre in this photo). Thanks to Chandler Smiley for the picture.

Harvest 2006 Begins!

Harvest 2006 is underway! We began picking this past Thursday (September 14) with Chardonnay grapes for our "Antithesis" Chardonnay. Viognier, traditionally the earliest-ripening Rhone varietal, followed on Friday the 15th. This week, we brought in our first lots of Roussanne, earmarked for our "Bergeron" wine,

Vineyard Solar Power System

We're always trying to find innovative ways that we can make better use of the resources we have here at Tablas Creek. One resource we have (as anyone who has visited during the summer can attest) is the power of the sun, which shines about 320 days a

Organic Vineyards... and Organic Wines

I was recently approached by an eco-friendly marketing agency who, along with the Wine Institute, was thinking about a campaign promoting wine made from organic grapes. At Tablas Creek, we believe strongly that organic farming gives us better grapes that taste more like where they are grown and more

Cover Crops in the Vineyard

Each winter, we plant our vineyard with a cover crop. This mix of peas, oats and vetch keeps erosion to a minimum, provides a habitat for beneficial insects, and contributes nutrients to the organic vineyard. In the winter, this cover crop is mostly green, dominated by the oats and vetch.

Field grafting Picpoul Blanc

We grafted over a section of Roussanne yesterday, replacing it with Picpoul Blanc. Picpoul has thrived here, and its bright acidity makes a nice addition in our Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc blend. The crew first cut the Roussanne vines about a foot from the surface, and then field grafted the

Winter Returns to Paso Robles

So, just when we think that we're ready to escape from winter and move onto spring, we're reminded that March in California is tremendously unpredictable. This morning, we had snow for the second time this winter (after 5 winters with no snow at all). To celebrate,

Tablas Creek Wetland Area

At the end of January, we finally completed our new wetlands project. The project, in response to a new California law requiring wineries to treat their waste water before releasing it into the environment, consistes of a series of ponds designed to filter runoff water from the winery while breaking