In December we try to leave the vines alone. Pruning is our favourite vineyard task, which is fortunate because we spend a lot of time pruning. But not yet.
Read MoreNovember is when the winegrower's high-flying season comes in for a landing. This was not an easy vintage, which is probably why instead of gliding in for a soft landing, I crashed.
Read MoreWe entered October in harvest overdrive. The good weather fortunes of September continued into the first week of October. Harvest was in full swing. Warm sunny days were quickly ripening many different grape varieties. There was a cascade of grapes...
Read MoreEvery vintage has its personality. During the growing season, our job as winegrowers is to guide and nurture our vines through the good times and not so good times.
Read MoreAugust is a transition month for northern hemisphere winegrowers. With the exception of fine tuning, most of the vine work is finished. However, August 2013 required more fine tuning than is normal.
Read MoreJuly is usually the month when vine growth slows down, our vineyard work eases, and we begin to gravitate back to the cellar. This was not the case in 2013 as sub-tropical rains and heat kept the vines in a full vegetative growth cycle.
Read MoreJune was ‘game face’ month as it is the busiest time of the year in the vineyard. In 2013 a particularly wet June made it even busier.
Read MoreThe busy season in the vineyard has started. The cellar has been abandoned as we head for the hills. All hands are on the vines. Quite literally. In a typical growing season (May through August) a vine is touched at least 12 different times.
Read MoreApril is a transitional month. We wrap up our cellar work at Linden Vineyards, bottle the fresher aromatic whites, and take inventory of any vineyard maintenance problems that now need our attention.
Read MoreMarch brings the awakening. We sense an upward thrust coming from the warming soil. Crocuses are the first visible sign of spring.
Read MoreFinally, after several years of mild winters, we have had a normal February. It has been consistently cold, keeping buds tight and winegrowers relaxed.
Read MoreJanuary is a month of rest for the vines and the grower. This seasonal pause allows the grower a time of reflection rather than reaction to the rapid-fire succession of small problems and decisions during the growing season. In January one goes for a leisurely stroll in the vines.
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