Linden Update | June 5, 2025

Green Work

We are now at the peak of vineyard green work. Green work refers to the hand work that organizes the fast-growing shoots, leaves, and clusters. Those well-manicured, picturesque vine rows marching up and down the hills didn't happen by chance. Right now there are eight of us managing the vine canopies. At this stage, our two tasks are shoot positioning and cluster zone aeration.

The rapidly growing vine shoots need direction. Otherwise we would have a tangled mess — a bad hair day that can't be remedied. The vine shoots are tied, tucked, or woven onto the trellis wires. At Hardscrabble Vineyard there are around 200,000 shoots. Each one has to be positioned upright and uniform. By hand. Timing is critical.

The vines are flowering now. The flowers and subsequent developing clusters need good air flow and dappled sunlight to produce the healthiest and best tasting grapes. We are now "aerating the cluster zone". With each vine unwanted leaves and lateral shoots are removed around the developing clusters. By hand. Timing is critical.

June is the most important and demanding month in the vineyard. If our work is done diligently, we will be able to relax by the 4th of July.

Cellar Tastings are Back

With it getting hot, we are looking for reasons to go down to the cool cellar. Longtime Friends of Linden remember cellar tastings. And miss them. Linden is reviving Cellar Tastings. Guests will be surrounded by barrels in the cellar, which is a nice refuge from the summer heat. (Just in case, you may want to bring a sweater.) Conducted by one of Linden's experienced staff, these intimate tastings feature focused, in-depth flights of older single vineyard wines. We'll conclude with a tank sample of the special 2024 Petit Verdot.

  • Saturday and Sunday June 14 and 15, 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm    

  • Reservations are required   

  • $45 per person   

  • If spaces fill up, please email us at wine@lindenvineyards.com to join our waitlist.

Linden UpdatesJim Law2025