Snowden News
Gopher Control in 2018
We’re often amazed at the idiosyncrasies of holistic farming. When you eliminate plowing, it strengthens the ecosystem of the vineyard because the natural microbes and insects that grow above and below ground come into balance and the soil becomes a healthier place for grapes to grow. But this means it’s also a healthier place for gophers to grow, and gophers like to eat the roots of grapevines, especially young and tender grapevines. There are a lot of things people do to address gophers, ranging from traps, to explosives to poisons – none of which feel like they promote a healthy, natural field. Fortunately, farming as non-invasively as possible gives nature room to strike a balance in gophers, just as it does for microbes – in this case, leading two healthy, young coyotes to take up residence in the woods by the Brothers Vineyard. The photo is of one of them having some lunch in the vineyard on a recent sunny afternoon.
Feb 11, 2018 at 2:50 PM
Permalink
Pruning Means It's a New Growing Year
We wish it were raining here in the Napa Valley, but one positive of the delightful, balmy weather -- every day is a pruning day. Our tiny crew -- ranch manager Severiano Deloera and three trusted colleagues -- are already over half way along. There are almost 44,000 vines to be pruned and it's not good for the pruners or the vines to work in bad weather. But this year it looks like they'll be able to finish without having to call in reinforcements. There's a big upside when this happens: the small team works closely together and stops whenever someone encounters a vine raising new questions -- which happens regularly, especially when they are starting a new block. The result is an unusually high level of both quality and uniformity. These are essential to producing the highest quality grapes, particularly in the cane-pruned blocks, such as the Brothers Vineyard. In other news, many of you have heard us mention that the ranch lies about a mile north of the Pritchard Hill appellation? Here's an aerial photo showing the Lost Orchard Vineyard at the east end of the property. From there it drops steeply down to Lake Hennessey and that's Pritchard Hill on the far side at the right.
Feb 8, 2018 at 3:36 PM
Permalink