Hello! First, I’d just like to thank you for reading this. I hope that through these blogs, people learn things about Captain Vineyards that inspire them to take a trip over! My name is Camille and I am the second eldest granddaughter of Susan and Sal, the owners of Captain Vineyards and the viticulturist and enologist at the farm. Today, I’d like to discuss about two crucial aspects of sustainability at the vineyard: dry farming and our pesticide policy. Dry farming refers to the way we supply our crops with water through a drip-system. This means that when we decide to water the vines (which is a very rare occurrence, especially in the wet season), we send water through pipes...
Hazel travels to her grandparents' vineyard in Moraga, where she helps protect the grapes from birds and measures their sugar levels with a refractometer. She enjoys the hands-on experience and looks forward to coming back next year.
Twelve-year-old Camille, the granddaughter of the owners of Captain Vineyards in Northern California, shares her love for visiting the vineyard each year, where she enjoys the beautiful scenery, wildlife, and family traditions. Her vivid memories include morning walks, mountain lion sightings, and sneaking oranges from the trees, making the vineyard a place of beauty and peace.
As I write this blog from Greenwich, CT, with Thanksgiving just around the corner, I find myself reflecting on our 2024 growing season. This year, we were fortunate to experience tempered and reasonable weather throughout the season. Bud break unfolded as expected, between the middle and end of March, marking the start of a steady and promising cycle. With 26.9 inches of rain, our commitment to dry farming played a vital role in managing water use sustainably. The compost coco we applied last year was well-integrated into the soil, nourishing it, though some was naturally carried off by the wind. It's always a reminder of nature’s rhythm and the delicate balance we strive to maintain. Our winemaker, Sal, faced a...
