Each year brings with it a unique weather condition which translates into a unique grape chemistry, in turn brings the unique wine of the year. This year is no exception. Generally the weather has been moderate, as of date, the highs in 80ies and lowes in the 50ies. Due to the 26-28 inches of rain in Moraga, our dry farmed vines have not shown the need of water until late August.
Yes, we did have some fog hanging over the vines throughout the season to color the sky & give our vines the bit of hydration which our California climate desperately needs in the summer.
We have stopped using any form of fertilizer since 2010 except shreddings & compost. Our focus is on healthy soil and no chemical usage. We never use chemicals to control our weeds. We cut our weeds using hand held "wackers". The vineyard has been "wacked" three times this year. Compost is our form of fertilizer.
At Captain Vineyards, we live onsite, which means we can observe the health of the vines & intervene if we feel the need to. To our pleasant surprise, these vines have demonstrated the strength to overcome the tough terrain, climate, & minimal watering.
As for insects, fungus, and pests, we have had our first ever dear damage. A broken fence made it easy for them to come & visit. We have been lucky with fungus, especially powdery mildew, a major pest for grape vines. We were able to control it with minimal oils & soft chemistry materials used three times this season. Gophers have been a real pest this year. We have lost .1% vines this year, but the bigger worry is the holes they create which add to the soil erosion. Any change in the soil will create an issue due to the seasonal rains. A road was created nearby by removing some trees & brushes, which caused the spring rains to create a natural new terrain. New terrain means new worries about erosion. Birds are always a worry for Captain Vineyards, especially after removing the netting that was protecting the vines for 10 years. We decided to remove it & use reflector tapes, scare crows, sound, & other means of reducing their impact.
Every year has a story if you are farming!