Bloom Summer is an incredible time to visit Captain Vineyards as the grapevines are in full force and the energy of the upcoming harvest can be felt around. As the summer season heats up, the beautifully manicured rows of vines seem greener than ever against the dusty landscape of the valley. Between June and August, the vines undergo tremendous growth as this is their final push of maturation before harvest. In just a few short months, the vines go from newly formed buds to thick and vigorous grapevines. Within those grapevines, the most exciting time in the lifecycle of the vine is taking place, from bloom to the onset of fruit. Fruit set FRUIT SET Fruit set is the...
Spring at The Vineyard Too many things going on at the vineyard, from pruning, shredding, weed wacking, composting, checking the water system , controlling the erosion, trees falling & fence repair, were the few things we are facing due to the extensive rains & winds of 2022-23. In 18 years, we have never seen a deer in our vineyard until this year!! The cool weather had our bud break be pushed back at least 2 weeks! that means our harvest will be delayed. Not to mention the bottling of our 2015 wines on its way this spring! Sara & Sasha Captain Moved in early January to participate & help in the fun & work at Captain Vineyards. They have already...
Pruning is an often overlooked but essential aspect for the growth and quality of a vineyard. It usually involves removing branches, foliage, and fruit in order to reduce the amount of crop the vines produce. While this may seem counter-intuitive, too much crop can actually be a bad thing. When a vine produces a lot of grapes, the flavor is spread out and therefore less concentrated and intense. Pruning readies the vineyard for the growing season, prevents vine overcrowding, and thwarts any rot or mildew. Pruning strategies depend heavily on the vine training system you use, as well as the climate among other things. For the last four years, Captain Vineyards has used cane pruning, which targets last year's growth. When you...
At Captain Vineyards we grow Cabernet Franc It is one of our flag ship wines!! Read More About Cab Franc Traditionally treated as a supporting cast member to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc is poised for a breakout role in California. Suddenly in vogue for its distinct aromas and ability to pair well with many foods, demand for this red grape variety from Bordeaux is so high that it’s more expensive than Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc in Napa County cost wineries an average of $9,300 per ton in 2021 — up from $4,200 in 2007 — compared to $8,000 a ton for Cabernet Sauvignon, according to the Department of Agriculture’s California Grape Crush Report. Kashy Khaledi, proprietor of Napa’s trendy Ashes &...
Captain Vineyards slow Aging Barrels Natural wine is widely debated. The problem is that natural wine, though a viticultural and winemaking practice for more than 70 years, has never been legislated. Its existence and practice are, therefore, based on a philosophy that each winegrower can interpret in their own way. For the consumer, there is no set standard that guarantees an intersection of the growing practices and conduct of the winemaker. There is no ethical promise of wine that will be consumed under the label “natural wine.” Most followers of the movement believe “natural wine” is a wine without synthetic chemicals or oenological inputs, made from organic grapes that are harvested by hand. This very broad definition does not contain...
