We had a few days that exceeded the 100-degree mark around the Fourth of July, but other than that, this summer has been consistently cool as we approach 50% veraison (softening, coloring of berries). The vines look beautiful and we’re just cruising along at this point.

Someone asked me a good question the other day – how do we determine the size and shape of vineyard blocks?

The short answer is that we try to establish “like units” of ground that can be farmed similarly and efficiently. Of course, there are obvious determinants like topography. But for me, everything starts with the soil. You can always add to the soil, but you can’t take away from it. So the first and best way for me to divide a vineyard site into smaller units is to consider how the soil will impact water use.

Different sub-soils can translate to major site … More…

After my last posting, I was asked what sites and soils do I prefer for Pinot Noir. The Ferguson 4A01 and the Donum 490 blocks are grand cru sites for us. While 490 has pretty dense, heavy, water-retaining clay that is almost dry farmed, 4A01 is on lighter, more gravelly soil.

I prefer the lighter soil over the heavier clay because it’s easier. I can measure water use to manipulate the vines. I have less control in clay because cover crops can only take away so much water and nutrients, and rainfall varies from winter to winter.

As for terrain, normally I’d say I prefer a slope for water drainage. A slope naturally creates more diversity, even within a row, because the soil and water content varies on the top, middle and … More…

Like Kenneth, I am wary of absolutes. We like to simplify and uncomplicate a system like the vineyard so people can more easily understand it. But then we forget it has been simplified, and people assume it’s simple. The best we can do is try to identify some principals behind what is a complicated matter.

There are several ways to define terroir. The site, or place, consists of the ground and the climate. Let’s include features like elevation and exposure in the general category of soil. Then we include elements such as temperature, rainfall, fog and wind under climate. That’s what nature gives us.

We must deal with the soil’s water-holding capacity, because the ability to provide just enough water when needed is a vital viticultural tool. And the land must be … More…