Another year: more lessons, more mistakes

Just when you think you have it all figured out nature will always find a way to bring you back down to earth.

The 2025 growing season started with a lot of promise, we had spent the winter building a new raccoon fence and converting the vines to a VSP training system.

It was also the first year attempting a new quasi organic spray and nutrition program for the vineyard. I say quasi because we did apply two synthetic strobilurin fungicide (a mushroom based synthetic fungicide) sprays right before and after bloom. Within the wine and agricultural world this is very low input.

It was very promising too, in spite of the utterly soggy spring, the vines set a respectable crop and, with lots of attention and care, things were progressing nicely.

Unfortunately, much like wack-a-mole, a new issue always pops up. In this case, our delicious and almost perfectly ripe grapes were burgled before we had a chance to pick. After such hard work all season, the feeling was utter dejection. And exhaustion. Well, better luck next time!