Bill Wathen brings us back to Tinaquaic Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley, where a historic drought in California is hindering fruit growth. The possibility of extremely low yields brings up the concern of not making enough wine in 2014 to cover the cost of farming the Tinaquaic Vineyard.
Everything you ever wanted to learn about viticulture could be asked of Wes Hagen of Clos Pepe Vineyard and Winery. Our loquacious guest shares a myriad of thoughts on topics ranging from Socrates to Russian ballerinas to Robert Parker.
Winemaker Jonathan Nagy explains vertical shoot positioning (VSP) and other techniques employed by the vineyard team at Byron to take advantage of the unique climate of the Santa Maria Valley.
The ubiquitous “Foxen Boys,” Bill Wathen and Dick Doré of Foxen Winery & Vineyard share their extensive history, perspectives on the diversity of grape growing in Santa Barbara County, and some of that great personality that comes out after being partners for a few decades.
No other winemaker is quite as jovial as Byron’s Jonathan Nagy.
Listen as he gives a straightforward lowdown on what it’s like to be married to another winemaker and how he makes the Santa Maria Valley’s principal varietals, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, distinctly different.
The pollination of little grapevine flowers almost immediately leads to a phase called “set,” where the fruit actually begins to appear on the cluster in the form of very small grape seeds, and berries to protect them. Continue reading
Bill Wathen takes us on another walk up to Tinaquaic Vineyard to see how things are progressing after a severe heat spike during bloom. Dick Doré joins us, talking about the economics surrounding dry farming.
As a printmaker, Karen Gearhart-Jensen is compelled to look at the texture and pattern of an object that catches her eye. Her enjoyment and growing fascination with the process of winemaking lead her to explore the ever-so-humble grape leaf.
Shortly after the grape cluster appears and grows a bit larger, which takes anywhere from three to eight weeks, tiny fragrant flowers appear all over it. This very important phase in viticulture is called “bloom.” Continue reading