Clearing the Way
Leafing the vineyard for ease of pick, not for ripening
Walking our vineyards this week to get samples for our Cab Franc Blanc pick, and what I came across in our clone 214 blocks is in the image on the left .
Generally, we see leaves littering the ground like this a touch earlier in the season. And usually that detritus carpets the morning (east) side of the vine (if your vineyard is laid out on the north-south axes). There are more hours of afternoon sun than morning sun. Opening up the “morning” side of the vine will allow for more direct sunlight on the grape clusters when the intensity of the light is still low enough not to cause sunburn on the fruit. This opening up allows for more even ripening and for controlled metabolism of pyrazines in varieties like Cab Franc.
This photo shows the leaves lying on the morning side so we are promoting sun exposure and increased sugar production, yes?
Trick question!
This photo was taken in a block of clone 214 Cab Franc at Morgensen Vineyard in the Livermore Valley. This year, the fruit from this block will be used to make Cab Franc Blanc, a rare offering that has begun to differentiate Steven Kent Winery from other producers in California. Leaves have been pulled to open up the fruit zone, as can be seen in the photo on the right, to make it easier to pick. We are making a wine of low alcohol and high acid so the “ripeness” is not particularly desired.
In the next few days, a picking crew will come into the vineyard in the middle of the night, wearing headlamps, and the accessible fruit zone will assist in a speedy pick that gets the fruit to the winery first thing in the morning…and cold!