Pruning Photo Finish

Yesterday was a big day at the ranch – ranch manager Severiano Deloera and his team of master  vineyardists finished pruning the Brothers’ vineyard.  The Brothers is our largest and most challenging block because it’s closely spaced and “cane pruned” – a more sophisticated and difficult pruning method. One silver lining of this dry winter has been fewer rain days – Seve’s small team is on track to finish the pruning without needing to call in reinforcements, ensuring a high level of accuracy and uniformity in the work.  They’ve only got two single-acre blocks to go: the Cabernet Franc and the Sauvignon Blanc.  Seve always leaves the Sauvignon Blanc for last – it’s planted in the only spot on the ranch susceptible to frost and late pruning will delay budbreak, protecting the vines farther into the frost season.  It looks like we'll finish pruning without a day to spare -- the first buds are just starting to crack in the earliest blocks.  More good news – it’s just started raining!