Vineyard Tours, Part Two

A few posts down, I started to talk about the days that Charlie took us around several of the vineyards from which we source our fruit. Part 1 consisted of the day that we spent at Champoux vineyard, playing with huge, old vines and tasting yummy Champoux wines. For day two, we head north from the Tri-Cities.

The Bacchus and Dionysus Vineyards at Sagemoor. We don't source fruit from these vineyards, but stopped to see the oldest vines in the state. This is sort of the "quintessential" way to plant vines, facing south/southwest for maximum sun exposure on all sides of the vines, on a slope for good drainage, and near a body of water for cooling effects and good air flow.

The perfect way to tour vineyards at 9 am...

At Conner-Lee Vineyard: Charlie and I talking amongst our rows of Malbec. Charlie said that he really loves this vineyard for the more herbaceous and earthy tones that it contributes to a wine.

Charlie with Miguel Rodriguez with Cabernet at Weinbau Vineyard. Miguel (who will be at our wine club event next week) has been working in this vineyard since he was just a kid. Now, he is the vineyard manager and lives on the property with his wife. Remember at Champoux Vineyard that the clusters were just starting to flower? A day later and few hours further north, little berries were forming. What a difference a day (and change in microclimate) makes.

More southwestern exposure at Stillwater Creek Vineyard.

Stillwater Creek - slightly cooler than Weinbau but with tiny, tiny grape berries beginning to form. Remember, this was early June.

Do NOT let this happen to your tractor tire.