Edg Clif Blog

Lets plant some grape vines!

We are planting our 3rd vineyard of wine grapes on April 21-22, 2012. We have chosen Vidal Blanc for its hardiness and versatility. This French American Hybrid grape will make a light, crisp dry white wine. This sturdy grape can also be used to make ice wine if left on the vine until after frost or someday the juice can be used to make a sparkling wine.

The first steps in the vineyard establishment process have already been completed with clearing the field of buildings and fences and grading the contour of the hill-side. It was no small task to remove the sturdy well-built cattle sheds from our grandfathers era. After they were dismantled, the bulldozer came to remove the generously poured concrete foundations. Last fall a couple of very large dump trucks came to add over 60 loads of soil to contour the hill-side. Soil tests were taken, mineral amendments were spread and grass seed planted in the new vineyard. This spring rows have been laid out, vines ordered and now irrigation supply lines are being installed under ground.

Planting the vines

Other tasks include deep subsoil tilling in the vines rows, steel support post installation where each vine will be planted, end post assembly construction, training wire run in each row and finally the actual vine planting. As the vines are planted they are enclosed in a grow tube especially design to accelerate growth, provide support and help protect the young tender shoots.  Each tube will remain on the plant for the entire first season and will be removed as soon as the temperatures start to drop in late summer.

We will be planting 600 vines in this new vineyard.  Our ‘Grape Friends’ are invited to join us to make this another fun event in the vineyard. Many of our friends have participated in lots of vineyard tasks such as vine tying and training, grape cluster thinning, grow tube removal, grape harvesting, and most recently spring pruning. Everyone enjoys learning more about growing quality wine grapes and the wine making process. Having our friends help us in the vineyard makes it fun for everyone.

When the day is done we will celebrate our planting with a glass of Edg-Clif 2011 wine in the new vineyard, Cheers!