October 2009: Fall Bounty and Winter Cover Crop

At the winery, we are finally slowing down from a busy harvest season that started in the first few days of September. All the grapes are picked and we are attending to the last few fermentations. We are enjoying the bounty of autumn, including some pumpkins that my mother Carole grows every year.


Meanwhile, the summer cover crop was long since mowed, and the winter cover crop of wheat is well established. The fall colors play nicely with the green of the wheat.


Areas with patchier stands of wheat receive an additional seeding, straw, and fibrous netting for erosion control against the coming rains.

August 2009: Cover Crop Establishment

We plan to lay the ground fallow for several years before planting the new vineyard. This will help rejuvenate the soil, which was farmed for decades before we planted it in grapes 35 years ago. An important aspect of the fallow period is cover crop establishment. Cover crops play many roles--in our case, it will prevent erosion of soil and introduce organic matter to encourage a healthy soil ecosystem. For the summer, we have selected Sudan Grass, which is abundant in growth and organic matter formation. Additionally, pests such as nematodes do not thrive on Sudan Grass.

We prepared the soil for the Sudan Grass in the following manner:

(Below) We spread 5 tons per acre of compost on the soil to support the cover crop and improve the soil for the future vines.


(Below) We then ripped the soil to incorporate the compost.


(Below) The soil was preparedl for seeds using a 10 foot disk on a John Deere 44 40 Tractor.


(Below) A handful of Sudan Grass seed.


(Below) Marty then used a Brillion seed drill to apply the Sudan Grass at 35 lbs of seed per acre.


(Below) Finally, after sewing the seeds, the Sudan Grass is irrigated to stimulate sprouting.

June 21st: Father's Day Fly Over

To better understand how the soil changes in the replant blocks, Dad and I commission Dragonfly Aviation to take us up for aerial photos. In the photos, you can see the Octagon House, the winery, the replant blocks, and our pond between the vines.

June 2009: Mixing of Amendments and Root Removal

(Above) Mario Mengali from northern Sonoma County operated a 4 foot mold board plow to mix in the amendments and lift up deep roots. (Below) Vineyard crew member Salvador Ayala spades in the amendments prior to deep mixing with the plow.


(Above) Vineyard crew members collect roots uplifted by the plow, and place them in one of several piles (below).


(Below) The plow exposes the variation in our soil below: The red hill top soil begins abruptly next to the yellow Goldridge soil.

June 2009: Amendments Applied

As part of an effort to re-nourish the soil prior to its fallow period, we applied dolomitic lime and potassium sulfate to the soil. Note that we applied extra lime in stripes where the vines used to be. This is because those areas never received lime while in production, while the vine middles were given maintenance additions of lime.

(Above) Stripes of dolomite on the land where the vines used to grow.

(Below) Additional dolomite and amendments applied evenly over the land after the initial lime stripes.

Spring 2009: Vine Removal

In Spring 2009, with permit in hand, we remove the old vine stumps. (Above) Tom Dehlinger inspects operator Bob Maddocks' excavation work. (Below) Afterwards, a replant block free of vines and smoothed over.



The vine roots are unchippable due to sand and dirt. They are placed in several piles to be dried prior to burning.

Fall 2008: Trunk Chipping

After the trellis is disassembled, the trunks and arms are sawed off and the vine is left a stump.
The old vine material was chipped and spread over the ground to return the minerals and organic matter to the soil. (Above) Carmen Dehlinger walks in front of the old vine stumps.

Fall 2008: Vine Trellis Dissembly

(Above) In Fall of 2008, the vines to be replanted are given a severe pruning to facilitate disassembly of the lyre trellis and wires (Below).



(Below) The trellis material is stacked to the side. The lyre hardware is on the left, vine stakes are in the middle, and end posts on the right.