February Vineyard Update with Corky Roche

Winter finds us pruning and preparing for another season. Up and down the coast last season was extremely difficult.  We can only hope for better weather and this coming year.

Pruning on the frost-safe blocks has started and will continue until the end of next month. We wait to prune the frost sensitive blocks until we have buds starting to push, which slows their growth in spring and gives us less days with frost risk and green tissue.

Rainfall this season started out very well. In early January RME already showed way above normal with many individual days recording more than 5 inches in 24 hours!

Chilling in early winter is very important for grapes,and southern California frequently can be a problem. We started out with good chilling, and hope for cool temps the balance of the winter.


Until next time,

Corky Roche

Salinas, CA
Corky Roche's website: http://www.rochevineyardconsulting.com 
Follow Corky Roche on twitter: http://twitter.com/rovinco

October Vineyard Update with Corky Roche

September brought us record heat over most of California, and included Rosenthal Malibu Estate. Highs in the 100F range are normally not ideal for ripening wine grapes, but the vineyard fared very well. Aside from a small amount of raisining and sunburning of lower leaves, the vines and fruit are fine.

Today we are picking the Viognier and Muscat in the new block 12. We should have close to 200 cases of this wine in the coming year. This is our first vintage and the fruit quality looks fantastic.

Up and down the state, Coastal wine grapes are being picked like mad. The heat pushed all the early varieties into the fully ripe stage, and the later reds should be picked by the end of the month. Our Petit Verdot at RME will be harvested next week.
We now have had three days of very cool, blustery weather , which has actually helped to give the fruit a chance to truly ripen, without having sugar levels get too high.

Until next time,

Corky Roche

Salinas, CA
Corky Roche's website: http://www.rochevineyardconsulting.com
Follow Corky Roche on twitter: http://twitter.com/rovinco

August Vineyard Update with Corky Roche

We have finally entered summer at Rosenthal - The Malibu Estate ("RME"), and although it is at the end of August, we are thankful for the heat. State-wide temps have been so low that we are seeing ripening in most red varieties coming on a couple weeks late.

One bonus to having cool weather is the improved soil moisture status and the need for less irrigation. Our canopies look very good, and the crop will ripen easily.

We have two new varieties at RME that will have their first crop this 2010 season: Viognier and Muscat. We have a bit more than an acre so will have roughly 200 cases of the blend. Watch for it next year!

As we enter veraison (fruit coloring and softening), our risk of powdery mildew is reduced. Once fruit hits about 15 brix, mildew will not infect the clusters. However, the continued risk of Botrytis bunch rot combined with the risk of sunburning from the recent heat wave is keeping us on our toes!

Until next time,

Corky Roche

Salinas, CA
Corky Roche's website: http://www.rochevineyardconsulting.com
Follow Corky Roche on twitter: http://twitter.com/rovinco

From the Proprietor: A Journey to the Vineyards of Israel

Hi to all of the readers and responders of the Rosenthal Estate Vineyard blog from George Rosenthal in Israel. 

Early modern day vineyards here in Israel were first established by members of the Rothchild families.  We visited vineyards in the Golan Heights which account for some of the finer wines produced in the region due to the high elevation and cooler climate.  It's interesting to note that this area has been recognized by some wine writers as producing 90 point wine (that is, if you put any credence in the point system).  As many of you know, I am a great believer in simply buying and drinking what tastes good to me with my meals.

We've also had the opportunity to visit vineyards on our drive from the Dead Sea, which is the lowest point on earth, and as far as I can determine the hottest at 117F the day we were there!  The hot temperatures along with the drip irrigation systems produce interesting wines from these lower elevations, although not particularly tasty to my palate.  In the northern part of Israel, we eventually wound our way from Safed, which produces wines in the higher elevations, to Haifa which is more coastal in the area of the Carmel Mountains.

It has been a joy to experience wines from these various regions of Israel where the difference in terrior is truly palatable from the low areas of the Dead Sea to the elevations of the Golan Heights.  The wine business is growing here in exports and as I have often stated, my greatest pleasure with wine is the opportunity to sample those the world over.

Many generations of people in this area have been enjoying wines for over 2,500 years.  So, one thing I know for sure, is the fact that this wonderful elixir we call wine has provided to so many the same joy here in Israel that we all experience the world over when partaking in a glass with friends, family, or associates.  What else can you name that has provided so much pleasure consistently over the years?  Something tells me it begins with an 's' and ends with an 'x'.

Health and happiness to all,
George

July Vineyard Update with Corky Roche

Rosenthal Malibu Estate is experiencing a very cool summer. Even with the current heat spell, most fruit in the area (and state-wide) will be late this year. However, RME is situated in a warm area of the Malibu/Santa Monica Mountains which aids in ripening, even in a cool year.

Crop levels are always adjusted at RTME for maximum quality, and in those blocks with more fruit than desired we are now dropping clusters.

With all the rain and fog this spring and summer, we have needed to be diligent in our treatments for both mildew and botrytis bunch rot. At this time infections of both are minimal. Many vineyards have battled, and will continue to be threatened by both this season. To date, the dreaded European Grapevine Moth has not been found in LA County. Its spread is being closely monitored in every county. Expert opinions are that control will not be difficult, even with organic means, if found. This is the first time is has been found in North America. Invasive species continue to threaten all agriculture, and wine grapes are no exception.
With the wet winter, we have many blocks that have not needed any irrigation, even through July! Our wells are recharged, and the soil moisture content was perfect as the vines grew through the spring. Rains like we had this year help to leach salts that accumulate during irrigation and dry years as well. I have blocks I will not irrigate at all this season, "dry farming" through harvest.

The market for grapes state-wide is very difficult for growers. With production of high quality Coastal fruit up, and consumption of mid priced wines down, growers are hoping we will all drink more wine!
Until next time,
Corky Roche
Salinas, CA
Corky Roche's website: http://www.rochevineyardconsulting.com 
Follow Corky Roche on twitterhttp://twitter.com/rovinco