Tim Krause
Blog 1 - Boot Camp!!!
The day started with 14 eager students ready to head for the fields to learn about growing grapes and making wine in 5 easy installments. What seemed like a dream job on a glorious day quickly turned into an intensive lecture on pruning which if done incorrectly can really wreak havoc on the vineyard!!
Professor Graziano explained in words and art the nuances of pruning. It was enough to scare the surgeon in the group to cut his finger rather than make a mistake on the holy lollipop hill!! To be truthful, the winemaker, John Graziano, did a fantastic job explaining the importance of pruning and articulating how a great crop and vineyard starts with exceptional pruning. Much like taking care of fine speciman trees, the better you maintain, the better they produce and look!
After our lecture we headed to Lollipop Hill, the home of 1 acre of exquisite Tocai fruilano grapes! Everyone had a signature row and everyone was eager to demonstrate their new found pruning skills!
The day was rounded out with a fantastic tasting which highlighted the nuances between stainless steel tocai versus barrel fermented tocai. Everyone acknowledged that we tasted 2 very different wines from the same varietal and the same vineyard. The group left with a great appreciation for what it takes to get the vines in shape and the amount of time and labor it takes to manage a vineyard. We also learned the importance of a winemaker, who not only manages his garden, but also is responsible for producing an exceptional product…even when the common public is allowed into his garden to prune and sets him back 5 years on a great block that now has vineyard status!!
Oiy Vay!
What is the wine world coming too!
To be continued....
Professor Graziano explained in words and art the nuances of pruning. It was enough to scare the surgeon in the group to cut his finger rather than make a mistake on the holy lollipop hill!! To be truthful, the winemaker, John Graziano, did a fantastic job explaining the importance of pruning and articulating how a great crop and vineyard starts with exceptional pruning. Much like taking care of fine speciman trees, the better you maintain, the better they produce and look!
After our lecture we headed to Lollipop Hill, the home of 1 acre of exquisite Tocai fruilano grapes! Everyone had a signature row and everyone was eager to demonstrate their new found pruning skills!
The day was rounded out with a fantastic tasting which highlighted the nuances between stainless steel tocai versus barrel fermented tocai. Everyone acknowledged that we tasted 2 very different wines from the same varietal and the same vineyard. The group left with a great appreciation for what it takes to get the vines in shape and the amount of time and labor it takes to manage a vineyard. We also learned the importance of a winemaker, who not only manages his garden, but also is responsible for producing an exceptional product…even when the common public is allowed into his garden to prune and sets him back 5 years on a great block that now has vineyard status!!
Oiy Vay!
What is the wine world coming too!
To be continued....
