The start of the new year is always a great time for observation and contemplation in the vineyards. The vines have gone dormant and dropped all of their leaves allowing for the perfect opportunity to take stock, and evaluate how effective the pruning and training practices we implemented this time last year were. It is also a good time to look at our overall vineyard health as it’s very plain to see at this time without the canopy or fruit developing on the vines. Every year we go through a vineyard self-evaluation and ask ourselves what we can improve on. Through this time of observation, it has come to our attention that we are in need of some improvements on the trellis system in our chardonnay block, and we have decided to upgrade our trellising system. We will be adding two additional sets of wire on each side of the vines so we train the vines to grow taller vertically. This will improve this vineyard block in many ways. With the canes growing in more of a vertical shoot position it will allow for more airflow, sunlight, and better canopy management. In doing this our Chardonnay will be less susceptible to mildew, dust mites, and other vineyard pests that can potentially deter from the quality of the fruit. However, this means that we will be upgrading all of our end posts, adding new stakes and cross arms, and running new wires across all of the rows. This is a very time intensive, and laborious task, but it is our core belief here at Sierra Vista that great wine is made in the vineyards first.