Sunrise after Pruning: A Vineyard Update

While the official beginning of springtime has not yet arrived, it is safe to say that winter’s grip is loosening around the estate vineyard. With blue skies and vibrant green hills, we can’t help but feel optimistic for the season to come. Scroll through this gallery to join us for a virtual walk through the freshly-pruned vineyard in the early morning light. 

Our younger vines have lasted well through another winter, and they grow stronger each year. 

Our older vines continue to prove their worth, with gnarled branches that hold the story of phenomenal past vintages.

As the sun comes up, every step in the vineyard is illuminated by golden light, marking the start of another day in the early 2025 growing season. 

The dew that gathers on the grassy bands in between each row of vines adds to the brilliant freshness of this time of year. 

Meanwhile, on the vines, the recent pruning has caused the vines to begin pulling nutrients from the ground and pushing sap out of the ends. This fills the branches with vitality and prepares the vine for the first excitement of the growing season--bud break. 

Bud break is an early awakening for the vines, a true omen of spring. However, it will be some time before we see this auspicious milestone in the estate vineyard.

In the meantime, we are seeing the beauty of sunlight on bare vines as each block prepares for another great year. 

Even without a leafy canopy or tender green tendrils, the views around the vineyard are worth savoring. 

It’s always worth taking a moment to stop and look closely. You’ll see sunlight captured in drops of sap, and a promise of spring to come. 

Every vine has a story to tell. Without the careful attention paid to each row, the wines we love would be impossible. 

Pruning encourages healthy growth that produces good fruit. Cutting off the remnants of last year’s vines is an essential part of creating a healthy vineyard. 

A vineyard full of happy vines will make good fruit, which is the first step in making great wines. 

Thank you for joining us for this virtual walk in the vineyard. If you would like to see the vineyard up close, we invite you to visit our tasting room or book a Mello Cielo Vineyard Experience!