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Thank you... Definitely had a lot of help from people who knew what they were doing. I provided grunt labor and water bottles. As for sources, of course - happy to share. One of the joys of living in wine country is that stuff is readily available - except during Covid. All of my suppliers had...

Next steps: 1) go through irrigation system and insure all drippers are functioning - we have hard water and calcium buildup can block the emitter holes. 2) placate my need for order and add additional ties to the irrigation tubing - it’s hanging down in places - see the last picture- and it...

Lastly, as shown in posts 130 and 131, last year we took the expedient step of mounting the plastic deer fence to the T posts from the northern and southern most rows. Well, that worked fine until the grapes recovered from the deer pruning and took off again late last year and again this year...

While we were installing the catch wires, I also went through and did a clean up on the vines - removing all of the suckers as step one. Then, with the vines that had woody cordons from last year, I went ahead and selected spur positions and eliminated extra canes. With the vines that had...

Well, it’s been a busy few months both in and out of the vineyard. So it’s time for an update. The growing season started slowly here with May Gray followed by June Gloom - lots of foggy cool days and practically no hot days. As a result, experienced growers tell me that bud break was about a...

Vineyard is looking great!

That’s a machine we could all use!! Vineyard looking great vines are really popping

Interesting enough, no signs of the deer on the cameras since that night… lots of jack rabbits, a skunk or two and a fox but no deer. I guess they got the message!

I also used rebar - I’m pretty sure mine is 3/8 or 1/4 Rather than 1/2. The local vineyard supply houses have pre cut pieces in bundles of 100. No signs of burning. I have the rebar attached to the cordon wire and the irrigation wire using little wire clamps. Went up really fast.

Welcome to WMT from the Central Coast

I had a 120 bottle wine fridge way before I started making wine….

Yup … from having pictures of a neighbor’s German Shepard in a similar location, I’d say smaller than the shepard but still 30-40 pounds…

Had a little help last night with deer control…

Fantastic photos- although definitely ones I’d prefer not to see… I’ve experienced a few too many of these living in California and I know when they call in Tanker 10 it’s a big one. Hope all was resolved quickly and without loss of life or too much property.

I found a home winemaking organization and worked with an experienced member as a part of a beginners group.

I do both. I make wine on my own in smaller batches (Carboys) and do one or two group efforts each year where we buy grapes in large enough quantities that we get higher quality grapes and get to use commercial barrels etc. I suspect there will be many in this third group.

I wasn’t sure how to vote - I made 3 barrels last year as part of a group plus assorted carboys that totaled to just over 200 gallons. But I’ll only keep about 30 gallons with the rest off to other group members. I ended up casting my vote for the bigger number since that seemed more consistent...

Thanks all - thought I should circle back with what I ended up buying for future growers reference. I ended up going to my local Orchard Valley Supply (great store) and getting 13 gauge. 14 was what was recommended here via PM as well as in conversations with other home growers here in the...

I’m hoping to install the catch wires on my vsp trellis this weekend. Irrigation wire and cordon wire were put in last year when I planted the vineyard. As the grapes grow out this year, it’s pretty obvious that I need to finish up the trellis. Any suggestions on what sized wire to use...

Welcome to WMT!