Bloom!
My head is spinning there is so much going on. In a nut shell, we are managing the vineyard, getting the vineyard certified organic, there are two vintages in barrel, we are preparing to announce our new wine label, we joined the Coombsville Vinters and Growers (CVG) and we are getting closer to the community.
Let’s start off with the vineyard. As 2023 was such a great year the expectations for 2024 are even higher with respect to what we want to accomplish in the vineyard. For the past three years we have been running the vineyard 100% organic. It’s kind of funny, from an economic point of view there is really no incentive to do this because the wine buying market does not generally distinguish between organic and non-organic when buying wine and the labor it takes to maintain the vineyard is back breaking (at least for me, Omar, the vineyard manager, is mythical in his strength and never seems to be tired). As a side note, sometimes I think Omar laughs at me as he watches how long I can last in the vineyard. When I am exhausted he steps in and finishes the job…it is very humbling.
OK, let’s get back on track here…So I had to ask myself why be an organic farm when it seems no one really cares about what we are doing. My answer is that people do care, and it is a way to make the working conditions for those in the vineyard safer. The people who care are those who want the earth to be healthier. While they may not drink wine, they passionately care about anything anyone can do to contribute to a sustainable earth that future generations of any species can continue to inherit and experience. In speaking to Omar about being organic, he helped me to understand that not only are the people working in Harmony School Vineyard in a healthy environment, but we are also impacting the people working in the neighboring vineyards. For some farmers it is just not feasible to be organic, but I do hope that as more vinters adopt organic approaches, solutions will be developed that will make it more economical for wider adoption.
This year we sought to get a certification through CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers). The process is difficult, and the standards are high but the people in the organization are passionate and want to do whatever they can to see farms successfully be organic. It has been a learning experience. I am grateful for the support the organization gives me and their patience with me as I come up to speed on the high standards they hold. Last week we had our final audit at the vineyard and it went really well. Like any audit, we were left with some notes on what we can do to make things even better but I feel we are in good shape. Fingers crossed that by the end of the summer we will be displaying our certification in the vineyard!
Overall, the vineyard is looking great. As compared to prior years, I have never seen it so vigorous. This year we put down a cover crop and let it grow to about the height of the cordons. This means that the roots of the cover crop went deeper into the soil to help create pathways for air, water, and organic matter to travel. Once the cover crop bloomed we tilled it into the ground making for a nutrient rich soil that will benefit the health of the vines. The tough part is getting to the weeds underneath the vines because it is not practical to use a tractor to get at them. So, we have to take the weeds out by hand. I nearly passed out doing this from the exposure to the sun. I finally figured out that I would last longer in the vineyard weeding early in the morning when the fog from San Pablo Bay is still blocking the sun and at dusk when the sun is in the West versus directly overhead and the breeze from the bay starts to pick up. These are the type of lessons that I can not learn in a book but, boy, it would be easier if it was in a book!
There are many things to take in being in the vineyard that long. I was seeing ladybugs, bees, small sparrows, squirrels, crows, hawks, rabbits, the neighbors’ dogs, the olive trees with the fruit setting, fruit on the plum trees, the buds where fruit will be on the pomegranate trees, the blossoms on the vine, water from the heavy rains we had this year retained deep in the soil along with the organic matter that is a world unto itself…it all works together and with a deep breath I take it in and am grateful.
New connections! My neighbor west of me, Milt, is putting in a new vineyard. It is going to be amazing as he is sitting on some great terroir. I need to ask him what he is going to name it. We met for coffee at Napa Valley Roasters in downtown Napa early in the morning. We spend so much time on the property it is always refreshing to get into town and see what is going on. As the day goes on the coffee shop will fill with tourist but early in the morning you can catch farmers from other vineyards. On Fridays a lady sets up a booth and sells really good bagels…guilty pleasure for me!
One of the things Milt and I discussed was my connection to the community. I joined the Coombsville Vinters and Growers (CVG) but missed there amazing annual tasting event. So I was still not really plugged in. So that evening I had met with Roberto Alfaro of Arador to catch up on his success at Napa Palisades Saloon. Towards the end of our time together, I got a call from Milt. He said exuberantly,” You want get connected to the community? Well then come on over to my friend’s house where we will get you connected!”
So I found my way to Jim Urda’s home (he owns Immaculate Vineyards) not knowing what to expect. When I arrived, there were about 20 people in one of the most amazing homes I have ever been in. I walked into the front door and stood there thinking about how I was going to integrate with everyone, and I must I been standing too long because out of nowhere, Milt grabs me by the arm and heads me into the group of people. Everyone was welcoming and had personalities that made the home come alive. As we were talking the smell of wonderful BBQ was coming through the opened wall which looked out west over the valley so far that Mount Veeder looked like a frame picture with the crescent moon hanging low in the clear sky.
Jim, an authentic larger than life person (both physically and with his personality) comes in and welcomes me. Jim is also the president of CVG and as such he took the time to introduce me to everyone and then took Milt, his wife Lisa and me to his wine cellar. On the way we stopped to pay respect to the statue of the Virgin Mary which served as inspiration for the name of Jim’s vineyard. The wine cellar contains an awe-inspiring collection of wines from around the world. Jim, having only known me a couple of minutes generously breaks out an amazing, aged Burgundy Wine, Chambolle-Musigny Les Bussierres. In the solitude of his cellar the four of discussed Coombsville and what it means to be a custodian of this AVA. In simple terms, Coombsville is the last vestige of what Napa wine farming used to be as often portrayed in movies and literature. There are some big dogs for sure but most of the vinters are farmers with relatively smaller vineyards that are privately held works of the owners’ passion for producing the best quality grapes. Additionally, the community is a network of neighbors who work together to support each other, humanizing the entire experience.
As we left the cellar to rejoin the party I hear out of nowhere,” Hey Jim,” I look around and there is Frank Bishop, the person who helped me to join CVG in the first place. Frank and I were going to meet at his farm the next day, so I did not expect to see him. He is a very humble person who as you peel back the layers reveals a life full of amazing accomplishments and a rooted love for family. Whenever I leave a conversation with Frank, I feel like I have a little bit more of life figured out.
This is a very long-winded way that does not give justice to but helps to show how kind, passionate and authentic the culture in Coombsville is. I do not know what I did to deserve this, but this slice of heaven is dear to me and I will never take it for granted.