Into the Vines

Man wearing a cowboy hat inspecting grapevines in a vineyard with yellow flowers under a clear blue sky.

Dry-farming was a technique used in California in the late 1800s and early 1900s when irrigation was not practical or wide spread.

You might ask how this is done when other crops in California receive water by drip irrigation?

Vineyard with grapevines in sunlight

A vineyard with pruned grapevines in rows, surrounded by a field of yellow flowers under a partly cloudy sky.

For this to work, not only does the rainfall have to be relatively high but the soils need to retain the moisture and let it percolate deeply.

In the beginning, spacing is important when you plant. Our vines are widely spaced in a 12-foot diamond pattern (349 vines per acre).

Close-up of a field with blooming yellow wildflowers and a blurred background under a blue sky.

Dry-farming isn’t for everyone. The yield is somewhat smaller than irrigated vineyards and it doesn’t lend itself to mechanized harvesting. Drip irrigation adds weight to the harvest by plumping the grapes with water. Dry-farmed grapes tend to be small with more intense flavor.

Dog standing on grass with yellow flowers, eyes closed

But our vineyard is grown truly dry-farmed and truly organically.