Fence Stile Vineyards & Winery

Winter... Really?

2012-01-16T19:15:00.003-06:00

Well, it’s been roughly six years since my migration from California to Missouri….. and I still can NOT figure out the weather! Seems I’m not alone though – the vines are unsure exactly what they are supposed to be doing also. Memories of the 2007 Easter freeze still haunt winegrowers in this region and we are therefore, reluctantly, still delaying the start of pruning. Does a watched Winter ever freeze?

With pruning on hold, our attention has turned to the nectars of past year’s harvests. The Chambourcin we released a week ago has been well received and welcomed by those who had to do without for far too many months. Our first Norton has matured in a collection of barrels and we plan to bottle it towards the end of the month – look for a release party in late February. The Vignoles, Seyval and Vidal are awaiting their turn….
Stay tuned.

William

Beginnings

2012-01-05T08:59:00.001-06:00

And a new year has started… Not just on the calendar but in the vineyards as well. Soon we’ll start pruning the vines and making the thousands of decisions that will affect the quality and quantity of this year’s crop. In the meantime, the mild temperatures have allowed us to get caught up on maintenance and projects around the winery.

Our new Chambourcin is in the bottle - the release party is this Saturday – and soon we’ll be blending five barrels of Norton and bottling it also. It’s an exciting time of the year – finishing up the wines from last years harvest and preparing the vineyards for this years crop – and I wouldn’t trade it for anything…

William

Giving Thanks

2011-11-20T23:14:00.003-06:00

Thanksgiving has historically been, for me, an occasion to gather with family or friends to enjoy good food (accompanied by an excellent bottle of wine, of course), conversation and a friendly game of cards or Scrabble. Occasionally something I read or saw would remind of the holiday’s origin and its true meaning but I rarely took the time to appreciate what I had to be thankful for. But life has a way of giving wake up calls to those of us who take our many blessings for granted. So this year I humbly give thanks for the life I have been handed and especially for:

My incredible wife Shriti who has fiercely fought for me, my health and our future together. Her unmatched fortitude is responsible for my being here today. She is tough and there is no one I would rather have in my corner. I owe her my life and so much more….

My son Amrish who has sacrificed many things while my medical issues were being addressed. He has always been the first in line to cheer me up or offer a seemingly mindless distraction.

The many friends and even acquaintances who have offered their support and prayers over the past several months. I never imagined our building a winery would result in a gathering of such wonderful people who care so much about our wellbeing.

I am blessed and will be forever thankful.

William

Fall means Fire Pit Fridays & Football

2011-11-09T21:11:00.000-06:00

Frimly in the grip of fall now sliding into early winter, we are enjoying the fire pit, the mulled wine and the football frenzie. We have also switched to more indoor events (Pinot Noir tasting coming up) but we have one more harvest on the calendar. This will be new for us - the grapes should have been harvested a month ago but we bird netted them and let them hang. This will be our first late harvest. For those joining us for the harvest, be patient with us - we haven't done this before so we are figuring it out.

We also revised our wine club for 2012 and have included pick-up parties now. Started with a Friday night pickup and quickly got feedback (hello e-mail) that one day isn't enough. So - we switched it to a pick-up weekend this time around and we'll see how it goes.

We have been barrel tasting the Chamborcin and Norton - the Chambourcin will be bottled in the next month and Norton soon after that. Considering throwing out a Norton barrel tasting night - thoughts??

Glad it's fall and we are able to enjoy all the fall things we love!

Hello Autumn

2011-10-14T15:37:00.000-05:00

It had to happen - the weather had to turn cooler at some point! Haven't we had the best weather for the last few weeks but it is now getting nippy! We are still holding out for sitting outside as much as we can so have continued with movies on the patio (often posting last minute) to make it happen, one more time! The movies have been great fun because people share a new experience, together, over a bottle of wine. Even folks that have seen the movies before say it was a new experience for them.

The Autumn chill has reawakened our taste for mulled wine and because we could never keep up with the demand, we have switched from the campfire kettle to the 50 cup urn!! In fact, the mulled wine is perfect for the movie night as well.

Many of you have asked (and thank you), how we did with the harvest (given the heart surgery). We harvested the Seyval and the Vignoles and fermented it before the surgery. We also harvested the Chambourcin but sold those grapes as we didn't have time to ferment those. The Concords are being used for our Grape Stomp weekend and the Vidal Blanc are netted with the hope that we will harvest them in November for a late harvest wine. Yummy!

Looking ahead? We are back and are excited to get folks back to the winery so we are planning blending workshops, barrel tastings and wine education classes over the winter. We are back. :)

Thank you & we appreciate your support!

2011-08-30T22:44:00.000-05:00

Thank you for the support you have all given us through this very stressful time! We have really appreciated the support you have shown us. From all the help at harvest to the offers to look after things while we are focused on William's surgery to the company (and distraction) you provide when you visit - thank you!

Being closed for almost a month is disruptive (we apologize to the musicians we had to cancel and the private events we had to reschedule) but plan to be back stronger and with creative new events and offerings. Of course, we will celebrate when we are back and we still plan to pull in one more harvest so there is lots to look forward to. Having so much support from everyone is giving a lot of strength - thank you!

Harvest time!

2011-08-15T18:21:00.000-05:00

At the end of the day, viticulture is agriculture - we have the same set of issues - pests, weather and lots of uncontrollable factors. We don't have to replant every year but we do have to maintain the vines and keep them healthy year after year.

This time of the year holds it's own excitement - what are the sugar levels (we test daily)? will the rains impact the sugar levels? hey, we need volunteers to help us harvest - what if the weather is bad on the one day we have helpers? what if no one shows? what about the birds? bees? etc...... The vineyards look great right now - full canopy, beautiful clusters of grapes and all the potential of the next vintage hanging right there! If you are photographer, now is a great time to be in the vineyards. If you are a nature lover, now is a great time to be in the vineyards (bees, butterflies and birds galore). If you are a wine lover, now is a great time to be in the vineyards - the mind races to what this will taste like in the bottle - builds anticipation. If you like the process of wine making, now is the right time to be in the vineyards - every small vineyard we know of will say thank you when you show up to help harvest! Our harvest for the Seyval is Sunday, August 21st - can't wait!

Excitement is building

2011-07-08T18:12:00.000-05:00

The vineyards are beautiful right now - you can see the fruit set and start to imagine what the harvest will be like in 10 - 12 weeks. We're going through and doing some cluster thinning and starting to do our planning for the fall. The weather has been pretty good for the most part and the sunsets are amazing! Have you seen the latest pictures posted on facebook by Sarah and Jennifer? Check them out if you haven't.

This is the season of 'fests' - we just participated in the Waterfest and will be at the Winefest on the 16th. We will also be at the BBQ Fly-in and at the Dog show so - find us at these fests or visit with us at the tasting room.

Summer Solstice Party & Father's Day Barbeque

2011-06-13T22:12:00.001-05:00

We've been focused on the vineyards - the vines are lush, the fruit set is beautiful and we can honestly get lost wandering in the vineyards for hours. When we're not doing that, we're at the picnic tables by the pond or on the patio making new friends. The Missouri Wine Passport program has brought lots of new guests out and we've enjoyed watching them progress to the various level as they explore the Missouri wine industry. We've even had some visits from other vineyard and winery owners as we all get to know each other better and learn from one another. We've added 6 kinds of berries, some nut trees, maple trees to line the driveway and several varieties of herbs on the patio. New events for the year have included doggie days, a weekend pass to the vineyard, Fire Pit Fridays and several new musical artists. We've even added picnic benches and a new 11 foot fire pit! Now - we look forward to one of our favorite weekends - the weekend closest to Summer Solstice and our summer party! Enjoy music, the Father's day BBQ and just celebrating the summer! Cheers!

Busy time at the vineyard

2011-05-20T21:38:00.001-05:00

It is a busy time at the vineyard. We're training the new growth, brushing off suckers and even thinning some shoots already. The trellis wires are tightened and we even planted some lavender on the patio for color and fragrance. We have now started our music series on the weekends and the Fire Pit Fridays are on in full swing. We have also signed up for about 6 festivals and will be looking for help from friends and wine club members. The newest summer event will be the 'weekend pass to the winery' - the ability to camp and sleep at the winery. We'll have to see how that works but that is currently planned for June 17th. That is also our barbecue weekend. This weather has been unpredictable but we are determined to spend this year focused on the basics in the vineyards and the wine making. The rest will take care of itself!

2 years - what a fun time!

2011-04-07T20:57:00.001-05:00

We release a new wine tomorrow evening (Friday April 8th). This is a red blend - something to sip by the fire pit. The fire pit has actually become a symbol of ours. As we visit other area wineries, they often comment that they have heard about the fire pit and stories people tell about sitting there, meeting new friends and ending an enjoyable evening. To be honest, we use the fire pit even on days when we aren't open. We will be up there working and start the fire as a place to come and warm up, stop and plan and reheat meals. It smells great, gives us a reason to stop and take a break and quite frankly, reminds us of why we have created what we've created.

Tomorrow, we are releasing a new wine - Fire Pit Red - a blend of Chambourcin (our favorite), Noiret (an amazing grape we grew in a small quantity but will be expanding), St. Vincent (love this grape for blending and drinkability) and Syrah (spicy and full of character). Of all of our wines, this one is probably the most characterist of who we are. This wine has a lot of layers, soft, subtle and unassuming but absolutely holds it's own. We are excited about introducing this wine to our friends and guests - there is a story behind the wine and the label - we believe this is going to be the new favorite for the dry red folks.

And back to the 2nd anniversary celebrations - the weather is NOT cooperating. We've got live music (but the wind is suppose to be so high, he won't be able to play); we've got fire spinners (can't spin fire if it's raining or storming) and we had to reschedule Becca's play day on Sunday (afternoon severe weather predicted - don't need a bunch of upset wet dogs in the tasting room). Is this going to deter us? Heck NO! All 4 of us (William, Amrish, Becca and Shriti) plan to be at the vineyard all weekend to celebrate the fact that the past two years have been an amazing adventure - a journey that has exceed our expectations and has brought a lot of amazing people into our lives.

This weekend - we are grateful for all the blessing we have had and the people we have met. Come out and celebrate - have a glass of wine, share a bottle or take some home. It is all about the friendship - Good fences make good neighbors, a Fence Stile makes neighbors, good friends!

Cheers!

Getting set for our 2nd anniversary celebrations

2011-03-09T12:42:00.001-06:00

2 years! Hard to believe but we will be at 2 years as a winery in just a month! Lots to do between now and then - plant berries, plant nut trees, plant Maples for the drive, line up the saturday series of music, hope for better weather so we don't have to reschedule any of our artists, create Becca's doggie play area (so she can invite friends up), etc. So - the good part, we get to get out and enjoy the spring. The better part -- we have had lots of people who want to get out too so hopefully we'll have help and be able to spend time with friends (and make new ones). :)

March Madness

2011-02-27T22:27:00.001-06:00

For many, March Madness is about basketball. Our madness is very different! The weather has been maddening for a start. And, we are almost done with the pruning. We have also ordered nut trees, maple trees and berries to be planted - targeting April 16th as a planting day - let us know if you are interested. Other madness? Well, we're going to start opening up a couple of friday evenings starting March 11th - Firepit Fridays. We are so looking forward to being able to dig out of the snow and enjoy our time with all of our friends that visit us on the weekends. We aren't quite sure we are ready to wander into berries and nuts but what the heck - let's plant them and see what happens. :)

Frosty February

2011-02-07T20:26:00.000-06:00

Football is behind us and we are back from the grape and wine conference. It is now time to prune the vines (although we may stop for the single digit days)! Pruning is the beginning of our season - that is when we visit last year's story, put it behind us and write this year's tale! This time of the year is when we pick the number of buds and spurs to leave - goal is to achieve the best balance for each vine.

This is also a good time to think of the coming season (how many times should we have music at the vineyard? how many events should we plan? should we open up any friday evenings? lots of questions and lots of planning)!

Of course, now is when the greenhouse catalogs are arriving - should we add a berry patch? more vines? fruit trees? nut trees? pumpkin patch? roses? herbs?? Oh wait - we need to deal with what we have planted and dig out of the snow first. Ok - focus on the pruning and let's wait to thaw out. We'll think about planting more stuff in a month or so! :)

Frigid January

2011-01-18T14:56:00.000-06:00

The extreme cold is disruptive and a little depressing - on the other hand, it is the perfect excuse to sit by the fire. :) So, that is what we have been doing on the weekends. When guests come in, we sit by the fire with them and chat. It is a slower pace for us but it has given us time to create some new friendships and deepen a few others.

We are going to hold off pruning for another couple of weeks. We know that a lot of the vineyards have started already but February will likely be our starting time given the coldness and the length of the forecasted winter.

We will also be attending the Missouri Wine and Grape Conference the first weekend in February so hopefully, that will give us lots of great ideas and new things we can be doing!

Happy New Year

2011-01-03T20:26:00.001-06:00

Hello 2011! We took two weeks off so we could get 'caught up' on a few things and visit other wineries and renew friendships! It has been a great break but we have missed being at the tasting room. We are ready to start up again this weekend and to hear all the great stories of everyone's holidays.

2011 will be a very busy year for us - we have some additional plans for irrigation, additional tank space and MAYBE some additional vines (still debating that one). Whatever the year holds, we know we are looking forward to the continued friendship of the folks we encounter at the tasting room. Welcome 2011.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-15T19:53:00.000-06:00

Hard to believe the year is almost over and yet, so glad to be getting some time off. YUP - we are going to close for two weekends in a row! We will be closed from December 20th to January 7th - reopening on January 8th. There is just so much going on for everyone at this time of the year that we have decided to take some time off and collect ourselves. We hope the coming year is a busy one again and this time, we plan to have a full harvest so it is time to get the 'to-do' list down to a 'done' list. The break will be used to travel a little and then crank through the small items that are on our list but we never get around to doing them. And yes, there will be some resting, relaxing and playing in that timeframe. We hope to get out to the other wineries we seldom get to visit because we are open the sametime they are! Some of them we visited quite a while ago but they have grown and expanded and we haven't seen their progress or their success. Others are new and while we meet them at conference, tailgate meetings and classes, we haven't stopped to visit with them. So, this holiday season, we will be cleaning up our house and making the rounds with the other wineries.

I have some thoughts on changes we will be making for next year but I will save that for another time - for this one, I just want to wish everyone a happy holiday season. Be good to each other, be safe and enjoy what you have!

Cheers!

December Energy

2010-12-03T08:32:00.000-06:00

What a fun time of the year! It doesn't matter what faith you are or your belief system - this time of the year seems to have an energy of it's own and it is infectious! From the holiday cartoons on the T.V. to the decorations on absolutely everything; the school plays and concerts to the holiday open houses and neighborhood parties; the team lunches to the holiday parties -- absolutely everyone is buzzing with energy, good will, plates of food and holiday cheer.

The activity at the vineyard right now is all social - lots of groups getting together for holiday parties, shopping for holiday gift baskets or even just taking a break from shopping. Lots of smiles, hugs and kisses all around. Yup - a December Energy - it's infectious!

Fire

2010-11-20T08:53:00.000-06:00

While each season has a place and a pace, there are a few days in each season where I'm not quite sure what the day is trying to be. This time of year is one of those times when the leaves have already fallen and we have some gloomy days. The colors of fall have given way to brown and more brown and it could be my imagination but we don't have as many truly sunny days either. It is supposed to be the start of the festive season with Thanksgiving gatherings and family visits but it isn't quite festive yet (no snow, no decorations, no lights). I'm just plain cold and I don't enjoy being outside.

Well, actually, I do like being outside but only if it's by a fire (see the picture taken by a guest at the winery firepit a week or so ago).

Maybe it's the nice glow with the warm colors, maybe it's the warmth and the great smell or maybe it's because whenever you sit by the fire, people show up. If you're sitting at a table, it is unlikely that people you don't know are going to just take the seat next to you but sit by the fire, and the chair next to you will be occupied in no time! Everyone stares at the fire and starts to talk. Stories are openly shared without pretense or formalities. Bottles of wine are passed around to fill empty glasses as if we're one big group and everyone takes turn poking the fire or adding more wood. Folks who were leaving will stop by the fire for a quick warm up and end up staying 'a bit longer'. Jackets and blankets get shared and before you know it, you've made new friends. Ah - that is the warmth of the season feeling after all!

Change of pace

2010-11-05T09:36:00.001-05:00

The vineyard work is all done for the season. The wine is in the tanks. The days are getting shorter and while it is a beautiful fall, the chill in the air tells me we are closer to winter than I'd like. It's a different pace now - with Halloween just behind us, and Thanksgiving right around the corner, the year will be over before we know it. The challenge for this time of the year is to stay active and yet, not overcommit! With football (and hockey) in full swing, school activities ramped back up and the list of chores that we didn't get to while we were focused on the vineyard, thinking of what to do next isn't a problem.

With the clock being turned back this weekend, we are reminded that it will be darker earlier. We pondered - do we change our hours or will folks still come out Saturday evenings? We decided to keep our hours the same and add some fun stuff to do - last year we didn't have the indoor space to continue the music through the winter but this year, I think we have a cozy space for folks to gather in so, we've booked music on Saturday afternoons now. The firepit has always been a draw (and I am sure we will head there right after the music each saturday). And, as we were clearing another block so we can maybe plant more vines next year, we came across a rockpile so we are moving the rocks over by the pond to build a second, much bigger firepit! This is the season to gather with friends and family so we figured we'd provide a couple of cozy options! We certainly enjoy hanging out there so we are looking forward to this season where we can sit and chat with folks as they come in.

Fall Fun

2010-10-20T20:14:00.000-05:00

What a great fall we are having. So the new portion of the building is now open and last weekend we had lots and lots of folks come out and have a look. Now we are adjusting schedules - we have been open friday evenings and that has been great so we will play it by ear for the coming few weeks. It is also time to bottle more Viagem so we will also be offering the 'port blending' workshop in the coming weeks. Another point on the scheduling - we weren't open last year on the day after thanksgiving but we had several calls asking if we were so this year, I think we will consider it - any thoughts?

It has been exciting to host the last few events - we've had a wedding reception, 3 rehersal dinners, a couple of family reunions and a few private parties. So - now that we have the new space, I'm curious to see how people will use this space. It's quite open, private and has direct patio access. I know that we love it because we can be working outside, see someone coming and run in to greet them! All the natural light is just great and I know that the new space was handy when we had the fire spinner last week!

So, in the coming weeks - port blending workshop and re-introducing the spices (including the mulling spices)! If you have any requests or suggestions, please let us know!

Winery Grand Opening

2010-10-04T21:11:00.000-05:00

Longtime coming but it's is time! The tanks are full. The crush pad has served it's purpose this fall and we are now ready to welcome friends and family to have a peek at the new (slightly expanded) indoor space and extended patio. It is that time of the year when harvests are in, the days are getting shorter, the leaves are turning and it is time to gather with friends and family to spend some quality time together! Hello fall!

Fall at the vineyards

2010-09-23T15:00:00.000-05:00

This is such a busy time at the vineyard and yet, it is also the best time at the vineyard. The vines are at their best - full canopy, ripe fruit on the vines or in some cases, we have just harvested. The weeds are under control so if you want to take a walk in the vines, you actually can!! If you walk into the tasting room, you may catch the distinct smell fermenting wine. Oh yeah - the downside - fruit flies! But, all in all - a year of hard work is every where to be seen, smelled and experienced! The days are still nice so folks come out for a picnic or a stroll in the vineyards. The evenings are cool so we sit by the fire and enjoy a glass of wine with our friends. We all know what a busy time this is with kids back in school, football, all the various barbeques and fall fests but it is still great to stop, take in the fall colors and enjoy the season!

Outside on the outside!

2010-09-01T16:08:00.000-05:00

Well, the building is closed in (not completed but the outside stays on the outside now)! :) We now have our tanks, filter, press, crusher, hoses, fittings, etc. and everything is in a space that is completed from the inside and closed in. We hope to harvest and crush in the next week or so.

We are also opening up on Friday evenings starting the friday after labor day so a lot of excitement at the vineyard! Looking back, this has been quite a journey and not one that we could have managed without our great customers and friends. Later in the fall, we plan to have a special celebration to thank all the people that have helped, encouraged, put up with, guided, and been responsible for our progress! Stay tuned - it includes you!

Harvest and Fall

2010-08-23T22:45:00.001-05:00

As you have noticed from all the winery newsletters you get from all the wineries, it is harvest time!! This year, that includes us! In preparation, we have been working on the extension of our winery building. The crush pad was completed a few weeks ago, the new structure is now all closed in and we are working on the insides getting ready for delivery of our tanks. The filter and press have already been delivered. Just a few short weeks and we will have it all enclosed and functional.

So, with the summer as hot and humid as it was, we have decided we will make the best of fall! What does that mean? That means we will open up on Friday evenings for the fall - Fall Fridays! That means cool fall evenings enjoying the vineyards and hopefully some great stories and bonding by the firepit. We will kick this off with our 'Songwriters Unplugged' evening on Friday, September 17th!! We will likely go through October and into the early part of November! Fence Stile Fall Fridays!

Where does the time go?

2010-07-23T14:07:00.000-05:00

It has been a very busy month - just looked back and noticed there hadn't been a post for 6 weeks! Any of you that have been out to the vineyard have noticed a number of changes I'll bet. The biggest one being - the cistern work is underway! We're adding a 2nd cistern to hold 16,000 gallons of water. The view to the whites is impacted a little bit by the work underway but the work should be complete in a few weeks. We've also relesed a new wine - remmuS and updated a couple of our labels for this year's bottling (Loft Red and Becca Blend). This year's Reserve Vidal Blanc is back as well so lots of great options for some summer sipping.

If you've looked at the website, you'll also notice that we have music now almost every Saturday - Laura introduced us to some very talented artists and we've had a blast listening to them every weekend. It is wonderful because they all play original music or public domain music (not covers) so you get a chance to hear something unusual and original! In fact, we are working on a couple of special and unique events for September - stay tuned for details.

So what's next? Well, in addition to the September music event, we are gearing up for crush and then perhaps another Fence Stile Vineyards & Winery cook-off (still in the planning stages). Of course the rain and humidity are now a constant but, thankfully, there is a breeze across the vines most days so, life is good!

Progress (slow but steady)

2010-06-11T06:01:00.001-05:00

The crush pad is now poured and the roof is partially on. The winery building is starting to have shape. We detoured a little bit when the sprayer broke and had to be rebuilt, twice! The days are nice and long too so we are able to get into the vineyards in the evenings and work on the vines (although it still feels like there aren't enough days in a week to get things done)!

The weekends are great - lots of people coming out for celebrations, book clubs, group get togethers, etc. It is wonderful to see all the things people celebrate and be a small part of it.

It's summer!

2010-06-02T23:13:00.001-05:00

It's summer - we have gone from cool rainy days to warm days in a heart beat! So, in the vineyard, that means lots of growth and weeds! For weeks it was hard to get the tractor out in the rows and now, there is so much green (some wanted - some, not so much)! So, it's time for the weeding parties (next one June 5th) and for spending time in the vines before the tasting room opens and at the end of the evening -- look for a day when it has rained and get in the next day to pull with ease. :)

We have also released remmuS and have our Reserve Vidal Blanc back! Now that is summer! We also have the music lined up for the next few months, our annual BBQ booked and several other events. The tent structure is reconstructed and we have plenty of firewood for the cool evenings.

On the construction front, the winery building is framed and we are now working on getting the roof on and then we will focus on the inside framing. The crushpad wall has been poured and the rest will be poured as weather permits! Next - order the equipment! Gulp! The plus side? The tasting room will be even bigger and a private patio for use by special guests, friends and family! All in all, it's a good life!

A few projects on the go

2010-05-10T22:52:00.000-05:00

Those of you who have visited in the last few weeks are noticing some changes at the vineyard.

The first very obvious change - the outdoor structure is gone! It was damaged in the good Friday storm we had so, with the help of some very good friends, we have taken it down so we can reengineer it and rebuild it. So, if the weather cooperates (and that is a big if), we will have it back up by this weekend!

The second big change - you will notice some new construction on the back side of the existing building. We're adding on and expanding our production space, pouring a crush pad and creating housing for all of our equipment and the tractor you see on the back side. A side benefit will be one additional tasting bay so we will have just a little more indoor tasting space. Again, weather dependant, we hope make serious progress on this in the coming weeks! We have been graciously accepting help from the volunteers - thank you again for all your help.

The other big change - Becca has been hanging out at the vineyard with us on the weekends. Yes, she has been out there every weekend for the last month! She is having a great time meeting all the visitors! A big benefit - she is awesome about letting us know someone is coming down the walk!

So, lots of activity going on right now but we are anxious to make progress on these projects!

April showers have brought wine flowers!!

2010-05-04T17:50:00.000-05:00

Isn't it a great spring! We are loving being in the vineyards right now - the weeds are emerging but that is to be expected. We have great friends that have jumped in to help us with the weedwacker - thank you gang! The vineyards look fresh, young and full of hope and potential for the coming year! We are working on building out the new addition for the production area and working on fixing the outside covered patio - again, thank you gang! You know who you are and we appreciate your help! We are also busy with lots of events for the coming months - but, we NEVER miss the chance to sit and enjoy the fire at the end of a Saturday evening! This, is the good life!

Happy Earth Day but really, shouldn't every day be Earth Day?

2010-04-22T20:15:00.000-05:00

Those who have been to the vineyard know that we have kids and dogs running around all the time (ours and everyone elses)! We have families that come out and picnic, kids that walk down to the pond to catch frogs, a few friends that like to fish the pond and of course, we have started the 'walk in the vineyard' series so that you can walk through the vines with us!! Given that, every day should be Earth Day! We do our part with solar power for the deer fencing, blue bird houses, bat houses and owl houses to encourage natural pest control, minimizing the use of pesticides, and NEVER using restricted use chemicals. We mulch the annual prunings, have a compost pile, use a combination of flame control and pulling weeds to manage the weeds (thank you volunteers) and if we need to spray, we use targeted spot applications using a small hand operated backpack sprayer. We recycles all bottles (either at the bottle depot or by donating to local artists who reuse them to create new arts). As we move forward with building the winery addition, we will continue to keep green principles in mind and we will incorporate small changes that make a big difference. After all, we all want this to be something we can enjoy for years to come! So, feel free to make suggestions, join us to work in the vineyards or walk in the vines! We think of everyday as Earth Day and always think of the impact to Amrish and Becca as we make our decisions!! Happy Earth Day!

Spring flings!

2010-04-14T06:23:00.002-05:00

All winter long it felt like spring would never get here. And now, it feels like we are speeding right along to summer! The 70 and 80 degree days are bringing new faces out to the patio and bringing familiar faces back together. This past weekend we enjoyed watching people who hadn't seen each other all winter get reacquainted and make plans to meet up again on a coming weekend. Watching friendships develop and grow is such a great part of our winery experience. This just reaffirms our tag line - Good fences made good neighbors, a Fence Stile makes neighbors, good friends!

Cheers!

Anniversary plans

2010-04-07T08:15:00.001-05:00

Spring is finally here! The pruning is done. I read somewhere that there are about a thousand decisions being made in the process of caring for vines - how to prune, how much load to carry, one trunk or two, etc. 1,000!! I don't know if it's a thousand but we made the first of many of these decisions for this season as we pruned. We decided not to carry fruit this year on the Vignoles, the Vidal and the Noiret. We will plan for a half harvest on the Chambourcin, the Seyval and the Concords.

To make sure we have room for our tanks for our harvest, we have also started the construction on the addition to the existing facility. The holes are dug, the posts are in and hopefully, the concrete will be poured in the next week (weather permitting).

In the meantime, let's celebrate our first year as a winery!! This coming weekend, we plan to unveil our new shirts, have some live music, cake (can't have a party without cake) and maybe even some fireworks. The first year hasn't been without the ups and downs - the most recent one being the storm last friday that took down the patio enclosure we have. However, those aren't problems - they are just small bumps in the road and stories that someday will turn into tales told around the firepit!

All in all, the ups out-weigh the downs by a huge margin. We have met some fantastic people, developed many new friendships and formed some close bonds. This weekend, we plan to play a lot and celebrate!

Good fences made good neighbors, a Fence Stile makes neighbors, good friends!

First day of spring

2010-03-21T15:03:00.000-05:00

Really?? There is snow on the ground and the wind is fierce. First day of spring?? No matter - the Seyvals, Vidal Blancs, and Vignoles are pruned and so are the Concords. One block left - the Chambourcin. Our favorites. Why? Closest to the tasting room - we can hop out there, do a few dozen vines and hop back into the tasting room when customers arrive.

We are on the eve of our one year anniversary - April 10th!! Just planned the weekend. Live music, fire spinners, fireworks and give aways. A year and what a memoriable year it has been. We have met lots of great people, enjoyed the work in the vineyards and watched the winery tasting room become a 'hang out' for some very cool regulars. The coming year?? More of the same and more. We will be starting a few new programs ('walk in the vines' & 'working in the vineyard') and hopefully building an addition to house all the equipment that is laying outdoors right now. What would we change about the last year?? We would have poured the 2nd patio earlier.

For now, get the rest of the pruning done, bottle the Viagem this weekend, have the next blending workshop and welcome the spring.

Time for Irrigation

2010-03-04T22:10:00.000-06:00

Sat down with consultants this morning to review/revise our irrigation system design for the existing and proposed vineyard blocks. It's finally time to automate watering and have a reliable alternative to Mother Nature. The balance of the day was spent pruning the Concord block.