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A Year in the Vineyard:

The Lifecycle of a Grapevine

People often imagine vineyards as endless summer — rows of lush green vines under blue skies, a glass in hand, all sunshine and serenity. But behind every bottle is a full year of work, weather, and waiting.

Here’s how a single vine grows, rests, and prepares to give us another vintage — one season at a time.

🌱 Winter — Resting and Renewal

From November to February, the vineyard looks quiet — but there’s plenty going on beneath the surface. The vines are dormant, conserving energy while their roots continue to explore the soil.

We spend these months pruning, cutting back last year’s growth so the vine can focus on producing just the right amount of fruit next season. Each snip shapes next year’s harvest — it’s calm, careful work (and often very cold!).

🌼 Spring — Budburst and Hope

As the days lengthen and the soil warms, tiny buds begin to swell and burst — a sign that the growing season has begun. Every year, that first green shoot feels like a small miracle.

This is also when we worry most: frost, rain, and hungry wildlife can all threaten those fragile buds. We walk the rows daily, sometimes at dawn, checking growth, adjusting canes, and whispering encouragement (or maybe that’s just us…).

🌿 Summer — Growth, Flowers, and Fruit Set

By June, the vines are in full swing — leaves everywhere, tendrils climbing, and delicate flowers appearing. These tiny blooms will become our grapes, so we give them space, sunshine, and careful canopy management.

We trim leaves to let the air flow and the sun reach the fruit — too much shade and the grapes won’t ripen evenly. And when the little green berries appear, it’s cause for celebration: fruit set has begun.

🍇 Late Summer — Veraison (Colour Change)

Around August, the vineyard changes again. The green grapes start to soften and turn colour — from pale to golden for Chardonnay, and from tight green to dusky purple for Pinot Noir.

This magical stage is called veraison (ver-ay-zon), and it marks the countdown to harvest. The vines are focusing all their energy now on ripening those clusters to perfection.

🍂 Autumn — Harvest Time

September and October bring the most exciting (and exhausting!) weeks of the year: harvest.

We test the grapes constantly, watching sugar, acid, and flavour levels until everything feels just right. Then it’s all hands on deck — friends, family, and the Four Non-Farmers out among the rows, snipping clusters into crates before the weather changes.

It’s the culmination of twelve months of nurturing, worrying, and hoping — and yes, there’s always a celebratory glass (or two) once the last crate is in

A Final Sip

From the first bud to the final bottle, each vine tells a story — of weather, care, and timing. Every year is different, every harvest unique. And when you taste the wine, you’re tasting that year’s journey — sunshine, storms, and all.

❄️ And Back to Rest

After harvest, the leaves turn golden, then fall. The vines slow down and slip back into dormancy, storing energy for the cycle to begin again. The vineyard grows quiet — but never empty. The soil breathes, the hedges hum with life, and we begin planning for the next vintage.

Because in viticulture, there’s no finish line — only seasons, patience, and faith in what the land can give.