At the present time, we are right in the middle of pruning. It is probably the most important job we do. What we do in January gives us results in September and October. I consider pruning to be an art. Each vine is an individual and requires judgments for its own needs. Pruning controls the volume and quality of your grapes. Each variety is different. For example, large bunches require spur pruning while small bunches require cane pruning. We must take into account the quality of the cane, spacing, uniformity of the vineyard, and more.

Megan and I have had a chance to taste the new wines from 2023. With all the problems we had, the vintage is outstanding.

2022 Sole Bianco: This is our designer wine. It must look good, taste good, and be priced reasonably. It is a combination of at least four varieties, a blend of Viognier with Sauvignon Blanc, Malvasia BIanca, and a splash of Muscat Canelli. Serve chilled and in volume!

2020 Dolcetto: The poor man’s Pinot. In the vineyard, Dolcetto’s big yields and big bunches require us to control the crop with pruning and fruit removal, allowing us to get the grapes to ripen properly. Dolcetto is one of the lowest in acid of the Italian varieties. A perfect partner for pizza.

2020 Barbera: This one is big in color and flavor. Barbera is considered to be one of the top varieties in Piemonte. The higher acidity goes great with the greasy meats and olive oil of Italian food - this is a food-friendly wine.

It is time to prepare for our adventure in Tuscany for our Tuscan wine and food tour. It sold out early but I hear we might have room for two more couples if you’re interested. Get ready for spring! Start with a little Sparkling Rosato. Replace that bottle that you drank in December!