Growing and making wine encourages one to take the long view as each wine released represents years of planning and work. After a droughty winter and in full on COVID mode, we went into a hot summer growing season already on edge. COVID, DROUGHT, and then FIRE On August 17 we were awoken by a large
We can say “so far so good” regarding the 2019 vintage. We have plenty of moisture in the ground thanks to late season rains. A big storm during the last week brought Diamond Mountain Creek to overflowing its banks briefly one evening, without causing any damage. Here at Dyer Vineyard, one of the handful of
When we planted Dyer Vineyard over 25 years ago we were already familiar with the characters and qualities of Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon within the broader realm of Napa Valley Cabernets. Diamond Mountain Cabs are known for their intensity, concentration, and ageablity. Within this model, from the beginning we had in mind farming the site
Eric Asimov wrote recently in the New York Times about how vineyards and wineries, including Diamond Mountain wineries, can embrace practices that lower their carbon footprint. We decided it would be interesting to take his challenge and put our “green-ness” to the test. In the vineyard the issues are till or no till, fertilizer and
Dyer Vineyard was recently asked to contribute content on Diamond Mountain to a new guidebook to Napa Valley… nothing NEW about that. But wait! Drive Though Napa is a refreshing, clear, information packed gem. From its clean, logical graphic layout to its focus on Napa Valley’s AVAs, to its South to North organization to its
In the most recent issue of the Robb Report Sara Schneider discusses the handful of vineyards and vintners in Napa Valley’s mountain AVAs that deliver wines of elegance, power, and balance. She contrasts these with the broader more hedonistic style that some complain has dominated Napa Valley Cabs for the last couple of decades. 2014
The 2018 harvest is still more than a month away here at Dyer Vineyard on Diamond Mountain. Even as we finish the green drop and color thinning the St Helena Star and the Napa Valley Register have begun to publish their weekly reports from all 13 AVAs and I’m the designated representative for Diamond Mountain,
When we planted Dyer Vineyard 25 years ago, the hot topics were row direction, vine spacing, varieties, clones, and rootstock. Since then we’ve overseen the vineyard transition from head trained to cordon. We’ve reduced the varieties from all 5 Bordeaux varieties to the 3 most successful in our Diamond Mountain Vineyard (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc,
Timing is everything! We harvested our vineyard on Friday October 6th. Picking started at 4:00am using headlamps, with a full moon overhead. Having the assistance of the Harvest Moon was certainly appropriate. Grapes were at the winery by 10am and through the destemmer and optical sorter by 2:00. The grapes were still in their cold
We’re closing in on Harvest 2017 and so far it’s been a bit of a roller coaster- wet winter, normal budbreak, cool spring and a very hot summer. As I write, it’s 105 degrees in the vineyard and the rest of the week is shaping up to be a series of hot and hotter days.
In Napa Valley the 2014 vintage was exceptional. Bud break was early as a result of the warm winter and the growing season was quite long. Rain in March and April came just in time to provide the water needed for a smooth growing season. The vintage was relatively cool bringing some concerns in July
Most mornings this time of year find me in my Napa Valley vineyard – nursing young replanted vines, working on the trellis, and digging out wild blackberries and thistles that are the scourge of the vineyard – there’s lots to do and it’s got to be done now! As I’ve walked the Napa Valley vineyard