Grapevines Flowering

Depending on weather, the end of May, the beginning of June, our vines flower on new grapevine shoots reaching towards the sky, and this starts the beginning genesis of grape clusters. Grapevines are self-pollinating, so each flower has the ability to turn into a single grape berry, and ultimately a very handsome cluster of grapes. It is not a showy flower, green in color, and often you have to look very close to see this process happening.

It is a vulnerable time in the vineyard, as strong winds, can harm these delicate flowering grapevines and affect your yield and quality of grapes for the rest of the growing year.

Happy Summer Grapevines Marching Towards Fall

The grapevine shoots are still chartreuse green in color, but soon will become a darker mature forest green as the canopy grows and spills over the structured wiring keeping them in place. The grapevine clusters look plentiful, and so there is hope for a nice grape cluster yield and harvest in the fall.

For More Related Posts on Our Vineyard:

Domaine de Manion Vineyard

Bon Appétit and Bon Weekend…..Bonnie

Young Chartreuse Grapevine Shoots Growing

Every year after pruning our grapevines back in late winter, we patiently wait for budbreak, and for the tiny chartreuse grapevine shoots to begin emerging. There is a bit of anticipation, did the grapevines make it over the winter okay? What will this year bring in terms of weather, vineyard management, and ultimately the grape harvest.

With little winter rains, the vineyard floor is dry. Thank goodness grapevines are drought tolerant with deep roots, once established. Each vine does have drip irrigation, for times throughout the growing season when they might need a little water.

This past April Fool’s Day, April 1, 2021, marked our 15th year since initially planting all our grapevines as the class project with the help of our very enthusiastic classmates in our Mira Costa College, Vineyard Management and Production class. For more related posts on our vineyard.

I say often this, initially the vineyard was a landscape solution to begin with, which has evolved into something so much more! Have you ever had a dream or an idea, with focus, a generous supply of hard work and a dash of persistence, surpassed your wildest dreams.

Tiny Now, Full and Sprawling Later

Bon Appétit and Bon Weekend….Bonnie

Domaine de Manion, Fall 2020

Fall is the busiest time for us at Domaine de Manion, with our grapes ripening, the vineyard harvest, bottling of last year’s vintage, and wine making. It is easy to look up from it all, catch our breath, and realize the holidays are upon us.

Before the year ends I want to share with you a short video by talented Ian Lococo, of our Domaine de Manion Grape Harvest 2020. Our grape harvest 2020 was a record 1,150 pounds of beautiful fruit this year. Believe me, it wasn’t always like this, we have had good years and heartbreaking years. Luckily the good years are more common, and the norm for us now. The fruits of our labor reward us with great wine. We are forever grateful for our friends and family, who enthusiastically and tirelessly help us each year.

I think this a lot, and am very aware that we are only guardians of this land, this property, this vineyard, the beauty, and with that we are most thankful and grateful for the joy and happiness it gives us. I once heard a French vignernon and winemaker say the same thing to a group of us visiting his vineyard and winery, and my mouth dropped open.

Domaine de Manion Harvest 2020

My Husband, John, Enjoying a Glass of Provence Rose

This year is our 10th year or 10th Anniversary of our backyard Syrah vineyard at our home, Domaine de Manion. I remember the day vividly, April 1, 2006, when our entire Vineyard Production & Management Class (Mira Costa College) of 20 people enthusiastically helped us plant nearly 300 bare root grapevines. Initially a landscape solution I dreamed up, as our family and friends can attest it has turned into so much more.

Vineyards are a lot of work, filled with commitments and year-long timetables, not just a romantic lifestyle. John and I took many classes, workshops, and seminars to educate ourselves on our vineyard and winemaking adventure. Some grape growing years were better then others. Some vintages better than others. Although grapevines are like weeds, they can be a magnet for disease, pests, and are sensitive to weather surprises. 

As we became more confident with our vineyard and winemaking we started entering amateur wine competitions, beginning with San Diego and Orange County Fairs, and recently the California State Fair in Sacramento. We have bought different grape varietals from Baja and Sonoma County to experiment and blend with our Syrah. 

Through all of the years and accolades, John has emerged as a talented winemaker. I add my two cents, labor, and tasting notes, but it is John who puts his signature on all of our wines. Wine- making is a balance of science and art. It is true, a winemaker has a distinct style which comes through in their wines. John creates bold wines, smooth, chewy, sometimes spicy, and with a long finish.

We recently received the unexpected Home Wine Judging Results from the 2016 California State Fair, and more fair results should trickle in by early summer. Entering the "Dry Red Division" we received Double Gold, Best of Class for our Merlot, Silver for our Syrah, and Gold for our Merrah (a magical combination of Merlot and Syrah.)

The best part of making our wine is sharing it with family and friends. We are grateful for all who eagerly help us harvest and bottle each year. Hail to my husband, John, the Winemaker!

Here at Domaine de Manion, our backyard syrah vineyard, it is late summer and our syrah grapes are showing their true color. Our syrah grapevines have a full vegetative leaf canopy, perfectly formed grape clusters dangle from their shoots, and now the veraison process begins. Veraison is the phenomenon of grapes transitioning in their development from hard to soft in touch, and their color transitions from green to their harvest color, depending on the grape varietal. Syrah, our vineyard grape varietal, is a very dark, inky black color when ripe and at harvest time. In the above photo you can see the color transition happening among the individual grapes.

In this process, the grape's sugar level will slowly begin to rise. Regular testing of your grape sugar content with a refractometer helps monitor your harvest time frame.

When grapes transition from green to their varietal harvest color of yellow, pink, red, or black, it is a signal to birds and wildlife, a food source is available and ripening. Netting your grapevines is invaluable in protecting your grapes from birds, raccoons, deer, and wildlife in general. Even our beloved chickens love the ripening grape clusters, jumping nearly a foot to reach the clusters, if they are not netted.

Our netting system is simple. Measure out netting the entire length of each of your grapevine row, and allow 3' on each end to secure the netting ends. Throw the entire netting over both sides of your grapevine row, and clip at bottom with wooden clothespins at spaced intervals. These nets can be used year after year, if rolled up and secured away in a safe place until needed the following year. Netting your backyard vineyard ensures your entire year's efforts and crop will not be lost. Netting is particularly important to the backyard vineyard, which is generally isolated, versus commercial vineyards where there are acres and acres of growing grapes.

It is an exciting time of year, harvest is in a matter of weeks. Do you have a backyard vineyard? Do you net your grapes from wildlife?