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The Vineyard
Our vineyard is planted on the western Loess slopes and hilltops to provide adequate air and water drainage. Most of the rows are planted in a North - South direction to capture maximum sunlight and to allow the prevailing summer and winter breezes to pass through.
It takes about five years to bring a new vineyard into full production. That's if you don't experience concurring years of drought, late frosts, hail, etc. Many producers will let a partial crop mature in the third year and allow about half a crop in the fourth year. The objective of this approach is to direct the vine's energy toward building a better foundation rather than expelling energy to produce fruit.
Even though the vineyard owner chooses to limit the yield during the early years, all of the normal maintenance costs are incurred. Many hours are spent in the vineyard pruning, shoot positioning, cluster thinning, leaf pulling, bird netting, etc. to ensure maximum return, even ripening, and protection from predators.
As you might guess, most Midwestern vineyard operators spend a bit more time tending their vineyards than those from the larger wine producing areas.
We urge you to get acquainted with the "cool climate" wines produced here in Western Iowa by experiencing the fruit of our harvest.
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The Vineyard
Our vineyard is planted on the western Loess slopes and hilltops
in southwest Iowa. |
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