Summer Newsletter
One of the most unique things about farming is being acutely intertwined with the seasons while simultaneously being only vaguely aware of what day it is. In a way, the vineyard’s lack of attention to hour of the day or day of the week is contagious. There’s something about seasonality and the time sensitivity of our work that seems to skew our perception of time all together. For example, June 20th marked three years since we moved out to the ranch. That seems impossible as we have filled the past three years with what feels like a decade’s worth of experiences. At the same time, as the sun shines brighter and the temperatures steadily rise, the rains of this past season seem only a distant memory even though their life bringing effect is evident every day from the rush of the Carmel River to the vibrant growth all around us.
One lasting benefit of the rain we received this year is the nourishment it is providing for our newest vineyards. In early May we planted 8 acres of new vines that are now thriving with 100% of the vines sprouting new growth! Three acres were existing blocks that we are redeveloping with new rootstocks that we will graft to Malbec next spring. The additional 5 acres are new hillside blocks that we have spent the last two full years developing and are now planted with rootstocks to be grafted to Syrah. Between the moisture of the soil, the mild spring, and the slow start to summer, 2023 has so far proven to be an ideal year to plant. The rains are also a blessing in our existing vineyards, as our vines have already grown more than at any point during the past 3 years of drought! Now that the fruit is starting to set, there is sky-high potential for a harvest that is both bountiful and high quality.
Between the new vineyard development and trying to keep up with our rapidly growing vines, 2023 has been incredibly busy with little downtime. Our excitement and hope for this growing season and the future of our new vineyards continues to be a phenomenal motivator. Outside of the vineyards, we bottled our 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, our 2022 Malbec Rose, and our newest wine offering, our 2022 Allora, in February. Our joy at finally having our Cab available in bottle has been amplified by the overwhelmingly positive response from both our club members as well as those who have tasted it during events, tours, and tastings. To that end, we are fortunate to share all of our wines through our growing wine club, our increasingly popular tours and tastings, and events like Outstanding in the Field, Nantucket Wine and Food Festival, and the Carmel Winemaker’s Celebration.
Overall, it has been an hugely positive first 6 months of 2023. Our past three years here have made us especially aware of how quickly things can change but has done nothing to dull our excitement over this season’s promise. As we reflect upon the time we have spent here at Tira Nanza it feels like the biggest themes are transformation and hope. We have watched the landscape transform from scorched to vibrant, we have seen vineyards transform from neglected to vivacious, and we have seen Tira Nanza transform from a dream to a reality. Through it all, we remain forever grateful for our opportunity and hopeful for all that lies ahead. Come visit us to share our vision and our wines.
Cheers to a great summer!
-Greg & Sydney