In 2010 eight acres of Syrah were planted in the "Rotie Rocks" estate vineyard and in 2015 Rotie Cellars harvested 4th-leaf fruit to produce the iconic "Northern blend", now 100% from this unique site. Rotie Cellars also planted seven acres of Grenache on the remaining estate property in 2016.
In 2010 eight acres of Syrah were planted in the "Rotie Rocks" estate vineyard and in 2015 Rotie Cellars harvested 4th-leaf fruit to produce the iconic "Northern blend", now 100% from this unique site. Rotie Cellars also planted seven acres of Grenache on the remaining estate property in 2016.
Both these vineyard plantings are not your traditional plantings. We are implementing a hybrid head training system, best described as the Goblet. It offers numerous key advantages including frost-hardiness, better sap health, and energy from the rocks. This training style currently makes up less than 200 acres planted in our state.
Imagine a head of a vine 6-8 inches above the rocks. Much like a tree we pick the best, healthiest canes to use every year. At the end of the season we cut back to two buds which creates a head that is more representative of a tree than a vine. Each vine has to be pruned independently as no two are the same. Keeping this head close to the ground focuses the energy of the plant through a short and direct route to the fruit zones. Thus creating what quality and consistency truly are. Also over the winter months we can bury each “head” to protect against a major freeze.
We are excited is the understatement of the decade!
