Woolcarder Bee in the Monastery Muscat
Monastery Muscat has a pretty fuzzy underside of the leaf. This woolcarder bee decided it's worthy nest material.
Bold Jumper spiders
I only learned about this species this year. Just like a car that you recently bought, now I am seeing them everywhere. I was particularly happy to see they're willing and able to tackle a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, since those are grapevine sapsuckers. Grapes are vigorous, to
Polyphemous Moth
Another beautiful reason to stay away from pesticides, this moth found at our vineyard. Meanwhile, the growth in the vineyard has been spectacular. We'll have at least eleven LaBelle vines on the 6' high cordon wire this year. Four or five Monastery Muscat, a few Jupiter and
2025 Chenin Blanc
Style: off dry Varietal: Chenin Blanc, plus 15% Sèmillon and a splash of white muscat Source: Paradisos del Sol, Zillah, WA, Paul Vandenberg Initial brix: 22 Initial pH: 3.4 Ingredients & Additives 85% Chenin 15% Semillon Preparation & Procedure Crushed and destemmed 2025-09-07 Topped once with muscat.
Wild Kingdom
Life is absolutely popping in the vineyard right now. I saw a pretty lupine and went in for a closer picture, only to discover a grasshopper hidden within the inflorescence. After that I started noticing quite the community of tiny , cute green creatures.
Obvious Vigor
People say grapevines are "weeds" but my experience has been mixed. Many of my young transplants have struggled to gain a foothold. Quite the opposite result with this LaBelle vine that I transplanted as a mature plant. Between that success and the first blooms from my Drouhin Zephirine
Ornate Checkered Beetle (Trichodes ornatus)
#ThingsIFoundInTheVineyard I'm going to continue cataloging the various species I find in the vineyard. First because I like to learn all their names and second, I like to know all the things that can survive in a spray-free vineyard.
Sangiovese 2025
Style: Plain red, minimal American oak chips during fermentation. Varietal: Sangiovese 85%, Leon Millot 15% Grape Source: Paradisos del Sol Zillah, WA and Woodland WA, respectively. Both vineyards operated with no fungicide sprays. pH 3.35 Drink from fall 2026 to 2031
Flowers Opening, Final Week of May
Looks like Leon Millot is the earliest flowering vine I have. It's been blooming for a week now. LaBelle just started today. It makes sense, they are two of the earliest to complete ripening. Cayuga White and the Muscats won't be far behind.
Ground Frost, 2 weeks after "last frost" date
This was a shocker. May 29th we had frost that destroyed tender shoots that were 12 inches or below in the lower 2/3rds of the vineyard. Everything above that height was completely unaffected. Most of our vines are tall enough to have dodged this frost. Simultaneously I am getting
LaBelle on Tall Bamboo
Recent rain gave these two LaBelle vines what they need to climb up tall bamboo poles. The long tendrils indicate plentiful water is available to the vine. There's real vigor in these plants. Daisy and Lupine are just now blooming underneath the vines. It looks "neglected"
Notes on #2 Foch Rosé
This is the wine I served at my son's graduation party. I selected it for that event because it is a crowd pleaser. A fresh, fruity, aromatic wine, low in tannins; perfect for a group including casual to experienced wine drinkers. Also, salmon was featured on the menu