Pruning Season: Setting the Stage for the Vintage Ahead

In the quiet of winter, our estate vineyard in Calistoga enters one of the most defining moments of the year: pruning.
It’s a practice rooted in tradition, but like many aspects of farming, it continues to evolve as we learn from each season.

In recent years, we’ve made a thoughtful shift—beginning our pruning earlier than we once did. This decision is part of a broader effort to move our harvest window slightly earlier, a proactive response to changing weather patterns and the realities of fire season in California. By encouraging an earlier bud break and ripening timeline, we aim to bring our Cabernet Sauvignon into the winery under more moderate conditions, preserving freshness and balance while reducing late-season risk.

Every Cut Is a Decision

Pruning may look simple—just a vine and a pair of shears—but each cut determines how the vine will grow for both this and next season.

By choosing which canes and spurs to keep and how many buds to leave, we are shaping:

• The amount of fruit the vine will carry

• How evenly that fruit will ripen

• The future canopy’s exposure to sunlight

These decisions directly influence the structure, concentration, and elegance of the wine.

Farming With Intention

Beginning pruning earlier requires careful coordination. Timing must still respect the vine’s natural dormancy and the risk of frost, particularly in the northern Napa Valley. It’s a balance between working with nature and adapting to new conditions.

For us, this shift reflects a long-term commitment to sustainable, thoughtful farming—making small adjustments that protect both fruit quality and the consistency of our estate Cabernet Sauvignon.

Balance Over Quantity

Our goal in the vineyard has always been quality over volume. Pruning allows us to help regulate the crop so each vine can ripen its fruit fully and evenly.

In Calistoga’s warm climate, this balance is especially important. Properly pruned vines give us Cabernet Sauvignon with depth and structure, while maintaining the vibrant fruit character and refinement that define our style.

The First Step Toward the Next Vintage

Pruning is the first tangible step in the new growing season. It sets the framework for everything that follows: canopy management, fruit development, and ultimately harvest timing.

Standing in the vineyard in winter, it’s remarkable to realize how much of the vintage is already taking shape. Months before bud break, the story of the year is being written—one careful cut at a time.