Kirby Field reports a near-ideal growing season with thriving grapes and minimal disease, forecasting a high-quality, abundant harvest for exceptional wines.
Vineyard Update from Vineyard Manager Kirby Field:
“This year is shaping up to be one of our most promising seasons yet, with the potential for a high-yielding crop across the board. So far, the grapes have been thriving with no significant issues to hinder their growth. We’ve enjoyed warm temperatures day and night, and the rainfall has been not only adequate but, in some cases, more than enough. Thanks to a rigorous spray program and the meticulous data I’ve collected over the past three years, disease pressure has been kept to nearly nonexistent levels.
We’re hopeful that these favorable conditions will continue in the coming months, allowing us to harvest a high-quality crop for our winemaker to craft into exceptional wines. Recently, however, we’ve seen the usual challenges from deer and birds, which are a constant concern. To combat this, we’ll be installing a permanent fence around our new Blaufränkisch field, as well as our two-year-old Chardonnay and six-year-old Cab Franc vines. This will help protect the vines from deer, ensuring they can develop without interruption.
Our Blaufränkisch is thriving in its first summer, and we’re looking forward to a small crop in a couple of years. The Chardonnay, too, may yield a modest amount in the 2025 growing season, which is particularly exciting as it’s the first time I’ve been involved in a planting from the very beginning through to the first vintage. I’m sure others who have been part of this journey will share in the excitement as we see this come to fruition.
I believe this year’s vintage could be one of the best we’ve had in quite some time. The quality is there, as well as the quantity needed to produce our signature wines. I can confidently say that this season has been as close to ideal as we could hope for.”
