Notes From the Vineyard

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The Grape Escape: How Flooding and Excessive Rainfall Affect Grapevines

The Grape Escape: How Flooding and Excessive Rainfall Affect Grapevines

Flooding and excessive rainfall can have a significant impact on vineyards and grapevines, affecting soil health and nutrient absorption. The Sunstone Estate in California’s Santa Ynez Valley in one of these 100-year floods zones. Let’s explore the negative effects of heavy rains and how a healthy cover crop can prevent soil erosion and nutrient loss.

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Defining terroir

Defining terroir

Terroir (pronounced /terˈwär/) is a French term used widely in the wine industry and refers to the unique combination of environmental factors that give a particular place its distinctive character and flavor, such as soil, climate, and topography.

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Extended Barrel Aging

The Sunstone Estate has a tendency to make very concentrated and, at times, extremely tannic wines. To help mitigate this tendency we occasionally employ the technique in the winery of extended barrel aging.

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