The 2022 grape harvest is officially underway in California, and this year is particularly special for Rescue Dog Wines: 2022 marks our Lodi Rules–certified vineyard’s first harvest!
The Vines
In 2017, we purchased our then-abandoned vineyard in Acampo and immediately began planning its revitalization (you can read more about the vineyard in this blog). Fast forward a few years to 2020 and, with the help of Round Valley Ranches, the vineyard was ready for planting.
We started that year with baby Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, and Sangiovese vines, which we planted in a vertical shoot position (VSP) trellis system.
It was important to us that Rescue Dog Wines’ vineyard honor California’s—and specifically Lodi’s—pioneering winemaking history. Lodi farmers have long led the industry in sustainable winemaking practices, and Round Valley knew the Lodi Rules program would be a great fit for our brand and goals.
Some of the sustainable practices we’ve adopted at the vineyard include drip irrigation to reduce water use, integrated pest management (IPM) to minimize the use of pesticides, and cover cropping. Cover cropping has multiple benefits: it reduces erosion and unwanted pests, and the cover crops also help fertilize the vineyard’s soil and provide habitat for wanted insects.
The Grapes
If all goes according to plan, the grapes picked this harvest will produce Rescue Dog Wines’ very first estate wines. We’ll let the quality and characteristics of the fruit determine how we utilize the grapes from this harvest, but we are excited and hopeful that our talented team’s years of hard work and preparation will yield great results.
We are currently in the process of harvesting all of our grapes, depending on the Brix. In a few months, once this busy season has passed, we’ll post an update on the 2022 harvest.
Grenache Noir
A widely planted variety, Grenache Noir is known for its fruity, spicy, tannic qualities and features prominently in many well-known French and Spanish wines.
Mourvèdre
Often blended with other grapes, Mourvèdre is structured, with dark fruit, spice, and floral notes.
Sangiovese
Sangiovese, Italy’s famous red grape, brings red fruit, earthy flavors, and food-friendly acidity to many celebrated Tuscan wines.
This harvest would not be possible without the expert guidance of Aaron Shinn of Round Valley Ranches and our talented winemakers, Susana Rodriguez Vasquez and Eric Donaldson. We are grateful for their ongoing collaboration and dedication to producing world-class wines that support rescue dogs.
-Cheers, Blair & Laura
