Viticultural Record2024 Farming Practices

2024 The 2024 growing season will be remembered for its early start, the remarkable quality of fruit, and the return of a generous winter that sustained the vineyard through an extended and pronounced summer. Heavy rains replenished soil moisture across the ranch, setting the stage for a growing season defined by balance and resilience, despite frequent periods of heat events. The result is a vintage of exceptional depth and vibrancy—one that will stand among the classic years for Vine Hill Ranch.  

Following the abundant rainfall of 2023, the winter of 2023–2024 brought another season of significant precipitation that saturated soils and provided ample reserves for the vines’ early development. Budbreak occurred approximately two weeks ahead of average, encouraged by mild late-winter temperatures. Uniform flowering and successful fruit set produced a well-balanced crop across the vineyard, with healthy, evenly distributed clusters supported by vigorous canopies.

The summer months were notably warm, punctuated by numerous heat events that tested both vine balance and canopy management. Across the valley, there were more than forty days above 100°F— among the most of the previous decade. The deep soil moisture provided by the strong winter rains proved pivotal in sustaining the vines through these warm periods, while the natural shading of the canopy moderated exposure and preserved fruit integrity. By late July, shoot growth had largely ceased, allowing for detailed crop thinning and canopy refinement.

Harvest at Vine Hill Ranch commenced on August 30 in our hillside Block 6 and concluded on September 21 in our benchland Block 5, a concise three-week harvest period marked by clear skies and warm conditions. The orderly progression of ripening permitted precise timing of picks across the estate. Fruit arrived at the winery with moderate sugar and acid profiles, small berry size, and exceptional color and flavor concentration.

Early fermentations revealed wines of great density and structure, displaying the hallmark characteristics of the vineyard—depth, texture, and freshness. The combination of richness and refinement evident in the young wines suggested a vintage of both immediate appeal and long-term ageability.

Sustainability and land stewardship remained central to vineyard operations throughout the season. Diverse cover crops were planted across the estate to enhance soil structure, promote natural tillage, and stabilize the vineyard through the coming rainy season. The footprint of insectary rows was expanded throughout the property, encouraging beneficial insect populations to support ecological balance and minimize pest pressure. Goats continued to be deployed in the woodlands above the vineyard to mitigate fire risk and manage understory growth across the surrounding hillsides. The team also eagerly awaited the renewal of the eight acres of benchland vineyard previously removed in an effort to contain the spread of grapevine red blotch disease—an important step toward promoting the long-term health and sustainability of the ranch. Active rogueing of virus-affected vines maintained infection rates below 1 percent, preserving the long-term health and integrity of the vineyard.

The 2024 vintage at Vine Hill Ranch reflects the unique character of the site, its capacity to thrive through climatic variation and to yield wines of balance, concentration, and purity. It stands as a testament to the resilience of the land and the precision of its cultivation.