January Winery and Vineyard Update
As we step into the heart of winter, it’s exciting to imagine what the season might bring. After several mild, low-precipitation winters, it feels like we’re due for a long, cold, and snowy stretch—and the Farmer’s Almanac seems to agree.
I’m writing this after a brisk walk up the mountain, prompted by an unexpected adventure: I got the tractor stuck at the bottom of the property clearing snow. While our tracked tractors are fantastic for preventing soil erosion, reducing compaction, and gripping well in the vineyard, they’re not exactly ideal for navigating snow and ice. Going downhill? No problem. Getting back up? That’s another story entirely!
We’re thrilled to be kicking off our third year operating Capstone. The first two years have been an incredible learning journey, helping us lay a strong foundation to build upon.
2025 promises to be an exciting and pivotal year as we continue to push boundaries and grow. We’re preparing to finance, build, and equip a state-of-the-art production facility, spread 60 yards of compost to enrich our soils, prep new land for planting, and expand with an additional three acres of vines. Alongside these efforts, we’re dedicated to nurturing and growing our vibrant club community, bottling exceptional wines, and navigating all that Mother Nature has in store for us.
We are gearing up to bottle Sauvignon Blanc, Roussanne, Lucienne, and Rose. These wines are all rock solid and very expressive of 2024 which was another banner year for our site. We will begin releasing these wines in Q2.
Kicking off the year, our Q1 wine club shipment, set for release the weekend of February 8th, will include our 2023 Cabernet Franc, 2023 St. Dominic, and 2024 Sparkling Cider. The 2023 reds have continued to surprise and delight us with their balance and integrity, showing particularly well early on for such a ripe vintage. A significant factor in their elegance may be the decision to maintain lower fermentation temperatures—none exceeding 78°F—allowing the fruit’s natural character to shine without over-extraction.