March 2nd we are going to begin a grafting project. I picked up some Arneis cuttings from another grower in the area and we are going to graft them onto some disease resistant root stock that we raised at Bishop Creek. I am a big fan of Arneis. This variety is a native of the Piedmont region of Italy, a region responsible for the famous Barbaresco and Barolo wines that grace the wine lists of top restaurants and retail shops around the world. Arneis is a delicate white wine which expresses the place it was grown very well. Typically served with light poultry and seafood dishes, it highlights vibrant acidity and minerality. Of course we don’t know how it will express itself at Bishop Creek, but that is part of the excitement of conducting little agricultural experiments in the vineyard. Currently we have a smattering of other whites growing, including Gewürztraminer, Gruner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Together these varieties have the potential of making a lovely field blend. If the Arneis isn’t up to our standards as a stand alone wine, we can always add it to our blend.
Grafting
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on Monday, February 18th, 2008 at 6:03 pm and is filed under Bishop Creek Vineyard.
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