The Canyon at Sky Pine Vineyards

Staring in 2004, under the watchful eye of Bobdog, canine extraordinaire, what was a steep ravine, covered with brush, was developed into the newest block of vineyard. After considerable time and expense, complying with Sonoma County environmental ordinances, engineering and site preparation, the Canyon was planted in Spring of 2006. In this block, Bob decided to use high density planting going to a 9 by 5 spacing, closer than anything else on the mountain. This allows about 1600 plants for this area. As a perspective, this puts 928 plants an acre, while our Merlot is spaced at 545 plants per acre. The varietals here are three: Cabernet Franc:4/332 on 110R rootstock, Malbec: 4 on 100R and Petite Verdot:400 on 110R. (Cab franc being 800 plants, the Malbec 560 and the PV 240.) This is our spice grape area, which will be used by our winery customers for their blending agents, as part of a Meritage program for Bordeaux style wines. The Canyon is its own unique micro soil and climate area. Surprisingly, the soil is quite deep here, having washed down from the over arching hillsides over the last ten thousand years. It also has the sheltered effect of being below the rim, and out of the normal breeze which washes down across the Merlot and Cab Sav blocks. Thus it feels like a little oven in the afternoon, very warm and still. This should create some wonderful flavors in the grapes