How critical is ensuring the vineyards are well maintained to winemaking?
A. Every winemaker will admit that good wine begins in the vineyard. To make sure we have the best grapes we can on this site, the ownerswent through the trouble of putting drainage tile in so the grapes don’t have “wet feet”. By removing excess water quickly, the vines are healthier, more winter hardy, and the vineyard team can geton the land in the next day to make sure they keep up with spraying and othertasks. We do leaf pulling, shoot positioning and are pretty good at weed control. By the end of August, bird cannons and electric fences go up to keep out the deer, birds, turkey, raccoons and any other creature that might like to taste our grapes. It is a lot of work but when the fruit comes off and you have the opportunity to make some great wine, it is worth the effort. Q. Summarize your achievements as a winemaker. A. Rooster Hill’s mission statement and business plan clearly state that we are here to create a portfolio of premium wines that reflect quality and can be enjoyed by
