Time to Dig!

Today was a BIG day! The vines arrive in 4 days, so we were determined to prepare as much as possible. We will be planting: Tempranillo, Cab Franc, Sangiovese (Montapulciano), and Sauvignon Blanc.

The first step to prepping the yard was to remove the sod to make way for the rows of vines. To save an incredible amount of labor, we rented a sod cutter and the job was done in no time. Rolling up the sod was like rolling up carpet!


This was the yard after the sod was cut, but before it was rolled.


Is there a head growing out of her shoulder?




Working hard.


Lots and lots of sod...


Would anyone like some sod? (they didn't)


I am WOMAN!


Time to dig out the post holes. Again, the rental of the equipment really saved some time and back-breaking labor here!


Just a little break to admire the first spring blooms...


Hole #36 out of 85...


The holes were about 20 inches deep...as seen from this interesting perspective.


The making of: Tremors IV.


Cat and Barrel. (also the new name of our wine bar)


More holes...


The last hole (dug by the Willow Vines landlords)



We placed cement into the post holes in order to maintain a strong hold on the vines and wires.


Post, post hole, and drying cement.


We had originally expected a sandy soil, but after some digging around the irrigation system, we found a lot of clay. This had us worried, until we discovered that the majority of the soil is in fact, sandy as shown. We likely hit a small clay strip in the soil previously. The predominantly sandy soil is a relief, as the vines will likely grow much better in this type of environment.


The final product - Willow Vines anxiously waits the arrival of 100 plants!


See you at the Cat and Barrel!