Mark Schabel

We’re bringing back the combover. Thankfully, it’s in the vineyard and not for my bald head.

In our oldest block of Cabernet, which sits just west of the Vineyard View Garden and Pavilion, we have a single wire for trellising the grapes. Known as the “California Sprawl”, this canopy management technique allows the vines to drape over the single wire to form the canopy.

This year, we are using the wire to “combover” the shoots from the east side of the wire to the west. This will allow the grapes to develop color and tannins in the soft morning sunlight, while protecting it from the harsh afternoon light which can burn the grape clusters.