We acquired the Vineyard in April 2007. First order of business was to rectify the damage resulting from a little neglect and some less than stellar recent farming practices. Second priority was to begin the process of providing a little “TLC” to bring the vineyard back to former glory.

Vineyard

637 vines were either missing (“tractor blight”) or needing replacement. These locations were planted with Saint George rootstock. Next year we will graft on Zinfandel from our own wood. With the planting of the new replacement stock, parallel irrigation piping was installed with emitters at each new planting site to allow more frequent watering of the new planting only.

Harvest

Mike Officer at Carlisle experimented with harvesting one ton from Block 2 on September 26th. Otherwise, most of the Zinfandel - Blocks 1, 2 (remainder), 3, 4, 6 (Zin) and 7 - was picked between 5th and 8th October. Just before the first rains of the season - the next day - phew !!. The single row of younger Zin “on-the-wire” along Piner Road was picked 23rd October and the field blend from Block 6 was picked 25th October. The average yield across the vineyard was slightly over 2 tons per acre. An estimated 20,000 (750ml) bottles could be produced from the vineyard this year.

Wine and Reviews

Carlisle

Not yet released.

Novy 2007 Papera Ranch Vineyard Zinfandel

1. ‣Released April 2009
   

Novy 2007 Russian River Valley Zinfandel

1. ‣Released April 2009
   

Williams Selyem 2007 Papera Vineyard Zinfandel

1. ‣Released August 2009
   

Previous Years: Papera Wines prior to 2007