If you visit us on a crisp January morning, you’ll notice a shift in the landscape. The vibrant green canopies of summer are long gone, replaced by the quiet, architectural “skeletons” of the vines. To the casual observer, the vineyard looks like it’s taking a season off. In reality, this is an important time for our production team.
The Science of Vineyard Dormancy
Right now, our estate is in a state of winter dormancy. Like a deep sleep, this phase allows the vine to pull its energy back into the roots to store nutrients it needs to survive the frost and explode with growth in the spring.
Our job during this “sleep” is to guide that energy. Winter pruning in Temecula vineyards is about cleaning up the vines and setting the stage before a single bud has even broken.
The “Wiens” Approach: Quality Over Quantity
Quality is PARAMOUNT. In the vineyard, that philosophy is put to the test every January. Our crew goes through the rows and manually removes upwards of 90% of the previous year’s growth.
When we limit the number of buds on each vine, we force the plant to concentrate all its sugar, tannins, and character into a smaller number of clusters. This results in the intense fruit concentration you find in our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, for example. We aren’t interested in high yields, we’re interested in high impact.
Two Methods, One Goal
When it comes to winter pruning, we carefully cut by hand, based on two primary techniques:
Spur Pruning: We leave short “spurs” along the permanent arms of the vine. This creates a uniform canopy, perfect for grapes that need consistent sun exposure.
Cane Pruning: A more artistic and labor-intensive method where we select one or two of last year’s strongest canes to be the foundation for the new season.
Experience the Winter Beauty of Temecula
There is something uniquely beautiful about Temecula Wine Country in January.
While our team is out in the rows getting the vines ready for spring, the tasting room is open, and the boldest reds in the valley are ready for you. Come by, grab a flight, and see the foundation of the next great vintage being built right outside our windows.