Muns Vineyard

We have budbreak! We called budbreak a week ago, the weekend of April 17-18, and now the vines are leafed out in earnest. Prior to 2018 budbreak would start mid-March, but starting in 2018 it's gotten later and later (early April in 2018, mid-April in 2019, late April in 2020) due to cold wet weather in the Spring. So this is actually a little earlier than last year. Leafing out and shoot growth should progress rapidly as the days warm up and we have longer daylight hours. The 2021 vintage is well on its way now!

In addition to Pinot Noir we are growing Jack Russell Terrier puppies. Really just one: Skye. The vines are growing like gangbusters. Bloom is not far away.

A rainy day - foggy, damp, chilly, grey. Shortly after dawn it started out with the clouds tucked in around the hills and you can see the coastline and Santa Cruz below - but within 30 minutes they rose up and filled in and now we can't see anything. A good day to hibernate.

At the top of our Loma Prieta ridge we have 360 degree views - this one looking towards the adjoining ridge to the northeast, with Mount Thayer and Mount Umunhum. The two ridges meet at Loma Prieta Peak (to the right of this photo).

Introducing: the precious, adorable, sweet and cute-as-all-get-out West Elk Skye Muns. 13 weeks old now. Jack Russell Terrier pupgirl. A little bundle of love and energy and puppy kisses, and almost (but not quite) housebroken.

Wine tasting events are coming back! The Santa Cruz Mountains Vintners Festival is May 22 & 23. Be sure to visit Muns Vineyard on your itinerary, and spend an afternoon on the Summit with our participating neighbor wineries. Reservations in advance are required. For details and tickets see https://winesofthesantacruzmountains.com//vintners-festiv/

Our Muns Vineyard 2016 Estate Pinot Noir is included in this coming shipment of the Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Club, in the Pinot Collection, shipping in the next couple of weeks. The Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains Club is an opportunity to experience wines from many different producers across our region, all delivered to your doorstep. Choose from three club options: the Pinot, Classic or Mountain Bordeaux Collection. Each of these explores key aspects of our region and will introduce you to bottlings from both acclaimed producers and under-the-radar brands. Benefits include 15% off ticket purchases for events like the upcoming Vintners' Festival on May 22 & 23. See the Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains' website for details about joining this Wine Club and the benefits: https://winesofthesantacruzmountains.com/wineclub/

The first tender buds unfurling, still encased in gauze.

Christmas morning dawned in a peachy gold glow. Then the clouds moved in and we had some very welcome rain. This view shows the Monterey Bay coastline.

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

Pick up 'vineside' at Muns Vineyard this Saturday, 11-3:00 for advance orders. And take advantage of our 'stay-at-home' discounts and holiday specials: 10% off 4-6 bottles; 15% off 6-11 bottles, and 25% off a case (mix and match is okay). And, Holiday Specials: a vertical of Syrah includes the 2013, 2014 and 2015 estate Syrahs. And a special case price on the 2012 Pinot Noir - 40% off. Good through the end of December. See www.munsvineyard.com for details and ordering information.

The vines are bare now as they go into dormancy for the winter. This golden sunset Saturday night foretold Sunday's welcome rain.

Last day of harvest for the Pinot Noir at Muns Vineyard under sunny blue skies, Friday, Sept. 25.

Day 5 of harvest on Monday, picking for Sarah's Vineyard and Calerrain in Gilroy. Delicious, juicy Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir!

Saturday's pick: 3 tons for our own Muns Vineyard label and for Tony Craig's Sonnet. A beautiful day for harvest, sunny, blue skies and cool. And beautiful Pinot clusters, large and juicy and delicious!

On Tuesday we picked a couple of bins for our Winemakers Series label, including Pinot from a block that is a trial comparing cane pruned and spur pruned vines. The clusters are big and beautiful and delicious! More for our Muns Vineyard label on Saturday. This is picking in the time of Covid, everyone wearing masks.

Dawn harvest, picking our Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot yesterday for Detente Wines in Paso Robles.

Here's for you Integrity Wines! Beautiful high elevation Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir! 2 tons picked yesterday (Labor Day), the first day of harvest at Muns Vineyard. Started early in the morning when it was relatively cool and finished before the day heated up during this heat wave (ultimately to over 100 degrees). Picking during Covid - masked and socially distanced. The fruit is gorgeous!

First day of harvest for the 2020 vintage tomorrow!

Blue sky today! It has been so smoky and hazy across the mountains since the fires in the Santa Cruz Mountains started 12 days ago. The CZU complex of fires is still burning a few miles to the northwest of us, and you can see the leading edge of the smoke in this photo as it heads across the adjoining ridge into San Jose. Loma Prieta Peak (to the right) is hazy - but we can actually see it! Depending on how the wind blows sometimes we are hazy, too. But it is improving. slowly. 29% containment (update: 33%). The devastation from this and the other Bay Area fires is heartbreaking. Our hearts go out to everyone who has had to evacuate, and the many who have lost their homes. The firefighters on the front lines are truly heroes in these awful circumstances.

Start your Labor Day weekend with Mary & Ed at Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co., Friday, Sept. 4, 6:30-7:30. Enjoy a tasting of our Rosé of Pinot Noir, Pinot Noirs and Syrah on the lovely back patio of the Roasting Co. Seating is limited (and socially distanced), so make your reservation through the LGCRC now (details in the event post linked below). $25 includes the wines and a charcuterie plate.

The grapes are in veraison and Ed and the crew are putting on the netting - 1 mile of net for every acre, 1/4 of a mile in each bag (you can see a spare bag being carried in the loader at the front of the crawler). This is the Syrah block. The Pinot has already been netted. It's a big job. And it means harvest is coming!

Veraison in the Pinot Noir is widespread now. Ed has done the final spraying before netting and will mow and nets will go on in a couple of days. This cluster shows the range of colors as the berries ripen, the sugars rise and they turn from green to purple. Veraison in the Syrah is a little behind and will start soon.

Veraison is in full swing in the Pinot Noir at Muns Vineyard as the grapes ripen. Nets will go on in a couple of days!