Views of Mathis Vineyard

Early and late in the day the sun's rays are low and long, providing needed shade to the Grenache grape clusters developing beneath the canopy of grape leaves. Midday, however, it's another story! There's little shade in Mathis Vineyard.

One of the great advantages of a hillside vineyard is the view. In every direction there's plenty to see. Below, the view is southwest overlooking the lower end of the Sonoma Valley with the Sonoma Mountains on the far side.Mathis Vineyard, Sonoma Valley

A rare mid-summer storm is seen down the middle of a vineyard row, above left.

Mathis Vineyard, Sonoma Valley

A pile of Rhyolite rocks is seen in the lower right of the above photo, all cleared (by me!) from the vineyard before planting between 1998 and 2000. Poking out of the trees in the center of the photo below is the Fairmont Mission Inn's historical landmark water tower.

Above left, sweet peas continue to spread their vines slowly along the periphery of the vineyard.

Manzantina trees show their bright rust bark in the rain.

Raincloud cover can be low in Sonoma Valley. Funny, the vines never complain!

By harvest, grapes have grown to a half-inch or more in diameter. I walk the rows tasting for ripeness, choosing which clusters and vines are ready for picking. Others wait until I think they're ready for harvest, days or weeks later. 

I may have wire trellis guides for my vines, but that doesn't mean they obey instructions. Most of the time they have a mind of their own.