Return To Dry Farming
I just returned from a whirl-wind wine tasting trip to Paso Robles. A whopping 12 wineries were visited and they did not disappoint.
On this trip, I visited a couple of vineyards that practice dry farming and decided to do a little bit of research on the subject. After interviewing experts on the subject, the information was too interesting not to share.
Dry farming is an ancient farming practice that got its start in the Mediterranean countries that produce wine and olives. There are a couple of reasons why dry farming is utilized, but the downside is that these vineyards are 100 percent reliant on Mother Nature. The only water and moisture the vines receive are from rain and precipitation in the air from fog/mist. You can imagine how nerve-wracking this is for wineries who are dependent on the revenue from wine sales. Their vineyards need to produce grapes and the wine needs to taste good in order for them to turn a profit.
At Minassian-Young Vineyards, the wines showcased the best of this type of farming. Christy Litz, the Tasting Room Manager, was very knowledgeable and more than happy to explain why it is that they dry farm: It makes the grapes work harder to ripen. The result is a very delicious fruit from which to extract the juice to produce amazing wines!
“Our winemaking philosophy is to produce wines in a consistent manner, where the differences between vintages arise only from variables we cannot control such as temperature and rainfall. In addition, most wines are produced without blending fruit from multiple vineyards. This minimalist approach ensures that every vintage is representative of the terroir for each vineyard.” - David Young, Minassian-Young Vineyards
Further research shows that there are other benefits as well. This method provides a solution to our current water problems. California farmers who are currently struggling with drought conditions have been using dry farming for some time now. The more obvious benefit from dry farming is that it is more cost-effective for the wineries.
I encourage you to taste wine from vineyards that practice dry farming and see the difference for yourself!
