An Introduction & New Vineyard Blog

Well, as Jess promised, we are adding new content to our blog, so, let me introduce myself. My name is Kalen Holden-Boushey, a few of you may have seen me at our new Seattle location at Urban Enoteca, and an even smaller few of you may have seen me at the occasional Red Mountain event weekend. But, besides getting to share my love of Fidelitas Wines through our tasting room I am also going to share with you my little knowledge of the vineyards and keep you guys updated on what’s happening with some of Washington’s premiere vines. Let me give you a little bit of my history. I grew up in the rows of my parents family farm, doing manual labor...I mean training grapes and learning my way around a vineyard! My parents have been farming in Yakima Valley since the mid seventies starting with apples, cherries, and Concords and Niagaras. In 1978, my dad planted his first block of experimental wine grapes (amazingly we still have this block), and in 1980, three years before Yakima Valley became the first federally-recognized appellation in Washington, he planted his first commercial block of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Now, over 30 years later we grow 23 grape varieties on 125 acres, and, don’t worry, we still grow apples and the most delicious Rainier cherries you’ve ever had!

So, what am I really here for? Well, first to introduce myself as your new Fidelitas Wine Club correspondent, and second, to introduce you to my new Vineyard blog. I’m not going to try to get into the nitty gritty technical stuff here but just give you a monthly (hopefully) update of what’s happening with those vines, and maybe a little viticulture info as well (nothing too boring I hope)!

Obviously I am a bit behind with the month to month updates, so I will give you a quick and dirty update of the last few months. Luckily, not too much happens in the winter and early spring months.

Winter to Early Spring 2011:

The vines look like this through most of the winter, un-pruned and wild. Near the end of February or early March all of the old growth is pruned back to allow for new growth to form.

Even old grape clusters are left on. By now, of course, all of the grapes have fallen off or have been eaten by the birds. These are some of the two year old vines of Fidelitas’ Estate Vineyard in front of the winery, still too young to produce commercial fruit.

April 2011:

By April, all of the vines have been pruned back. See, looking pretty neat and tidy again. Tiny buds are beginning to form that will grow into new shoots. 

Here you can see things are still pretty dormant. White grow tubes dot down the rows with young vines in them. These tubes help new vines get just the right amount of UV light to thrive and produce hardy grape vines.

May 2011:

And...ta da! We have bud break. It has been a late start to the season with so few warm days, but it has finally arrived! With a few hot days these buds will practically grow before your eyes, each day will bring something new.

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Expect more from this Seattle gal soon. Vineyard tours are at the end of the month, so some good updates on a few other vineyards that Charlie sources from for Fidelitas wines are headed your way.