2014 Harvest Kickoff begins with picking the table grapes!

We have been waiting with baited breath for harvest to begin.  The drought has caused challenges to a grower of anything.  This is the first year since 2005 that we have not had cattle grazing the property.  We lost most of our olive blossoms during a late April storm, and lost most of the Zinfandel in June due to the incredible onset of heat and heavy, hot sustained winds.  The workhorses of the ranch, however, are the Petite Sirah and Cabernet, which were looking amazing -- so amazing, in fact, that we sewed the nets shut.  We were concerned that animals desperate for food would go after them -- and go after them they did.

Despite the netting, our Petite Sirah began disappearing at an alarming rate, so it was suggested by other farmers to purchase electric netting.  It is, however, a race against time to get the netting delivered.  In the meantime, a game camera was set up to attempt to capture (of only by photo) the culprit.  It was coyotes, and so cunning are these coyotes that they can stand on their rear legs and use their forelegs like arms and

hands to rip the nets open.  The night vision camera captured over 700 photos.

A farmer's hope springs eternal, though, and there are still a few hearty crops that have survived.  So far, the Cabernet still looks great, and the electric fencing has gone up around the Cabernet.  It is a bumper year for the table grapes.  This week, more than 50 jars of our Tequila Pepper Grape Jelly have been processed and yesterday, more Thompson Seedless Grapes were picked and destemmed and dehydrated overnight resulting in our first raisins.  Small victories such as these will get us through until rain arrives, the animals calm down, and January arrives with the possibilities for a new, better growing year.  In the meantime, we're enjoying some raisins such as we've never tasted before!