A Vineyard and Winery Estate in the Davis Mountains of West Texas.
Remembering these two weeks really feels like a dream. They would not have happened without help from Katie, my family and so many friends, old and new. We had planters come from California, Arizona, Florida, Oregon, Kansas, Wisconsin, Colorado and of course Texas.
Read MoreThe first weekend of planting, we were in the final stages of preparation mode. We were racing against the clock to complete two main tasks.
Read MoreIt's finally happening! The shipment of grapevines left California yesterday and are on their way down to Texas.
Read MoreIt's hard to believe it has been over a year and a half since our well was drilled. Katie and I were lucky enough to be on hand to see the very first water finally come out of the ground a few weeks ago!
Read MoreThe final push has begun to get everything ready for planting before the end of April. About 75% of the area of the vineyard has been cleared and weed-wacked, and 1,000 vine holes have been drilled! (Thanks Chris! Only 5,000 more to go!) Also, progress is being made toward finishing the irrigation system, which will be 100% SOLAR POWERED!
Read MoreThe big Tent and the fence are up!
Read MoreI learned that I am deeply thankful for hydraulic machinery, without which, digging the 700' or so of ditch that I dug would've taken approximately 500 years to complete.
Read MoreMany of you have already told me you want to come help me plant grape vines. With planting only 5 months away, it's time to starting planning the event in detail.
Read MoreWith the help of George and Eilis, the tent platform is just about complete!
Read MoreThree weeks ago my Dad joined me out at the vineyard site and helped me mix and pour over 1,600 lbs of concrete to finish creating the footings that will be the foundation for my wooden tent platform.
Read MoreI drove over to the Novavine Nursery expansion block in Woodland, CA to check on my baby grape vines.
Read MoreProgress is slowly picking up speed in the Davis Mountains. I was lucky enough to have Eilis come out on the last trip and help. Thanks Eilis! Getting ready to finish the big tent and put in the 28,000 gallon water storage tank!
Read MoreLast weekend I tested out this Bobcat auger. I need to drill a hole roughly 9" wide and 10"-18" deep for each of the 7,250 vines to be planted in. The good news is that the auger powered through the rocky soil like a champ and was quite easy to control. The not-so-good news is that it is going to take foreeeeeeeever to drill all those holes.
Read More(Ok, it wasn't technically a tractor) I was lucky enough to host Lynn Loomis and David Jalali, soil scientists from the USDA, at Alta Marfa for a second time recently, when they returned to describe and analyze the deeper strata of the soil at the vineyard site.
Read MoreSoaring above the Davis Mountains, Chihuahuan Desert and Alta Marfa.
Read MoreAlta Marfa tank tops are in! Send me an email or a text or comment on this post if you want one!
Read MoreAbout a year from now 7,250 Cabernet Sauvignon vines will be delivered to the vineyard site and they need YOUR help to get situated in the ground.
Read MoreA few weeks ago Alta Marfa hosted the largest group of visitors/helpers yet! Seven of us converged for a long weekend from far off and exotic locations such as Wisconsin, New Jersey, Massachusetts and good old Houston.
Read MoreMy parents recently made it out to the Davis Mountains for the first time and were a huge help putting in the first 5 (of 15) concrete footings for the tent platform.
Read MoreI am planning to build a wooden platform to put the tent on so it will have a wooden floor. Check out the videos below to see a test run of the tent in the driveway in Houston.
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