This is a head-pruned zinfandel vine at Louis Martini’s Monte Rosso vineyard that I snapped this afternoon. I had stopped at a vineyard along CA12 outside of Kenwood to take pics of similar vines, but this one takes the cake. I don’t know for certain and there was no one to ask (especially since I was technically trespassing, having passed the “No Public Access, No Winery Here” sign), but I suspect this is one of the 125-year-old vines that produces fruit for Martini’s “Gnarly Vine” zinfandel. Simply fascinating and amazing.
Obviously head-pruned but I’m wondering about the need for the drip irrigation. The roots have to go down 20 feet. Sorry about the pic. I couldn’t get the right angle for the late afternoon bright sunlight and my Photoshop skills are limited. For scale, the posts are 2x2 lumber. You’d be amazed at the narrow, bumpy road that leads up to this place. I can’t imagine driving a flatbed with 6-10 tons of grapes down the hill, which is AT LEAST a 7% grade.
