Page 55 - GrapevineMarApr 2022

Around The Vineyard

Rodney Strong Vineyard

Redevelopment Program 2017-2025

R odney Strong Vineyards, as part of its decades- Sauvignon used in Rodney Strong’s iconic Symmetry

as well as the coveted Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
long commitment to excellence, has focused
on, and invested heavily in, upgrading all of its
er eighty scheduled for 2023 and the final 20 acres in
renowned vineyards with an emphasis on quality, sus- Twenty-five acres were replanted in 2021, with anoth-
tainability, and innovation. Under the guidance of famed 2026. What is already one of Alexander Valley’s greatest
soil scientists/viticulturists Dr. Daniel Roberts and Dr. sources for Cabernet Sauvignon promises to be even
Paul Anamosa, Director of Winemaking Justin Seidenfeld better.
and Director of Estate Vineyards Ryan Decker, the vine-
yards of Rodney Strong Winery are being replanted and The replanted acres of the three vineyards in
improved using the most modern techniques available. Alexander Valley alone amounts to 285 acres and is only
No expense has been spared in this endeavor. a portion of the acres which are being redeveloped.
Replanting to this high standard is a costly endeavor,
Beginning in 2017 the three distinguished vine- with steep plantings and remote locations bringing addi-
yard-designates of Rodney Strong started complete tional challenges, but this investment will lay the foun-
redevelopments. Forty-five acres of Alexander’s Crown dation for the next 60 years of Klein Family Ownership
Vineyard have already been redeveloped with tighter and vineyard excellence.
spacing, state of the art irrigation to match the site and
conserve water, improved row orientation and slope Rodney Strong views each of our vineyard sites as a
analysis, more precise sight preparation, and certified small, but significant part of the local ecosystem. We
virus-free rootstock and clonal material. adhere to a comprehensive sustainability management
plan that emphasizes soil health and biodiversity.
Just five miles north of Alexander’s Crown is Rockaway
Vineyard, another jewel in the Rodney Strong portfolio. Our participation in The Climate Adaptation and Fish
Thirty acres have already been redeveloped, with anoth- Friendly Farming Certification Programs helps ensure
er eighty-five acres to be replanted in 2022. 10 x 4 spac- we are implementing best management practices
ing will be improved to 7 x 4 spacing. More vines per beyond the vineyard. These plans, comingled with our
acre will improve quality by allowing smaller, more bal- low impact farming philosophies and our state-of-the-
anced vines to ripen a smaller amount of fruit. This is a art water management plans, will make our vineyards
major philosophical shift in how we farm grapes. We are a model for wine growing in the future, in addition
now focusing on the fruit on each individual vine instead to growing the spectacular grapes needed for making
of tons per acre, resulting in a more holistic balance of world class wine.
vine, vineyard, and finished wine in the bottle.
Sustainability • Quality • Innovation
East of Cloverdale in Northern Sonoma County lies
Brothers Vineyard, an important source of Cabernet
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