After 5 years of drought the Cuyama Valley, like much of California, turned green. At Condor’s Hope we received over 21 inches of rain. This may not seem like much, but a normal rainfall for us is 15 inches. Streams flowed, the soil was nourished. And this led to a beautiful spring for all to enjoy. The seedbank of wildflowers was waiting for the rain to burst forward in their full color. The vines are beginning to leaf out with strong vine formation. We are all feeling nourished. We have been busy at Condor’s Hope with spring vineyard projects, and definitely took time to enjoy the flowers with family, friends and at our Spring Wildflower & Wine Barbecue on April 1. 40 people gathered together to enjoy food and wine in the vineyard, learn about our dry-farmed vineyard and taste our new releases of Rosé and Pedro Ximénez wines along with our classic Zinfandels and Shiraz. Please enjoy the photos and story below. Also check out our upcoming May events at the vineyard:
Yoga in the Vineyard: May 19-21
Memorial Weekend Spring Work Party: May 27-29
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- The road to Condor’s Hope surrounded by yellow hills of wildflowers this spring.
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- The vines rebound from 5 years of drought
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- We shared this bounty of nature with family
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- and those that joined us at our Wildflower & Wine Barbecue.
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- Wooly sunflowers dominate the hillsides.
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- Owl’s clover
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- Tidy tips, goldfields in the foreground. Caliente Mountains in the background.
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- Native bumble bees pollinate our almond trees.
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- Bluedick is found often among the yellow flowers.
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- Our tractor driving team: Mateo & Gia.
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- Mateo uses his dump truck to plant an olive tree.
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- Mateo then climbs one of the older trees.
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- Cousins visited and lend a hand.
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- Cousin Elaine plants a special olive tree.
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- On April 1, 40 of us gathered at Condor’s Hope to enjoy our Spring Wildflower & Wine Barbecue.
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- We enjoyed food and friends.
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- Neighbors Dave & Whitney prepare the barbecue.
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- Which we all
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- enjoyed!
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- Steve introduces varietals of Condor’s Hope wines.
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- Cheers!
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- And learn about techniques to conserve water in the soil.
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- After the last rains, we cultivate to create a ‘dust mulch’ to seal the moisture in the soil
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- to nourish the vines in the dry summer ahead.
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- This overview of the vineyard
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- is wonderful to watch
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- and shows our olive trees among the vines.
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- 2 Steves examine the vines before budbreak.
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- Budbreak begins in mid-March
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- And by mid-April leaf out with the vines beginning to develop
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- What a beautiful spring. Away we go!