Spring is in the air at St. James Winery and Vineyard!
Final pruning passes in the vineyard, a seasonal wine launch, and event planning at the winery! Our teams are bustling with activity in preparation for the coming season. We checked in with the experts, Executive Winemaker Andrew Meggitt, Events Manager Gina Robinson, and Vineyard Manager Sam Cobb, for the latest news. We are excited to share what’s ahead!
Firstly, from the vineyard, Manager Sam Cobb recently gave credit to Roy Raulston, Field Crew Supervisor, and the field crew: Brian Stevens, Flint Raulston, Rachel Miller, Maurilio Lopez, Devon Webster, Vincent Webster, and Mike Gresham. The team began pruning the vineyards in St. James, Missouri in early December. Through the best and the worst of mother nature, the hard-working and dedicated crew pruned daily, finishing the final row just last week. Sam went on to tell us more about the pruning process, and it is fascinating! “The goal is to remove unwanted growth from the previous year, to prune what was missed by the mechanical pruning team. This could be long canes that didn’t get cut, rachises, which are leftover stems from last year’s grape clusters, and dead or broken canes. In a typical day, the team hand-prunes 2.5 to 3 acres.” Sam continues, “Pruning takes an extraordinary amount of time and effort. It is absolutely one of the most critical jobs in the vineyard. People always ask what we do in the winter, and my response is always the same. Just as much, if not more, than we do in the summer. The workload is never ending, and without proper planning and a dedicated team, we would not be able to get the job done.” We are all looking forward, with much anticipation, to bud break in mid-April.
Secondly, an update from Gina Robinson, Events Manager Extraordinaire. Gina’s excitement about bringing people together in The Gardens, a beautiful outdoor space we share with Public House Brewing Company, and in the vineyards is contagious! Gina invites everyone to celebrate Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, 2023, by enjoying The Gardens. About the day, Gina shared, “We have three back-to-back local favorite bands playing, a bounce house and other kid-friendly activities, delicious food and drink options, and we are even pet friendly!” You can see all the details of the day here. As an avid runner herself, Gina’s favorite event of the year is the annual Grapes and Grain 5k, to be held at our St. James vineyard on Saturday, June 24, 2023. Gina is excited about the event, explaining, “Not only will you enjoy the beauty of the vineyard, but there will also be wine and beer sampling stations along the course. At the finish line, we invite you to toast your accomplishment with a complimentary glass of wine or beer, stay for the awards, then join us in The Gardens for a fun after-party!” When Gina’s in charge, there’s always a fun event just around the corner! Be sure to check the events tab on our website and our social media pages for updates and announcements. Find more information and a registration link for the 5k here.
Last, but never least, seasonal wine news from Executive Winemaker, Andrew Meggitt, who recently said, “Strawberry Citrus is a zesty, fruity wine promising the wonders of spring.” Then, quoting Henry David Thorough, Andrew added, “Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.” We believe that the best way to kick off spring is with the season’s favorite wine. Strawberry Citrus is a limited-release wine crafted with our award-winning Strawberry wine and blended with all-natural lemon and lime. The result is a delight! Fruity, crisp, and sweet with a clean finish – just what spring afternoons on the patio call for. In additional news, our creative and talented winemaking team just might have a brand new limited-release wine launching soon – stay tuned Pineapple Mango lovers!
