Konrad VineyardsDr. Konrad's vineyard has been sustainably farmed for 37 years on a ridge in the Mayacamas mountains at the center of the Mt.Veeder Appellation. Its deep fine grained soils at 1400 ft. elevation were once an ancient seabed. At its perch on the Southeastern end of a ridge the vineyard receives a bounty of sunlight and cooling air from San Pablo Bay. The French clone 337 Cabernet Sauvignon is irrigated from a pond at the highest point in the vineyard which fills naturally with the winter rains. Irrigation is gravity fed. The grapes here in this, the coolest of the Napa mountain appellations, mature slowly producing more and finer tannins. From the highest block, renowned K1, a panoramic view from St.Helena to Carneros can be seen. Giant redwoods flourish in the canyons on either side of the vineyard. Located 2 miles from the nearest public road Konrad Vineyards' pristine environment consistently produces the highest quality inky, concentrated wines that Mt. Veeder is known for. Konrad Vineyards are currently sold out for 2013 and some years beyond depending on the block. Dr. Konrad at right in a Fall 2011 photo has owned the vineyard for 37 years. Dr. Konrad retired in 2013 and has reluctantly decided to sell the vineyard. More details can be found below. Call Mark Holler viticulturist and broker for Konrad vineyards at 650-799-6571 if you are interested in this fruit. His Grower's Blog details the progress of the vineyard through each growing season including juice data and harvest yield data. Parcel # 034-110-041 Konrad Vineyards is a 8.1 acre hillside Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard with near ideal Southeast to Southwest exposures at 1040-1320ft. elevation in the middle of the Mt. Veeder Appellation. It has excellent cold air drainage which protects it from Spring and fall frost. It is almost completely surrounded by native forest isolating it from pathogens which may be present in neighboring vineyards. It also has its own reservoir water supply.
Vineyard Management changed in February 2009 to Pulido Vineyard Management with the goal of achieving economic sustainability for the vineyard. A 12 station wireless network of soil moisture sensors at 3 depths was added to the vineyard in 2008 and contributed to the improved yield that year. In 2009 another 4 stations and pressure sensors were added to monitor irrigation system pressures and the pond level. The new management is paying closer attention to irrigation, nutrition, and during pruning has extended canes on the ends of the cordons 4-8" on each side to use the full length of the cordon wire. With these changes and the 2009 good fruit set we were anticipating a yield of 2-2.5 tons/acre. We achieved 2.9 tons/acre on average. We are interested in selling the grapes by block where the buyer purchases all the grapes yielded by the block(s) he/she selects. Below is a map of the vineyard as it has been divided up for grape contracting. The numbers prefixed with a "K" are irrigation/cultivar block numbers which correspond to the rows in the table below. As of October 2013 Five of the 7 blocks are under long term contract. Pulido Vineyard Management Grower's Blog 2014 Konrad/Camalie Grower's Blog 2013 Konrad/Camalie Grower's Blog 2012 Konrad Grower's Blog 2009, 2010 Current Weather Conditions at adjacent Camalie Vineyards Real Time Soil Moisture Data Legacy Graphs Vineyard Photos 6/17/12 Camalie Vineyards Post Blume, Many Macro Photos Vineyard Photos 6/9/12 Konrad Vineyards Post Blume Vineyard Photos 8/14/10 Late Veraison Vineyard Photos 7/18/10 Green Pea size berries Revised Vineyard Accounting 10/26/10 Vineyard Blocks
The vine density is on average 900 vines/acre. Old Vineyard Accounting. Nine Rows on the East side of block 2 were not accounted for. This caused a half acre/484 vine underestimation of block 2. The borders between the upper and lower portions of blocks K3 and K4 have also changed to reflect how the blocks are currently contracted for sale. 4/15/10 Ramon planted 160 vines of Malbec 596 on 101-14 in a plot to the west of K2U. These vines are dormant bench grafts. The goal is to grow some grapes which can be used for blending to add more forward fruit to the cabernet sauvignon grown here. Block K5 had an older clone of Malbec but never would set fruit and was budded over to Cab in 2005. This is a second attempt in a different place with different clone and rootstock based on input from Randle Johnson. The Northwest most 5 rows of block K5 were not budded over to Malbec for 2003-2005 as the rest of block 5 was. These 5 rows have been Cabernet Sauvignon clone 337 since they were first budded in 2003. These vines have mature cordons and should be producing very similarly to blocks K2-4. Below is a map of Konrad Vineyards showing the reservoir, irrigation blocks and locations of the wireless soil moisture sensing stationsThe 500 sequence numbers on the plot below are soil moisture and temperature monitoring station locations.
Konrad Vinyards satellite view with row directions visible, North is strait up on this map; year unknown. Elevation 1040 ft. at the base of block K6 up to 1320 ft. at the top of block K1. The reservoir is located further uphill at 1440 ft. based on a Google terrain map which can be found on the Mt. Veeder Appellation Website.
A couple of Dr. Konrad's labels. Panarama looking East from the top of block K6. View from K2 toward K1 with its landmark water tank and valley oak. This was taken 3/19/14 at budbreak. Last Updated 3/19/14 by Webmaster Mark Holler - Pulido Vineyard Management |