But, if you move just another ridge inland about a mile or so, it is too cold for a viable vineyard. Dr Roberts knows this because this kind of information is his specialty. A highly respected Viticulturist with over 30 years of experience, he uses Adcon Telemetry to determine exact rainfall and temperature data of a vineyard or potential vineyard! This can help determine what varietals and rootstock to plant or if they should plant at all. He can save vineyard owners from making expensive mistakes with their planting decisions.
Ramey gets all the Chardonnay that is grown at Platt (Wente clone). Other well-known clients are: Red Car, Radio Coteau, Littorai, Charles Thomas and one of my new favorites, Fred Scherrer. Mostly, they source the Pinot Noir but trials are going on for other varietals and there is a bit of newly planted Riesling.
Throughout the morning, there were discussions about pruning, organic farming, clonal differences (look up transposon), soil types and soil deficiencies, vine diseases, row orientation, and so much more. The conversation drifted from costs to vineyard clients to AVAs to different schools of thought on winemaking and viticulture.
