Good fruit starts with the health and quality of the vines. Like most Vitis Vinifera vines worldwide, these Cabernet Sauvignon vines are grafted to a Phylloxera-resistant root stock [in this case Couderc 3309c]. There is no irrigation. True to their arid-adapted genome, they are remarkably tolerant of low moisture conditions. No insecticides are used. Yes, there are aphids and occasional Japanese Beetles. But there is also a healthy population of ladybugs and praying mantises. Instead of chemicals, manual labor is used to control the canopy, limiting excessive foliage and providing light and airflow around the fruit.
