The pruning is all done, and just in time since the buds are starting to push.  The vines seem to be a little late waking up from their dormancy, but we're not worried yet. The rains this week should not affect budbreak - but we sure would like for the weather to be sunny and dry for a while after next week! 

The Albariño vines are about to be pruned - with a new pruning system!  Meanwhile, we loved running among themThis is another vineyard with the new pruning system we will have for the Albariño this year. It allows better aeration and less direct sun exposure

Yesterday we went to visit a vineyard in Alexander Valley to see a new pruning system that we are planning to put in place in our Albariño block. It was very interesting! The vine shoots are trained on either side of the cordon like a V, so it results in a divided vertical canopy that allows better aeration, while preventing direct sun exposure and possible sunburn.

We listened attentively while Zach and Ventura discussed the new trellis system we are about to set up in the Albariño block

We also inspected the compost piles and found that Nature had helped by having grass and greenery grow on them!  Now we will turn the piles (yum! We love that...) and incorporate it all together

Mom was fastidiously showing us what a perfectly cane-pruned vine looks like. OK, we get it!

And then she had Alfredo prune a vine for us to learn how it's done. We probably could do it!

These days of beautiful weather in the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast have been very helpful for pruning!  Not much goes on in the vineyard except for pruning at this time, really. But the downside is that, if the warm weather continues, the vines will get the message that spring is here and bud break will start earlier than it should -- which will make early frosts much riskier.

On a more fun subject than pruning, we played an important role at Mom's New Year's party in Sausalito last Saturday, when we also celebrated Cristina's 22nd birthday.  We entertained the guests, who were (for the most part) delighted with our company.  Some of them gave us food, imagine!  We loved the chocolate cake...  although Bonita had a pretty tough time dealing with it during the night. Oh well, it was worth it.

We were an integral part of our New Year's party! In the balmy night, from the deck we could watch the beautiful moon and the San Francisco skyline.

Having a vball at Stinson Beach...

Swimming in the pool with Cooper -- in the middle of December! That's not a bad jump, huh??

We had quite a good time while Mom and Cristina were in Spain!  We stayed with our buddy Cooper and his Mom, Susan -- they're always lots of fun!

Our First Page!

By way of introduction, let me tell you that we run this winery called Marimar Estate – that’s why our humongous sculptures are the first thing you see when driving by.

The people here think they run the show, but they really just do our bidding. Proof of that, besides the sculptures, is that we are famous!

Witness that, we were the Top Dogs in the April issue of Decanter magazine, and Chico’s sculpture was front page in Bay Woof – as you can see here – and besides, we’re about to have our own wine!

We just heard there will be a Reserve Chardonnay and Pinot Noir named after us – Bonita’s Hill and Chico’s Run. Isn’t that great? So we decided it was about time we started our own web page. Won’t that be fun!
Life in the vineyards is really heaven. Actually, we only know our two vineyards: Don Miguel and Doña Margarita, but they’re probably the best in California (or the dog world). Every time Mom goes on a vineyard walk she takes us along and it’s sooooo much fun to romp up and down the slopes. In fact, this picture was just taken as we were racing down the vine rows in the Doña Margarita Vineyard as the buds were just pushing – it’s such a magic time of the year, when the seemingly dead trunks come back to life!
We’re always together so we wanted to start this website with a joint Editorial – but now we each take a pen and tell you what a vineyard dog’s life is about…

Chico’s Tale

As an almost 4-year-old English Springer Spaniel, I am mature and thoughtful – nothing like my sister, Bonita, who is only 1½-years old. She’s such a baby! So rambunctious and hyper-active all the time she drives me crazy. She goes mad after toys, sticks, plastic bottles – anything! And if ever I decide to play with one of the gazillion toys floating around the house, she immediately drops the one she was playing with and chases after me until she gets mine. She’s such a nuisance!But although life would be easier without her, I guess I must admit that I kind of like her. She’s funny, too – and keeps me exercising more than I would without her, which Mom says is good for me. I remember the first time I saw her, when she was an 8-week old puppy – boy, did I growl at her! I could see it coming: She was going to get all the attention of my Mom and Big Sister, Cristina. Well, in reality she gets about 60% – but I’m still the Top Dog. Time for a nap … until next time!

Bonita’s Tale

I am the rebel in the family – my favorite pastime is breaking the rules! Tell me not to jump a fence and I just have to do it; to go potty in the far away corner of the garden, and I’ll ostentatiously do it in the middle of the patio (and even sometimes inside the house – boy, do I get in trouble then!); not to jump, and I can’t help myself… I hear the winery workers say that I’m spoiled – but I’m just young! I’m not even two – still a baby, don’t they understand?

Chico, of course, is always trying to teach me to be a lady – when will he give up? I love teasing him and biting his leg or ear – until I get him exasperated, then he brings me down and shows me. He’s stronger, of course, but sooooo laid back! He doesn’t mind sitting for hours on the couch or his little bed. I on the other hand, can’t stand it and have to nag whoever is around – usually my Mom, especially when she’s trying to do some work on that stupid machine they call a computer and complaining about all those emails. But then, why does she spend hours with them? Humans are really strange.