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Our family has been growing grapes for eight generations, dating back to a small German, now French village Alsace. We have been growing premium wine grapes in the Lodi appellation for five generations. We were one of the very first farming families to introduce French clones to our region, and have experience growing many varieties of grapes. We farm hundreds of acres some of which date back to our families original properties, which are over 100 years old. Our Cabernet is selected from very small blocks of vineyards, which are trained on special trellis systems, one which was originally designed by Jason, our vineyard manager and Larry. Our trellis systems allow just the right amount of sunlight to grace the fruit on the vine. Our crop level is controlled using minimum use of water and hand thinning. Our wine is an expression of where and how the grapes are grown, including the clonal choice, vineyard sites, trellis, crop management and expertise of the winemaker. We personally manage the entire process, paying close attention to every detail. Our family is committed to being on the cutting edge concerning the farming of our vineyards. It is our dedication to this and the personal control we have over our vineyards that allow us to master the quality of our wine from the vineyard to the bottle.
We also farm our vineyards using the latest biologically integrated farming system. This program was designed to monitor our appellations vineyards, reducing chemical usage and placing pest traps in vineyards to guard against such destructive pests as the glassy winged sharp shooter. Reduction of water and fertilizers in our vineyards along with integrated pest management (IPM) keep our vineyards healthy, and our wine quality consistent. The personal control we have over our vineyards allow us to master the quality of our wine from the vineyard to the bottle. At Mettler Family Vineyards, our vines are part of the family.
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Mettler Family Vineyards |
OUR VINEYARDS
Also incorporated into our farming program are many organic aspects. Cover crops are grown in our vineyards, providing a means of protecting and improving our soil structure. This enables the organic matter within our soils to keep turning over, which helps build and maintain the structure and fertility of our soils, which promotes a more natural approach to farming. Owl boxes have also been built to create homes for owls to reside and raise their young, promoting natural rodent control in the vineyards. This helps protect young vines and shoots from becoming nibbled on and destroyed. 