Planting New Vines
Prior preparation prevents a poor performance and this holds true for planting a backyard micro-vineyard. Here are several key steps to guarantee success.

First, remove any unwanted growth, brush, etc, and roto-till the designated planting area adding compost. This will speed up root and plant growth. Scatter–spread a balanced organic fruit and vine, 10-10-10 fertilizer to your planting area and mix into the soil.

Maness Vineyard grapevines grown in the San Diego area should be planted at 5X5 or 6X6 feet across and apart. Grapevine protective sleeves are critical for the first year or two preventing leaf scorch, rabbit invasion, dehydration, frost kill and wind damage. Place sleeves over newly planted vines and secure to a stabilizer stick. Drip systems can be added for your convenience to make an overall gardening experience enjoyable.

First Annual Memorial Day Weekend
Social Wine Mixer
A collective group of over 120 wine enthusiasts including The San Diego amateur wine maker society and independent wine club members attended our first annual wine mixer to a rousing success.

Let’s do it again next year! Gourmet foods to fit the occasion were prepared by Maness Vineyard Estate staff and volunteers. And a delectable fare it was… stuffed grape leaves, wood fired pizzas, grapevine wood smoked turkey and ribs, garden grown vegetables, crudités with a trilogy of gourmet fruit and alfresco salads. The select Premier Cru 2008 wine was barrel sampled … our new, TINGERE® Syrah Fusion.

Maness Vineyards only produced 30 cases of TINGERE and currently there are 8 cases left in stock. The special wine collector will be thrilled to add TINGERE to his private stash. The wine ages well and the special edition bottle commemorating its introduction bears not only the finest Petite Syrah fruit, but the bottle is adorned by a granite souvenir stone from Casi Cielo Farm. The top is finished with a hand-dipped, gold wax seal. This exciting new wine is strictly for the discerning palate.

The 1880 Wine Bar
Bless the power of the Internet as we recently purchased, restored and installed a wonderful piece of Americana history in our new wine tasting room, The 1880 Wine Bar.

A personal thank you goes to John Keily on his monolithic efforts to get this wine room and antique bar project completed in time for the Memorial Day Weekend gala.

2009 Summer Harvest
We were able to harvest about 800 pounds of Petite Syrah from the Vineyard in September under blazing 100 plus degree heat.

2009 was an odd growing season in San Diego from a long, cool and foggy spring which would not go away and slowed fruit production, to high temperature sporadic heat waves that caused a modicum of damage.

We are located in Eastern San Diego in Jamul where the local bee hives were overrun with aggressive bees that loved devouring fresh grapes. It ultimately affected the 2009 harvest throughout the region. Overall, the Syrah grapes went through crush and primary fermentation very well and are now in secondary slow fermentation in our underground barrel room. End volume after racking will be one barrel, about 60 gallons or 25 cases.

Barrel Partners
Apprentice winemaker, Phil Holden and Maness Vineyards Estate recently purchased 1600 pounds of prime Temecula Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at 26 brix.

These beautiful grapes were hand harvested by Phil, David Reddin and Greg Maness who brought them to our wine production facility for same day crushing and de-stemming. One month later we racked and filtered the juice from the pumice and it is currently in secondary barrel fermentation. This will only yield one, 60 gallon barrel of wine for bottling in late 2010. From the reserved Cab pumice we created a new wine, TINGERE Cabernet Syrah Fusion, a pale purple tinged wine totally unique in character. We will keep you informed of its progress.

Farmer's Markets
Certified growers, Maness Vineyards and Casi Cielo “Almost Heaven” Farm is now selling estate grown grapevines, vineyard products, farm-fresh seasonal citrus and fruits, avocados, vegetables and nuts all harvested from our own estate in Jamul.

Visit our booth and meet John and Liz Keily at the Little Italy Farmers Market in downtown San Diego every Saturday morning from 9 AM to 1:30 PM, also, the Ocean Beach Farmers Market on Wednesdays from 3 to 7 PM.

Dormant / Winter Grapevines
All grapevines will go through different stages of growth and sleep cycles or dormancy every year.

During the fall months the leaves will start turning color and drop because all the liquids in the vines go into the root systems.

In the Spring, March or April, little buds on the stems open and begin to grow new vines. Be assured these new vines will grow well and develop a healthy grape harvest come September. Do not trim your vines in the winter for the first year or two. This will help strengthen the root system. Just remember, don't panic when your grapevine leaves drop off … they will grow back.

Maness Vineyards Estate is available for private events.
Contact Us for more information.