French Camp Vineyards facts for kids
Quick facts for kids French Camp Vineyards |
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|---|---|
| Location | Paso Robles AVA, USA |
| Coordinates | 35°29′36″N 120°14′26″W / 35.493363°N 120.240538°W |
| Appellation | Paso Robles |
| Founded | 1973 |
| First vintage | 1976 |
| Key people | Greg O'Quest(Manager), Nick De Luca (Sales), Steve Miller (Owner), Nicholas Miller (Owner) |
| Known for | Anglim, Edna Valley, Fess Parker, Fetzer, Kendell Jackson, Mosby, Tobin James, Mid Life Crisis |
| Varietals | Zinfandel, Syrah, Chardonnay, Merlot, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Lagrein, Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Website | http://www.frenchcampvineyards.com |
French Camp Vineyards is a large farm in Paso Robles, California, USA. It is known for growing grapes used to make wine. This area is part of the Paso Robles AVA, which is a special region for growing grapes.
History of the Vineyard
The land where French Camp Vineyards is located has a long history. It was once part of a very large property called the San Juan Ranch. Over many years, this big ranch was divided into smaller pieces. The French Camp area became part of a section called the Camatta Ranch.
In 1968, the Miller family bought the Camatta Ranch property. They thought the land would be great for growing different kinds of crops, including grapes for wine. For a few years, they rented out parts of the land. During this time, they carefully studied the weather, the soil, and how much water was available for irrigation.
After their research, they started planting grapes in 1973. They began with about 200 acres (0.8 km2) of grapevines.
Growing a successful vineyard like French Camp is a team effort. Many people work together. This includes those who grow the grapes, those who manage the business, and those who sell the grapes or young plants. Everyone helps plan for the future growth of the vineyard. Because of this teamwork, French Camp Vineyards has grown to cover over 1,700 acres (7 km2) today.
Using Machines in the Vineyard
French Camp Vineyards works with experts to use machines in a smart way. This is called vineyard mechanization. They have teamed up with the University of Arkansas and a company called OXBO International. Hank Ashby, who manages the vineyard, has helped bring in new ways to grow grapes.
They use a special method called the Morris-Oldridge canopy management system. This system uses machines to help the grapevines grow better. Machines can prune the vines (cut off parts), thin out shoots (new branches), and thin out the fruit. This means they can control how many grapes grow on each vine.
Using machines for these tasks saves a lot of money. If people had to do all this by hand, it would be too expensive. By using machines, French Camp can adjust the number of grapes growing several times during the year. This helps them get a more balanced and steady crop.
In many vineyards, the amount of grapes harvested can change a lot each year, sometimes by as much as 50%. This makes it hard for vineyards to plan their budgets and how much wine they can make. But with mechanization, French Camp can predict their grape harvest much better.
They have also found that using these machine-based methods can lead to better quality grapes. In many cases, the grapes grown with this balanced technique are even better than those grown completely by hand.
