Open: Year Round
An Open Lyre Trellis system was chosen at Brandon Hills Vineyard over the more widely used Vertical Shoot Position Trellising. The Open Lyre system is more expensive to install and requires more annual labor hours to farm. In the vigorous vine growing climate here in the Yadkin Valley it is the best way to achieve balance between vine growth and grape production.
Brandon Hills Vineyard was established in 2005. We decided to not take a harvest the second year. By dropping the fruit that year the plant concentrates on vine and root growth rather than grape production allowing the vines to mature. Our first harvest was in 2007. Those red wines will have been aged in French Oak barrels for 18 months before they are bottled. We grow Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Pinot Gris.
