02/18/2026
Not the prettiest vineyard post we have ever shared, but it might be one of the most important.
If you have visited Brander this winter, you may have noticed parts of the vineyard look a little different. We are deep into a major replanting project, one of the biggest we have taken on in our history; focused mainly on our red wine blocks from some of our older plantings.
Photo 1 is a full circle moment. Fred Brander planting Cabernet Sauvignon back in the early 1980s. Now, decades later, we are doing the hard part of farming too: saying goodbye to certain vines so the next chapter can thrive.
This is not change for the sake of change. Some vines have simply reached the end of their healthy lifespan, & replanting is how we protect quality for the long run. This phase is especially red focused, while thankfully most of our Sauvignon Blanc remains in place.
Replanting is meticulous work, especially when you are keeping parts of the existing trellis system. Huge thanks to our vineyard crew led by Maverick Farming for the patience, precision, grit, & long days out there making it happen.
We just celebrated 50 years. Now we are planting for the next 50!
“It is difficult to see the vines being ripped out. Some of them were the original ungrafted vines planted as early as 1975. The changes will bring some challenges but we are excited about the replant. It is relatable to our human experience with life. We are saddened when our elders pass and cherish their memories. Yet we are beyond excited when a child is born and we fantasize about their future!” - Winemaker Fabian Bravo
