California Landscape Design

 EDIBLES AROUND THE STATE

HILLSIDE VINEYARD IN BEL-AIR

The homeowner was a self proclaimed francophile who wanted to have his own boutique vineyard, planted and operated in the classic Provençal manner. This approach meant being highly conscientious of the soil conditions, starting the vines from bare rootstock, not training them along any wires, and being meticulous about the biodynamic approach to nurturing the vines.

The clients wanted a ​boutique ​​vineyard of cabernet sauvignon, but the journey started far before the grapes. ​At the start of this project, Campion Walker Landscapes ​interviewed many vintners, selecting one out of the bay area who specialized in French rootstock. We also did extensive soil analysis to determine the ​mineral content, percolation rate, and ​condition of the earth ​that ​the grapes would be planted in, which influenced the particular genetic rootstock we ended up selecting. CWL designed the layout of the vineyard based on topography, drainage, and sun ​and wind ​exposure, and we laid it out, with the help of the vintner and a survey team, down to the exact inch. There was no room for error. We planted the grapes in the winter season, when they are dormant, and proceeded with pruning, ​nurturing,​ fertilizing.

An organic, biodynamic vineyard was the goal, so we set the challenge early on that they be no synthetics used on the vines. We used a fish emulsion fertilizer, root developers, full organic protocol, and drip line feeders to nourish the grapes. The health of the vineyard was of utmost importance, not just in the plants maturing healthfully in order to produce grapes, but to prevent fungus, diseases or pests​ that would endanger the vineyard.

The Homalodisca vitripennis, or Glassy Winged Sharpshooter, is a common vector​ in the area​, and a swarm can destroy a vineyard in less than 2 weeks. There was a winery down the road that was decimated by these insects, but as a testament to the health of the plants and the soil they were planted in, this vineyard remained safe and unscathed. We credit the optimal drainage, which was painstakingly designed prior to planting, and the biodynamically-​appropriate soil for this success.

Because we designed, installed, and maintained the vineyard, we were​ fortunate enough to be involved on all sides of this beautiful project. There was no detail we weren’t passionate about, down to the swiss Felco pruners we insisted on using. I believe that it’s the attention to detail, health, and nature that grew this vineyard into a success.

One of the tenants of Campion Walker Landscapes’ design practice is to uphold sustainability and stewardship of the land. We believe in planting symbiotic plant communities that are made up of complementary plants that put vitality back into the soil. We designed one such installation to be ​part of the vineyard​​: a mass meadow planting as the vineyard’s underplanting.​ We partnered with Greenlee & Associates, one of the foremost experts on grass ecology, to plant the largest private installation of native grasses​ they had ​ever done. The biochemistry of plants in this meadow enriched the soil of the property enough to significantly impact the health of the vines’ rootstock.

The vines produced grapes about three and a half years in, and the homeowners were able to bottle the first batch in the fourth year. They worked with a group of grape collectors, who handled everything from the harvest to the bottling. For three more years, the homeowners grew and harvested their own wine.

But, like nature, everything changes and evolves. The family eventually sold the property, and the new owner, a major player in the entertainment industry, prioritized privacy and decided to redesign the hillside into a tree grove, making the biodynamic success story of the vineyard a tale of the past.

I feel so ​fortunate and blessed to have worked on such a beautiful testament to sustainable, nature-first design.

TERRACED FAMILY GARDEN IN CARLSBAD