As February rolled into March in the Lewis-Clark Valley, the quiet work of pruning began across the vineyard at Rivaura. While the vines remain dormant along the banks of the Clearwater River, our team moved carefully through each block, making the first decisions that will shape the 2026 vintage. This winter has been notably warmer than average, and with milder temperatures lingering, there’s a watchful eye across the vineyard for what could be an earlier-than-usual wake-up.
Pruning is where the growing season truly begins—each cut guiding how the vine will grow, how it will balance its energy, and ultimately how the fruit will develop in the months ahead. By reducing the number of buds on each vine, we encourage the plant to focus its energy into fewer clusters, promoting concentration, balance, and even ripening throughout the season. Every vine has its own character, and our crew takes the time to evaluate each one individually, preserving the long-term health of the vineyard while setting the stage for the coming growing season. The structure we create now will influence canopy growth, yields, and fruit expression later in the year, meaning the story of the 2026 vintage is already beginning to take shape in the rows.
Though the vineyard still carries the quiet of late winter, this work marks the true beginning of the vintage. Long before bud break, bloom, and harvest arrive, the foundation is being laid by hand—vine by vine, row by row. Months from now, when grapes hang heavy on the vines, it will all trace back to these early days of careful pruning.