Farming
High quality and long-term sustainability are the two principles that guide Talley Vineyards' farming decisions. Brian Talley and Vineyard Manager Kevin Wilkinson collaborate to constantly s
trive to improve fruit quality while ensuring that the techniques employed work in harmony with the natural conditions of the individual vineyard sites. Biologically based farming techniques and integrated pest management practices are employed throughout the vineyards. To improve soil conditions, prevent erosion and provide fertility, cover crops are maintained in all vineyard blocks. Compost produced from a combination of the winery's grape pomace and horse manure is another key source of fertility.
The growing of premium wine grapes is highly labor intensive, especially the functions of pruning, shoot thinning, canopy management and harvest. With the availability of a well-trained labor force, all of these functions are performed by hand with full-time, year-round employees who are paid by the hour to ensure the highest possible quality. This is unique in California where most grape growers employ labor contractors seasonally, pay their workers on a piece-rate basis and increasingly rely on mechanized pruning and harvesting.
Shoot thinning 
and leaf and lateral shoot removal are employed throughout the vineyards to open the vine canopy and expose the grapes to more air and sunlight. This prevents powdery mildew and botrytis, two common problems in the cool foggy conditions typical in the coastal area, while promoting more even ripening of the fruit.
Harvest is the single most crucial determinant of quality in the vineyard. Talley Vineyards is in a unique position to control this important operation because of the availability of an experienced crew employed by Talley Farms. The harvesting crew is mobilized at the moment that the grapes reach optimum maturity. All grapes are carefully hand harvested during the cool hours of the morning, between 4AM and 9AM, and taken a short distance to the winery where they are immediately sorted and processed.
By controlling all aspects of grape growing, Talley Vineyards is able to ensure that quality takes priority over farming economics. Every bottle of Talley Vineyards wine is produced from vines planted by the Talley family on land owned and farmed by the Talley family.