Every bottle of wine tells a story and in every sip is a well-tended vineyard. For generations, the Robledo family has been immersed in this art, shaping some of the finest vineyards on the West Coast. Building on his family heritage, Marcelo Robledo started Grape Land Vineyard Management, a company specializing in three core services—vineyard development, management and grapevine grafting.
For Robledo, a fourth-generation farmer, and his partner, Daisy Hernandez, a third-generation vineyard specialist, viticulture is a way of life. Since childhood, the duo has been steeped in the industry, learning the delicate balance required to cultivate the best grapes.
One of the foundational services Grape Land offers is vineyard development, where its expertise in land cultivation truly shines. Combining this heritage with cutting-edge practices, it serves clients across Napa Valley and Sonoma County, California, with an unparalleled level of care and attention to detail. This deep-rooted experience allows the company to deliver customized services that meet the highest standards of quality and ensures each vineyard they touch reaches its full potential.
The Art of Vineyard Development
“No two vineyards are the same and we recognize that each has its specific soil composition, canopy structure and climate conditions. We work closely with clients to design custom management programs tailored to their vineyard’s distinct characteristics,” says Hernandez.
The process of transforming a piece of land into a thriving vineyard is both complex and meticulous. It requires a deep understanding of the land, climate and grape varieties. For clients looking to cultivate new vineyards, Grape Land excels in creating personalized solutions to facilitate the desired outcomes.
Every engagement begins with a thorough site analysis, which includes soil testing, nematode analysis and climate assessment. These tests help determine the best grape varieties to plant based on the specific conditions. For example, varieties like Cabernet Franc thrive in hot climates, while Pinot Noir would struggle in the same environment. Understanding these intricacies ensures that the vineyard will be productive and sustainable.
Another critical factor in vineyard development is water availability. Regions like California experience frequent droughts and require unconventional procedures. Keeping this in mind, Grape Land often recommends dry farming, a technique that minimizes water use by encouraging deeper root growth. By planting rootstock instead of pre-grafted vines, it focuses on root development in its early stages, leading to stronger, more resilient plants that produce high-quality grapes.
From soil preparation to vine planting, Grape Land handles everything while ensuring that each step of the process is customized to improve yield and enhance the site’s longevity. Whether clients are looking to produce large quantities of grapes or aiming for boutique, high-quality wine, it provides comprehensive consultation. Once the vineyard is established, Grape Land is available to provide ongoing services to maintain and enhance its potential.
Turning Grafting Expertise into Vineyard Excellence
Grape Land’s grafting expertise is what sets them apart. Few possess the same level of grafting mastery. It provides two main types—rootstock grafting for new vineyards and varietal grafting for established ones.
Rootstock grafting involves planting pest-resistant or soil-appropriate rootstock, then grafting the desired grape variety onto the rootstock the following year. This approach has numerous advantages over buying pre-grafted vines from nurseries. By focusing on root development in the first year, the vineyard experiences faster growth— up to 25 percent more than vines that are already grafted. This also allows the vineyard to produce higher-quality grapes in a shorter amount of time.
For clients with established vineyards, grafting offers a way to adapt to market changes. A vineyard that has been producing Merlot for a decade may find that there’s less demand for the grape. Instead of replanting the entire vineyard, Grape Land grafts a new variety, such as Cabernet Franc or Pinot Noir, onto the existing vines. This allows the vineyard to switch production in just a few seasons, saving both time and money.
“By offering an artisanal service, we help clients maximize the potential of their land and adapt to market trends without sacrificing quality,” says Robledo.
A Team Built on Experience and Passion
Behind the success of Grape Land is a team of highly experienced professionals. Each vineyard supervisor has over 10 years of experience, working closely with vineyard crews to ensure that every task is completed to the highest standards.
The company’s leadership meets weekly to review each vineyard’s progress and make necessary adjustments to the management plans. This collaborative approach ensures that every detail is handled, from vine health to pest management, resulting in consistently superior grape quality.
Managing a vineyard is not a one-size-fits-all operation. Recognizing this, its team adeptly manages canopies, nutrient balance and pest control. The workforce leverages its vast experience to diagnose and address challenges before they become problems.
This depth of knowledge, coupled with the company's focus on long-term relationships has made Grape Land a trusted name in the industry. Throughout its footprint, vineyard owners know that they are not just getting a service, but a partner who is committed to helping them succeed.
Vineyard Management Tailored to Client Needs
Robledo, Hernandez and their colleagues walk through the vineyards regularly, ensuring that each vine is thriving and that any potential problems are addressed before they impact wine production. This level of care and attention helps the vineyards produce abundant crops of premium grapes that are highly sought after by winemakers.
Vineyards require year-round care. Grape Land’s a hands-on approach to management includes pruning, pest control, nutrient management and irrigation to ensure vineyards remain healthy during and between growing seasons. A recent success story involved a vineyard that was experiencing over-cropped vines that were producing large quantities of grapes at the expense of quality.
Robledo and his team implemented a comprehensive management plan to balance the crop. By reducing the production load and focusing on vine health, they were able to restore the vineyard’s balance. Within a few seasons, the client saw optimized yields and higher-quality grapes, with scores of 90 points and above on the wine rating system—an achievement that significantly increased the vineyard’s value and reputation.
This success is just one example of how Grape Land can turn struggling properties into thriving operations. By offering consulting services and ongoing support, it ensures that each vineyard reaches its full potential, both in terms of production and grape quality.
Shaping Client Successes across California
Driven by its exceptional vineyard management, Grape Land is garnering strong client reception and growing demand for its services. Aiming to build on this success, it plans to expand over the next two years by taking on more contracts across the Napa Valley and Sonoma County.
Even as it continues to grow, Grape Land remains fully committed to its core values of personalized care and high-quality service. By consistently delivering exceptional outcomes, it enhances the quality and value of client vineyards, solidifying its position as a trusted partner in the wine industry.
For Robledo, a fourth-generation farmer, and his partner, Daisy Hernandez, a third-generation vineyard specialist, viticulture is a way of life. Since childhood, the duo has been steeped in the industry, learning the delicate balance required to cultivate the best grapes.
By offering an artisanal service, we help clients maximize the potential of their land and adapt to market trends without sacrificing quality
The Art of Vineyard Development
“No two vineyards are the same and we recognize that each has its specific soil composition, canopy structure and climate conditions. We work closely with clients to design custom management programs tailored to their vineyard’s distinct characteristics,” says Hernandez.
The process of transforming a piece of land into a thriving vineyard is both complex and meticulous. It requires a deep understanding of the land, climate and grape varieties. For clients looking to cultivate new vineyards, Grape Land excels in creating personalized solutions to facilitate the desired outcomes.
Every engagement begins with a thorough site analysis, which includes soil testing, nematode analysis and climate assessment. These tests help determine the best grape varieties to plant based on the specific conditions. For example, varieties like Cabernet Franc thrive in hot climates, while Pinot Noir would struggle in the same environment. Understanding these intricacies ensures that the vineyard will be productive and sustainable.
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No two vineyards are the same and we recognize that each has its specific soil composition, canopy structure and climate conditions
Another critical factor in vineyard development is water availability. Regions like California experience frequent droughts and require unconventional procedures. Keeping this in mind, Grape Land often recommends dry farming, a technique that minimizes water use by encouraging deeper root growth. By planting rootstock instead of pre-grafted vines, it focuses on root development in its early stages, leading to stronger, more resilient plants that produce high-quality grapes.
From soil preparation to vine planting, Grape Land handles everything while ensuring that each step of the process is customized to improve yield and enhance the site’s longevity. Whether clients are looking to produce large quantities of grapes or aiming for boutique, high-quality wine, it provides comprehensive consultation. Once the vineyard is established, Grape Land is available to provide ongoing services to maintain and enhance its potential.
Turning Grafting Expertise into Vineyard Excellence
Grape Land’s grafting expertise is what sets them apart. Few possess the same level of grafting mastery. It provides two main types—rootstock grafting for new vineyards and varietal grafting for established ones.
Rootstock grafting involves planting pest-resistant or soil-appropriate rootstock, then grafting the desired grape variety onto the rootstock the following year. This approach has numerous advantages over buying pre-grafted vines from nurseries. By focusing on root development in the first year, the vineyard experiences faster growth— up to 25 percent more than vines that are already grafted. This also allows the vineyard to produce higher-quality grapes in a shorter amount of time.
For clients with established vineyards, grafting offers a way to adapt to market changes. A vineyard that has been producing Merlot for a decade may find that there’s less demand for the grape. Instead of replanting the entire vineyard, Grape Land grafts a new variety, such as Cabernet Franc or Pinot Noir, onto the existing vines. This allows the vineyard to switch production in just a few seasons, saving both time and money. “By offering an artisanal service, we help clients maximize the potential of their land and adapt to market trends without sacrificing quality,” says Robledo.
A Team Built on Experience and Passion
Behind the success of Grape Land is a team of highly experienced professionals. Each vineyard supervisor has over 10 years of experience, working closely with vineyard crews to ensure that every task is completed to the highest standards.
The company’s leadership meets weekly to review each vineyard’s progress and make necessary adjustments to the management plans. This collaborative approach ensures that every detail is handled, from vine health to pest management, resulting in consistently superior grape quality.
Managing a vineyard is not a one-size-fits-all operation. Recognizing this, its team adeptly manages canopies, nutrient balance and pest control. The workforce leverages its vast experience to diagnose and address challenges before they become problems.
This depth of knowledge, coupled with the company's focus on long-term relationships has made Grape Land a trusted name in the industry. Throughout its footprint, vineyard owners know that they are not just getting a service, but a partner who is committed to helping them succeed.
Vineyard Management Tailored to Client Needs Robledo, Hernandez and their colleagues walk through the vineyards regularly, ensuring that each vine is thriving and that any potential problems are addressed before they impact wine production. This level of care and attention helps the vineyards produce abundant crops of premium grapes that are highly sought after by winemakers.
Vineyards require year-round care. Grape Land’s a hands-on approach to management includes pruning, pest control, nutrient management and irrigation to ensure vineyards remain healthy during and between growing seasons. A recent success story involved a vineyard that was experiencing over-cropped vines that were producing large quantities of grapes at the expense of quality.
Robledo and his team implemented a comprehensive management plan to balance the crop. By reducing the production load and focusing on vine health, they were able to restore the vineyard’s balance. Within a few seasons, the client saw optimized yields and higher-quality grapes, with scores of 90 points and above on the wine rating system—an achievement that significantly increased the vineyard’s value and reputation.
This success is just one example of how Grape Land can turn struggling properties into thriving operations. By offering consulting services and ongoing support, it ensures that each vineyard reaches its full potential, both in terms of production and grape quality.
Shaping Client Successes across California
Driven by its exceptional vineyard management, Grape Land is garnering strong client reception and growing demand for its services. Aiming to build on this success, it plans to expand over the next two years by taking on more contracts across the Napa Valley and Sonoma County.
Even as it continues to grow, Grape Land remains fully committed to its core values of personalized care and high-quality service. By consistently delivering exceptional outcomes, it enhances the quality and value of client vineyards, solidifying its position as a trusted partner in the wine industry.
