Field Notes | Winter Updates 🍷 Stone Tower Winery Newsletter

Winter 2025-2026 The buzz of harvest is now behind us, and we've spent the last few months putting some of the final touches on the new wines in order to put them to sleep for their various aging timelines.   Out in the vineyard, winter is all about setting the foundation for the next growing season. With the vines fully dormant, we've begun winter pruning, carefully selecting which canes to keep and which to remove. Pruning is one of the most important decisions we make all year, it determines vine balance, crop load, and ultimately influences fruit quality long before the first bud breaks in spring. We're also keeping a close eye on spotted lanternfly egg masses, which are much easier to manage during the winter months. By removing and destroying egg masses now, we can reduce pressure during the growing season and protect the health of the vineyard before it even begins. Winter may feel quiet on the surface, but there's no downtime here. In both the cellar and the vineyard, this season is about patience, preparation, and thoughtful work, laying the groundwork for the wines and the vintage still to come. Bottling in progress The red wines are now safely tucked away, finishing malolactic fermentation, a natural process that softens acidity and adds texture, helping shape the structure and mouthfeel of the wines as they settle in for aging. At the same time, our white wines are finding their footing. Some are resting in stainless steel to preserve freshness and bright aromatics, while others are aging quietly in oak, developing added depth, texture, and complexity. Winter is when these wines begin to show us who they're going to be, and tasting through them during this stage helps guide decisions for the months ahead. Looking Ahead We're currently bottling our early-release whites and rosés. These wines are all about energy and immediacy, so the focus now is on fine-tuning, stabilizing, and getting them ready to head out into the world just in time for the spring weather on its way. James Phillips Visit us   Copyright © 2026 Stone Tower Winery, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in on our website Stone Tower Winery 19925 Hogback Mountain Rd Leesburg, VA 20175-6752 Add us to your address book View this email in your browser | unsubscribe