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Preparing for El Niño rain at a hillside vineyard

Jason Haas, partner and general manager of Tablas Creek Vineyard planted in 1992, walks through the limestone-rich 120-acre organic estate vineyard in the hills north and west of Paso Robles. The vineyard has taken several measures meant to capture predicted rain from El Niño.

Jason Haas, partner and general manager of Tablas Creek Vineyard planted in 1992, walks through the limestone-rich 120-acre organic estate vineyard in the hills north and west of Paso Robles. The vineyard has taken several measures meant to capture predicted rain from El Niño.

  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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A strong El Niño could spell trouble for the hillside vineyards of Paso Robles, Napa and Sonoma.

Preparing for El Niño rains

Jason Haas, partner and general manager of Tablas Creek Vineyard, shows the deep ripping of the soil that should allow rainwater to penetrate deep rather than run off the surface of the soil, causing erosion.

  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Preparing for El Niño rains

Cover crops of oats, sweet pea, vetch and clover are planted along the rows of vines to hold top soil and introduce nutrients into the soil. Straw is dispersed on unimproved roads and straw baffles are used to stop rainwater from causing erosion.

  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Preparing for El Niño rains

Deep ripping of the soil through the vineyard planted on hillsides will allow rainwater to penetrate deep rather than run off the surface.

  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Preparing for El Niño rains

Jason Haas, partner and general manager of Tablas Creek Vineyard, walks where straw is dispersed on unimproved roads and straw baffles are used to stop rainwater from causing erosion.

  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Preparing for El Niño rains

Jason Haas, an organic viticulturist, walks on a hillside at Tablas Creek Vineyard.

  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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