September Facts

Potbellied Pigs

Meet Cue the potbellied pig, one of our more conversational (vocal) animals! Cue has a distinctive white mark on his curly tail and never stops wagging that tail when he is around food, friends and wine!


While it appears that Cue likes a good glass of wine, like other pigs he is into rooting. (see below for the basis of good rooting in the vineyard)
Rooting is the act of a potbellied pig digging and searching with its snout. Rooting is not only an important and innate part of a potbellied pig’s behavior, it’s also incredibly beneficial for its overall health and well-being. Pigs use their snouts for fun, to excavate items to play with, but also to dig holes to lie in. By rooting, pigs can cool down on a warm day. As an added benefit, dirt and mud offer effective protection from the harsh rays of the sun. (source:

Vines and Rooting

The key to ensuring vineyards receive the necessary water and nutrients lies underground at the roots. Regardless of the type of nursery stock used in a planting, it was very important that planting occur in the early spring. This would allow the plants to establish sufficient roots to supply the vine with water and nutrients after they had leafed out.

Broken Spoke Winery Potbellied Pig
Pigs have a very complicated process of regulating their temperature. By digging a hole with their snouts a behavior called rooting, pigs can cool down on a warm day.
They learn quickly, they do not forget, and they are able to deduce. If they learn a behavior, they don’t unlearn that behavior.
They can learn to open the fridge, cupboards, and pantry—wherever food may be lurking. They can become demanding, begging for food, and even getting aggressive with kids that have food.