Finally got my pics uploaded to the comp, so I thoght I'd post a few. No grapes today so I ended up getting my day off for the week... decided to sleep in and go wine tasting. Had a great, relaxing time checking out Saphire Hill, Roadhouse, Stryker, Stonestreet, Medlock Ames and Ridge. Now, time to get some sleep and get ready for some serious harvest action!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Harvest Pics
Finally got my pics uploaded to the comp, so I thoght I'd post a few. No grapes today so I ended up getting my day off for the week... decided to sleep in and go wine tasting. Had a great, relaxing time checking out Saphire Hill, Roadhouse, Stryker, Stonestreet, Medlock Ames and Ridge. Now, time to get some sleep and get ready for some serious harvest action!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Harvest Update
The weather has warmed up since last week, and for the last couple of days it has been HOT (broke 100 in Russian River Valley Monday and Tuesday). With all of the warm weather, everything has gotten ripe very quickly, almost "overnight"... It was just around 5 weeks ago when everyone was worried about nothing getting ripe. Anyways, grapes are coming in at a very fast pace at the winery, and by the looks of vineyards I drive past on the way to work (bins set out, portapotties, people acutally picking etc.), everybody is getting their fruit in now or very soon. We will be processing Pinot on our end every day this week and its going to be quite busy.... so far 25hrs worked over 2 days. Tired, need to crash....
Monday, September 20, 2010
weather
Yesterday was a bit wet on the north coast, and we saw some light rain over Saturday night into Sunday in the Russian River Valley. Things cleared up by mid afternoon and the sun poked out around 4ish, with a light breeze picking up. Today's high will be 78 according to the weather channel, followed by a dry week, which should help to get rid of any moisture left behind from the rain. I will report back with the winemakers take on the precipitation later.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Update 9/16
As we all know it has been a cool summer and the grapes are behind. So far we have only taken in two vineyards in the northern end of the Russian River Valley, which doesnt leave much winemaking activities to be had in the cellar at this time, other than a few punchdowns a day. Last year at this time all of the Pinot Noir had been harvested.
The weather has been very mild with the exception of a couple days where it warmed up to around 85-88 last weekend. Lots of the grapes from different vineyards are at similar levels of ripeness, and we may be seeing everything come in at once, possibly within the next 7-10 days. And, to make things a little more complicated there is the possibility of rain this weekend, followed by more cool weather in the 70's.
The cellar is spotless and the harvest team is ready for anything, so bring on the grapes!
The weather has been very mild with the exception of a couple days where it warmed up to around 85-88 last weekend. Lots of the grapes from different vineyards are at similar levels of ripeness, and we may be seeing everything come in at once, possibly within the next 7-10 days. And, to make things a little more complicated there is the possibility of rain this weekend, followed by more cool weather in the 70's.
The cellar is spotless and the harvest team is ready for anything, so bring on the grapes!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Sunburned Grapes from the Heat Wave Two Weeks Ago
Here's what happened to grapes when the temp climbed up to around 108 degrees a couple weeks ago from the high 70's the day before. Needless to say but these grapes cannot be used to make wine.... they now taste like uber ripe raisins and are good for nothing but protecting any unburned grapes from another heat wave, which has caused many folks to keep them on the vine for now.
RRV Chard
RRV Pinot Burn
zin grape cluster burn
Monday, September 6, 2010
Labor Day Weekend
After removing some bird netting in the vineyards Saturday morning I headed back to the winery to help out with the grapes. I split time between the sorting table and adding dry ice to the must in the tanks. To celebrate the first grapes of the season Merry popped a couple bottles of her 2000 late disgorgement sparkling wine, which was most excellent needless to say.
I ended up with a couple of days off, and my new house hosts were nice enough to take me to meet some of their friends for gettogethers. Sunday I had a chance to meet Kent Rosenblum at his property in Russian River Valley. I have always been a big fan of his Zinfandel's and it was awesome to get a chance to meet him and play some bocce ball with him too.... oh yeah, drinking some '99 St. Peters Church Zinfandel wasn't too bad either.
I ended up with a couple of days off, and my new house hosts were nice enough to take me to meet some of their friends for gettogethers. Sunday I had a chance to meet Kent Rosenblum at his property in Russian River Valley. I have always been a big fan of his Zinfandel's and it was awesome to get a chance to meet him and play some bocce ball with him too.... oh yeah, drinking some '99 St. Peters Church Zinfandel wasn't too bad either.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Yowza
Started in the cellar but ended up in the vineyards for about 10hrs today... forgot to apply sunbock and now have the moste extreme farmers tan ever. The time in the vineyards (northern RRV on Westside road) was spent removing the bird netting from the vines, which means, TIME TO HARVEST SOME GRAPES!!!!! We will be seeing our first Pinot Noir of the season from two Westside Road vineyards. 6am @ the vineyard, and 9am in the cellar... it's gonna be a fun one!
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