Mountain High Wines

CLOSING THIS BLOG DOWN... see SierraFoothillsWineries blog from now on

2012-01-29T19:38:00.000-08:00

Somewhere along the way of learning about high elevation grapegrowing and winemaking, I found a true California love: the Sierra Foothill wine region.

And so as not to confuse my friends and followers (or myself), I've re-defined my blogging.

Please follow the blog: click here

2011 was Challenging Year for Petite Sirah:El Portal Vineyard, CALAVERAS COUNTY, Harvest Report

2011-11-05T04:37:00.000-07:00

Mark Skenfield, Viticulturist with Vinescapes Vineyard Management, sends this Harvest Report from one of the vineyards under his management, the El Portal vineyard in Murphys. Grapes from this vineyard are used to produce the wines for Newsome-Harlow Winery of Murphys in Calaveras County, CA

The El Portal vineyard in Murphys, Calaveras County, has 3 separate blocks of Petite Sirah planted specifically for Newsome-Harlow Winery. The vineyard is organically farmed by Mark Skenfield of Vinescapes Vineyard Management with meticulous attention to all viticultural practices. Through pruning designed for low yields, careful selection of shoots, agressive fruit thinning and specialized fertilization, El Portal produces pristine, intensely colored Petite Sirah ear-marked for a premium bottle of wine.

Varieties like Petite Sirah, which love warm weather for ripening, had a challenging year this year. 2011 started out cool and didn't reach typical summer temperatures as often as previous years. This caused increased issues for disease, irregular fruit set and ripening and stretched the harvest season much later than growers like. Vineyard managers had to earn their pay this year.

The grapes that were lucky enough to come off the vine early in the harvest, looked less stressed than normal and developed complexity without reaching excessive sugar levels. Later ripening varieties, like Petite Sirah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel had to ride out some heavy rains and some extended hang-time before being harvested. Sometimes the looming potential for rot forced the wineries hand to bring the fruit in a little earlier than they normally would like. Other times, the berries didn't look as pristine as they normally would. Sugar levels in these varieties didn't reach the heights they normally achieve, but the fruit came in with mature characteristics - minimal "green" qualities with lots of complexity.

Ultimately, the fact that grapes were often picked with lower than typical sugar levels actually can benefit wines by holding the alcohols levels down and helping fermentations complete efficiently. If vineyard managers were diligent and tended carefully to the challenges presented from the 2011 growing season, winemakers still had quality fruit to work with to create solid, albeit uncharacteristic foothill wines.

More about Newsome-Harlow, from their website:

Scott and Melanie Klann created their own label, Newsome-Harlow, in 2000 with a couple of partners and a small batch of wines crafted from premium Calaveras County grapes. Scott's original partner and life long friend, Mark Skenfield, was one of those who started the winery. The name Newsome Harlow is the combination of the maiden names of Scott and his original partner, Mark Skenfield, a long time Calaveras resident and vineyard manager.

Their first vintage — a mere 150 cases — was sold exclusively to those on the winery’s mailing list. Ten years later, Newsome-Harlow is recognized as having some of the best wines in Calaveras, and produces 3,200 cases of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc and five signature Zinfandels that sell out each year.

Yields lower but good brix and balance: CALAVERAS COUNTY HARVEST REPORT from IRONSTONE VINEYARDS

2011-11-04T03:43:00.000-07:00

This report from Ironstone Vineyards, Calaveras County:

At Ironstone Vineyards, last week we picked our Syrah. The grapes came in very late for us and were down about 20% from normal yields, but the good news is that they came in at 24.6 brix and had a beautiful balance. Director of Winemaking, Steve Millier stated that the grapes looked “awesome”.

Ironstone Winemaker, Steve Millier checking out

the Reserve Chardonnay before harvest.

We also harvested our Cabernet Franc, which came in at 24.6 brix as well and had really nice fruit and intense color, so we expect to repeat the quality we have been seeing in our Reserve Cabernet Franc wines!

This week, we are picking our Merlot, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and we will finish with Petite Verdot and Malbec. This year, we had quite a few new vineyards to harvest and were very happy with the quality level of fruit that came from them. It goes to show the importance of topography and how incredible the Sierra Foothills is for high quality wine grapes!

At Ironstone in Murphys, we harvested Tempranillo, Petite Sirah, Verdelho, Viognier, Muscat Canelli, Chardonnay, Symphony, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot and Malbec-that is great diversity!

Amador Winery Damas Vineyards HARVEST REPORT: Quality excellent, but light yields

2011-11-03T02:58:00.000-07:00

Mara Feeney, harvest coordinator at Damas Vineyards in Fiddletown, Amador County, sends this report on their harvest:

In a big year, we can harvest 9 tons of Zinfandel from our hand-tended 2-acre vineyard in Fiddletown, so we were expecting about 6 tons this year. We got 4.

The rain did soften up the grapes, forcing us to let them hang longer for our latest harvest ever, but in the end the quality seemed excellent. We typically produce big, bold Zinfandels, but think this year will bring a more elegant, smoother Zin more in the style of European wines. It will be a nice change of pace, and a year to remember.

About Damas Vineyards, from their website:

DAMAS Vineyard was planted in 1998 at approximately 2000 foot elevation, in Amador County, in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California. The vineyard has 1,250 Zinfandel vines and occupies an area of about two acres. The vineyard slope is shaped like an amphitheater, facing southwest, in the relatively tiny Fiddletown appellation.

Our grapes are head-pruned (the historic Amador way). We practice integrated pest management, which means pesticide use is minimal. We have a big composting operation and mulch our pruned canes each year to replenish the soil in the vineyard.

A famous winemaker once told us that, in his experience, the best wine grapes come from the vineyards that have the most footprints of the owners in them. Our vineyard is full of our footprints, as well as those of our city friends who love to break away from their professional jobs to get their hands dirty and get intimate with these beautiful vines. We prune, sucker, tie, cane-thin, canopy thin, cluster thin and harvest all by hand--striving for high quality, happy and healthy wine grapes. No wonder our wine has won a medals in competitions ranging from the Amador County Fair to the San Francisco International Wine Competition, an annual blind tasting of thousands of wines from all over the world. Our Zinfandel has also been selected for several prestigious wine clubs, including the NapaStyle and KQED Wine Clubs

Fruit Quality Good with Balanced Wines, Lower Sugar Levels - FairPlay/El Dorado SKINNER VINEYARDS reports on HARVEST

2011-11-01T14:50:00.000-07:00

Ryan Skinner, General Manager of Skinner Vineyards, Fair Play, Eldorado County, gathered this information from winemaker Chris Pittenger:

Winemaker Chris Pittenger, left,
Ryan Skinner, GM, right

"The Never Ending Harvest continues...

The stories of doom and gloom for Harvest 2011 have been as rampant as bunch rot, and I’m sure that most of us are tired of hearing about it by now.

While we are not immune to the forces of Mother Nature, the story at Skinner Vineyards is different from most that we've been hearing, thus perhaps worth sharing.

We have fared well as it relates to rot, but our two estate vineyards took the brunt of harsh late winter conditions in April, May, and June. For example, on May 16th alone, we had snow, rain, hail, lightning, heavy winds, frost and sunshine at our 2700’ hillside vineyard in Fair Play – all within a 12-hour period. Our steep slopes usually protect us from frost conditions, but continuously cold and wet weather throughout spring resulted in a very poor fruit set in many of our blocks. This, coupled with the one of the coolest growing seasons on record, resulted in very low yields and an extremely late harvest.

However, not all is doom and gloom at Skinner. Aside from the reduced yields, the fruit quality that we are seeing in the winery has been surprisingly good. Our growers and vineyard crews have worked diligently to drop unevenly ripened fruit and the occasional rot. While it is too early to tell how things will end up, we are seeing balanced wines at lower sugar levels, much like 2010.

Our first picks occurred on October 1st, which was the same day as 2010 (another late harvest). A surprise rain event greeted us shortly afterwards and put harvest on hold until October 15th. Since then, fruit has been coming in at a steady pace over the last two weeks with a mix of Syrah, Grenache, Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, and Grenache Blanc. We still have a little Syrah and Mourvedre hanging out which we anticipate picking within the first week or two of November – weather permitting of course." ~ author, Chris Pittenger.

More about Skinner Vineyards (from their website and press materials)

HERITAGE

In 1852, an ambitious young Scottish immigrant named James Skinner came west to Foster's Bar Northwest of Coloma in search of gold and opportunity for his family. A successful miner he also discovered the unvarnished beauty of the Sierra Foothills - along with an ideal climate in which to grow Rhóne varietals. He purchased land West of Placerville in Rescue along the old Pony Express Trail in the mid 1850s. He planted vines, and by 1861 Skinner established one of the first commercial wineries in California, a family business that thrived until the early 1900s.

One hundred and fifty years and seven generations later, Mike and Carey Skinner have set out to bring Skinner wines back to the Sierra Foothills. With their inaugural wine release in 2007, the Skinner family have now restored a legacy that is a much a part of the family history as it is of the history of gold-rush California.

WINES

Skinner Vineyards and Winery is committed to producing exceptional wines that reflect the unique spirit of the Sierra Foothills, using the same Rhône varietals that were grown by our family more than 150 years ago. Our red Rhône varietals include Syrah, Grenache, Mourvédre, Petite Syrah, Carignane and Counoise and Petite Bouchette while the white Rhône varietals are comprised of Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Picpoul Blanc. At less than 2,500 cases currently produced per year, our wines are handcrafted and artfully vinted by veteran and well respected winemaker, Chris Pittenger.

VINEYARDS

The Skinner family's two estate vineyards are located within a short drive from the original 1861 Skinner Winery. The largest vineyard is in the Fair Play appellation, which boasts the highest average elevation of any AVA in California. At 2,300 to 2,740 feet, Stoney Creek Vineyard includes 20 acres planted and is the site of our ridge top winery and tasting room. With its view of the majestic foothill and Sierra landscape, crowned by the often snow-capped Pyramid Peak, the site offers a stunning venue to enjoy Skinner wines.. In the El Dorado appellation, White Oaks Flat Vineyard sits at 1,400 feet and includes 13 acres planted. At both sites, the warm days and cool nights, along with high altitudes, combine to create natural acidity and highly-concentrated, complex wines.

NEW TASTING ROOM

Skinner Vineyards and Winery encourages you to visit the most breath-taking tasting room in all of the Sierra Foothills.

Sitting atop our vineyards at 2,500 feet, you can take in 360 degree vistas of the Foothills and unimpeded views across the Sierra all the way to Pyramid Peak in Tahoe. Our 3,000 square feet of patio space provides ample seating allowing you to enjoy the cooling effect of waterfalls in the summer or warmth of fireplaces in the winter. With furnishings and design that evoke our heritage tracing back to 1861, including a recreation of the stone cellar from the original winery, our tasting room is truly a special place to enjoy our wines.

"It may be the best Zinfandel year in recent memory!!!" Leon Sobon exults in his Amador County HARVEST REPORT

2011-10-31T21:10:00.000-07:00

Leon Sobon sends this harvest report for Shenandoah Vineyards and Sobon Estate. Both are located near Plymouth, CA, in Amador County. Leon founded the business in 1977 and is widely recognized as a leader in the Sierra Foothills wine industry.

"The grapes are ripening well, and we should finish Nov. 3 or 4th. Sugars are not high, but balance and flavors are excellent.

It may be the best Zinfandel year in recent memory!!!

Alcohols will be under or near 14%. The Zin crop is averaging ~40% of normal, with some of our best vineyards 25% of normal. Because of the small crop and loose bunches, bunch rot did not develop after the rains.

We just picked Barbera with a normal crop and excellent numbers. Sangiovese was harvested on the weekend, and is in good condition, and that crop was about 25% above normal.

The weather at bloom time this spring seemed to be the determining factor.

Cabernet is the only grape still hanging right now, and we are not sure what day we will pick.

More about Shenandoah Vineyards & Sobon Estate Wines (from the website):

Shenandoah Vineyards and Sobon Estate are family-owned wineries with a 32-year reputation for producing the best possible wines using low-yield viticulture and minimum intervention wine making techniques.

Sobon Family Wines emphasize high fruit and low tannins, and are made with our own sustainably-grown grapes. They reflect the unique Shenandoah Valley terroir, resulting in a richness and intensity rarely seen elsewhere. Award-winning Sobon wines are distributed nationally. Both wineries are open daily for wine tasting in the picturesque Amador County near Plymouth, CA.

Shenandoah Vineyards

Leon and Shirley Sobon founded Shenandoah Vineyards in 1977. They were one of the first four wineries in Amador County's now well known Shenandoah Valley appellation.

From the first offering of 1,200 cases, the winery has continued to thrive, adjusting the portfolio of wines over the years. It is now producing about 25,000 cases per year. Demand continues to grow as a result of skilled winemaking, marketing, financial planning, and strong family commitments to quality and service. Today, we continue to use estate grown grapes from our sustainably-farmed vineyards.Sobon Estate

The Sobon Estate winery started in 1989 when Leon and Shirley Sobon bought each other a second winery for their 30th wedding anniversary present. They purchased the historic D'Agostini Winery, one of the oldest in the state. This winery has been designataed as California State Historic Landmark #762.

This site was chosen not only for its historical winery, but also for its vineyards and vineyard land. The old vine Zinfandel was retained, and the other vineyards replanted with the best varieties and clones. The Sobon Estate label launched the estate line of wines for the Sobon Family -- the best wines from their own grapes. These include Rhone varietals, vineyard designated Zinfandels, and tasting room-only dessert wines.

Visit them at 14430 Shenandoah Road, Plymouth, CA 95669.

Amador County Harvest Report from Vino Noceto

2011-10-30T22:05:00.000-07:00

This HARVEST UPDATE Q&A with the Winemaker, Cellarmaster, and Vineyard Manager at Vino Noceto, on Shenandoah Road in Plymouth (Amador County) is courtesy of Anna King, PR & Marketing Director at Vino Noceto:

Last week Anna interviewed Winemaker Rusty Folena, Cellarmaster Kevin O'Neil, and Vineyard Manager Dave Brown about this harvest. “Despite all the negative press the weather has gotten this growing season, it looks like they have a pretty good feeling about the 2011 vintage for Vino Noceto,” said Anna.

Q Anna: So everyone is talking about the weather throughout California this growing season. How did Vino Noceto do? How are our grapes?

Rusty: This growing season started off wet and cool with snow falling on the vineyard as late as the end of June. The vineyard saw 35"-40" of rain in some spots this growing season. Last year we had 22". We spent a lot of extra money farming this year because of the rain.

Q Anna: That's a lot more rain? How does that affect the grapes?

Rusty: Everyone has rot this year. Sangiovese holds up to rain okay, but even it is starting to get some botrytis. I would say we had about 1% rot this harvest. We have to pick it out at the grape bins or at the sorting table or even in the hopper. Our leafers in the field do a good job of pulling it out. Some always gets through but it gives it character.

Q Anna: I still see some grapes on the vines. How is picking going?

Dave: Right now we probably have 80% of the vineyard picked. It basically happened in two days. We went from 10% harvested to 80% in three days. Dos Oakies will be the last block to be picked this year.

Q Anna: How do you decide when to pick? How did we manage to steer clear of the yield issues everyone has been worried about?

Rusty: My job is to decide when to pick, what to do with it, and how we are going to do it. There is no canned recipe. It's about knowing the vineyard and analyzing it. We can be prepared a little but sometimes there's a curveball.

Dave: Yield for us is normal this year. A few blocks were a little off but nothing bad.

Rusty: The yield will all average out. However, our yield is good probably because of the sole fact that we allowed the vines to be a mess. The proper canes were not producing fruit, and we allowed a lot of other shoots to grow and produce the grapes for that spur. Pruning this coming year will be a nightmare.

Dave: If we had pulled off all the suckers this year during pruning we would have had 2/3 less crop.

Q Anna: So what do you three do during this time of year? We are always hearing loud noises from down at the winery...

Kevin: Harvest starts three to four weeks before picking with sampling, measuring the brix, sugar content, acid, and PH levels. We spend a lot of time recording. If everything goes right the sugar and PH go up and acid drops; at that point it's time to pick. If you have sugar flat-lining, acid dropping and pH going up, that's a sign of vineyard rot. In theory we are trying to pick before that happens.

Dave: I hire the crews, supervise the picking and make sure all the equipment is working. I am another set of eyes. If I see a problem in the vineyard I let Rusty know. My job is basically providing a quality fruit for the winery. If I don't do my job the place rots.

Q Anna: Frivolo is released soon! What's the story with that?

Kevin: Right now most of our daily work routine is dealing with the Muscat.

Rusty: The sweet white wine is the hardest. It takes a long time to get samples out of the pressurized tanks, and we have to run samples constantly. We establish a pattern of how the brix and alcohol are changing by measuring every day. We also have to be physically there to stop fermentation when it needs it, even if it is in the middle of the night. There are no do-overs.

Kevin: It ferments slow and cold to preserve the fruit. It's just more labor intensive. We have one more tank of that to go then we are done with this year's Frivolo.

Q Anna: People love that Frivolo though! It's worth the work. What are some of the big decisions you make during harvest?

Rusty: The biggest decision is when to start harvest and picking because you can't put them back. There are different signs of ripening. Levels and measurements but there is also the colors of the seeds and way the grapes taste. If they don't taste good they are probably not going to make very good wine.

More about Vino Noceto from their website:

California Sangiovese Specialist !

Vino Noceto is a family-run vineyard and winery founded in 1987 by Suzy and Jim Gullett in Shenandoah Valley, Plymouth, California. They are Sangiovese specialists, currently producing over 9,000 cases annually of Sangiovese from estate and nearby small vineyards. They additionally produce a wonderful floral Moscato called "Frivolo", as well as Barbera, and Zinfandel, and have twenty-four acres of producing Sangiovese and one acre of Syrah.
A pioneer in the renaissance of this noble Tuscan varietal, they now produce eight different Sangiovese wines (Chianti, Brunello, and Super Tuscan styles).

Beginning with their first, 1990 vintage, Noceto wines have been 100% Sangiovese, targeted at a Chianti Classico style. This style emphasizes the delicate and complex fruitiness of the Sangiovese grape. More recently, the Riserva Sangiovese has sometimes been blended with a small amount of Barbera or Syrah.
The Sierra Foothill soil and climate has enabled Vino Noceto to display these unique attributes while achieving a medium or slightly fuller wine. Neutral and large format oak aging allows a slow, gentle maturing of the young wine and adds a little spice to an already intriguing wine.
The last key step is bottle aging – at Vino Noceto, we endeavor to bottle the wine at least six months before release. At this point its various flavor components are coming together, leading to a distinctive red wine which complements a wide range of foods and represents good value for the consumer.

Vino Noceto has grown steadily from its first vintage of 110 cases to over 9,000 cases production, including 3,500 cases of Normale Sangiovese, 1,700 cases of Riserva Sangiovese and block-designated wines, 1,000 cases of Sangiovese table wine, 1,600 cases of a frizzante Moscato Bianco (Frivolo), 400 cases of Rosato, and three grappas made for us by St. George Spirits (Sangiovese, OGP Zinfandel and Moscato). With the 2002 vintage, they added a Linsteadt Barbera and Zinfandel from the Original Grandpere Vineyard. Renwood/Santino made the first five vintages, Amador Foothill Winery the next two, Folie à Deux Winery the next two, and the winemaking operation moved in-house with the 1999 harvest. Vino Noceto's winemaker is Rusty Folena, formerly of Renwood/Santino Winery, assisted by Stacey Gregersen, consulting winemaker.

Vino Noceto Winery, 11011 Shenandoah Road, Plymouth, CA 95669
877-4NOCETO, www.noceto.com, info@noceto.com

El Dorado Wineries and Big Band Jazz: Charity Event at Lake Tahoe

2011-10-30T12:24:00.000-07:00

The autumn colors at Sugar Pine Point State park are spectacular right now, so don’t be shy: go. Pack a picnic, take a bottle of wine and some of those great plastic wine glasses, a blanket, and enjoy. If you need some wine suggestions, look for some of the wines noted below. They were contributed to a tasting event in late August, when the park featured a night of Big Band Jazz and wines from a number of El Dorado wineries. If you can’t find those wines in your nearby wine shop, remember that El Dorado wineries are a mere daytrip away from Tahoe in the Sierra Foothills.

Lava Cap, located near Placerville, contributed a 2009 Reserve Chardonnay. This lovely rich and creamy chardonnay has aroma of toasty oak, apple and vanilla. The velvet mouth feel comes from Burgundy aging techniques and barrel fermentation in separate lots which were then blended. Winemaker Tom Jones handcrafts this wine. It’s won several awards. 14.9 per cent alcohol, $18 bottle.

The 2010 Sauvignon Blanc from Boeger Winery, near Placerville, is an estate wine produced from grapes in their own vineyards. It is a crisp Sauvignon Blanc with a lingering finish and yet is delicate on the palate. Aroma of grapefruit, peach and nectarine. 14.5 per cent alcohol. $14 bottle.

Latcham’s El Dorado Gold Rush White is a nicely blended table wine that hails from their winery in the Fair Play/Mt Aukum area of El Dorado County. This is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Pinot Blanc that has both a refreshing crisp fruit flavor and a hint of sweetness. $12.50 bottle.

Jazz Band at Twilight, Lake Tahoe
shoreline at Sugar Pine Point State Park

Holly’s Hill 2009 Patriarche Blanc is a blend of 50% Roussane, 25% Grenache, and 25% Viognier. “A beautiful floral perfume of orange zest with lemon/lime and melon. In the mouth the wine has a great viscous mouthfeel with a long finish,” notes the winemaker. Holly’s Hill Winery, located just south of Placerville at 2700 feet elevation in the Pleasant Valley region, is a small family winery that produces only Rhone varietals. $25 bottle.

Mount Aukum Winery, located in Somerset, contributed its Petite Syrah 2007 Fair Play. With grapes grown in its own 2615-foot elevation vineyards as well as grapes sourced from other vineyards nearby, winemaker Michel Prod’hon is a great fan of Rhone varietals. This Petite Syrah has aroma of vanilla and exotic spices. “This wine is rich and bold with flavors of blackberry, pepper, and hint of toasted nuts. Drink it now with a hearty meal, or lay it down for several years and let the tannins soften,” says the winemaker’s notes It has won many gold medals, including one in the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle winetasting. 15.5 per cent alcohol, $35 bottle.

Perry Creek, located in the Fair Play AVA of El Dorado county, contributed its 2008 Zinfandel, the Zinman. “ZINMAN is one of Perry Creek’s most recognized and highly successful signature series wines. It is rated among the top 15 best-value Zinfandels by Wine Spectator in 2010 and its popularity continues to grow year by year. What makes it so special is the unique combination of spice and elegance in its flavors which stems from being produced in one of the best vineyards in the El Dorado County AVA,” notes the website. 14.9 per cent alcohol, $14 bottle. More information at www.perrycreek.com

These civic-minded wineries contributed other wines from their production; all were outstanding Sierra Foothill wines. The Big Band event was a fundraiser to benefit the West Shore Association. In addition to the wineries, other contributors to this event were the California State Parks, the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, and the Tahoe City Public Utilities District.

~~~~~~~~~~
copyright 2011 Barbara Keck

Barbara writes the Wine Adventures column about the wine business for The Tahoe Weekly newspaper. She is currently gathering information for iphone app on Sierra Foothills Wineries, to be available in late Spring 2012 through the Sutro World offerings on itunes/Apple app store.

Sierra Foothills Wineries Harvest Reports - Building Recognition for the Region

2011-10-27T21:38:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to Lew Perdue's Wine Industry Insight "News Fetch", and to WineBusiness.com "DailyNewsLinks" editors for keeping the industry posted on what is happening in the wine harvest. Their attention to the postings on Sierra Foothills wineries have garnered lots of interest.

There have been more than 7000 pages views on this blog alone for these harvest reports, and countless click-throughs to the websites of the wineries who sent along their reports.

This is all good recognition for Sierra Foothill wineries, which include almost 250 wineries in the region as I define it: 8 California counties on the western side of the Sierra Nevada, and one county on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada range (Washoe County-Nevada). That's a lot of territory, hundreds of micro-climates, and lots of fervent grapegrowers and winemakers toiling in these high elevation locales which comprise this wine region.

The remarks have been varied, from grousing that fruit is not yet ripe enough to pick, to sharing tips on how to dry clusters after the rains, to glorying in the floral aroma that's come from the Muscat already.

My fav photo to date:
the night harvest at Naggiar/Nevada County

Hats off to the wineries who participated in this info-blitz to date, noted below. Click on the county-highlight to read what's happened in that county.

And check back, as there will be more news to come!

Amador County:
Andis
Amador County WineGrape Growers
Cooper Vineyards
Scott Harvey
Sobon
Terre Rouge and Easton Wines

Calaveras County:
Frogs Tooth Vineyards
Ironstone
Kautz
Leaping Horse Vineyards
Roland Rosario
Tanner Vineyards

El Dorado County:
Baiocchi
Crystal Basin
C. G. DiArie
Lava Cap
DK Cellars (coming)

Nevada County:
Montoliva
Naggiar Vineyards
Nevada City Winery
Pilot Peak
Szabo Vineyards

Placer County:
Fortezza
Green Family Winery
Pescatore

Yuba County:
Clos Saron

Nevada: Washoe County
University of Nevada in Reno vineyards & winery

Missing are reports from Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties, but I hope we see some!

What I Don't Know About Malbec

2011-10-23T22:49:00.000-07:00

This blog-post title is a bit deceiving, because I do know a fair amount about Malbec. Primarily this knowledge has been gained by tasting, and I enjoy this rich and wonderful wine.

But What I Don't Know About Malbec is going to be a diminishing amount of non-knowlege because... I am going to Argentina in March 2012 to taste, learn, and write about Malbec.

In the summer of 2010, at the Wine Blogger's Conference in Walla Walla, I spent the better part of a sultry summer evening working on an essay that I submitted to WineBow. As the writer of a wine column in a California newspaper, and a frequent blogger about wine and the wine business, I asked this impertinent question in my essay: "Mal who?" It's actually a good question, because a lot of wine drinkers are unfamiliar with the nuances of this grape and the wines made from it. That needs to be changed, and now I get to help in that mission.

Every wine writer can benefit from more knowledge, and courtesy of WineBow, I'll be on-the-spot in March 2012 in order to learn all I can, and write about the wine and the experience.

So, look for more on this topic in blogposts to come. Salut!

Bill Easton, Amador Winegrower, is Positive about Harvest – Refutes Recent Publicity

2011-10-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

Bill Easton is winemaker and winegrower at DOMAINE DE LA TERRE ROUGE, and TERRE ROUGE and EASTON Wines, Fiddletown/Amador County. Bill is an experienced and acknowledged expert in high elevation grapegrowing, and he took exception to the information posted on KTXL/Fox 40 News in a story headlined “Wet Weather Hurts Wine” with a simple “It is best not to generalize” comment. He then provided this updated Harvest Report, which is very positive for Sierra Foothill/Amador County wineries:

The rain has been bad and crop size, mainly with Zinfandel, have been down. Overall other crops have been very good looking. There has been little, if any, bunch rot or sour rot, in the Zinfandel we have harvested this year.

Certain varieties like Roussanne, that do not like moisture at all are struggling against all kinds of disease pressure.

If you were "on" your sprays, the grapes with high acid and low pH seem to be holding up well. We have some vineyards that have been showing botrytis pressure and we are spraying them with Seranade (organic). Powdery mildew can be controlled with oils (organic) and Kaligreen (organic).

Wines could have beautiful balance this year and not be "over-the-top". Syrah has been stunning. Sauvignon Blanc is perfect.

We need no more wet weather and warmer days and nights. Indian summer please.

It is best not to generalize.

More About DOMAINE DE LA TERRE ROUGE, and TERRE ROUGE and EASTON Wines, from their website:

Syrah at over
3000 feet elevation

"TERRE ROUGE and EASTON Wines is located in California on the West Slope of the Sierra Nevada in Amador County's Shenandoah Valley. Our wines are made from vineyards in four Sierra Foothill counties: Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, and the Clements Hills appellation. We farm our vineyards sustainably and our winery derives most of its electrical power from solar panels located on the roof of the main winery building.

TERRE ROUGE means "Red Earth". This vermillion-colored soil is one of the hallmarks of our region. Our vineyards are in soils that are largely granite and volcanic-based. The TERRE ROUGE portfolio is composed of wines made from Rhône varietals grown in the rugged and varying terroirs of this region: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne. High elevation sites up to 3200’ contribute to the complexity of our wines.

Our winemaker, Bill Easton puts his family name, EASTON, on our non-Rhône varietals wines. The wines are crafted from varietals that have traditionally worked the best in Amador County and the Sierra Foothills: ancient and old-vine Zinfandel, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc. Under the Easton label we also bottle small selections of varietals new to the Sierra Foothills: Grenache Blanc, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc.

The style of our red wines emphasizes deep color, balanced flavors, full middle palate, and a long finish, with power and finesse. They gain complexity with age. Our whites are aromatic, flavorful with nice texture, and balanced with good acidity. They also show an amazing mineral sense that is derived from our stony mountain soils.

We make over twenty different wines, many of which are very small production (300-500 cases). Each is unique and site-specific with a sense of place (terroir) all of their own. Our goal for the last 20 years has always been to make the finest wines possible that can be placed on a table with the best wines of the world."

Wine Touring in the Sierra Foothills: Avanguardia, Nevada City: "Hedonic Wines"

2011-10-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

The winding road to Avanguardia –

Bitney Springs Road,

bridge over Deer Creek,

Newtown Road, to

Jones Bar Road, look for the sign – takes you to an in-winery tasting room that is charmingly set in the midst of cases of wine, bottling machines and winemaking equipment. The sign that finally points in the direction of this purpose-built winery near Nevada City could say “varietal-free zone ahead” and that would tip you off that you are in for an other-worldly wine tasting experience.

Rob Chrisman is dedicated to making wines that provide a maximum sensory pleasure to the wine drinker. He refers to his style of winemaking as “hedonic blending”. Rob has a healthy disregard for the traditional California approach to winemaking, and is carving out a brave new world with his wines. His scrumptious wines have fanciful names, and are handcrafted with an avant-garde flair, You are in for a new taste experience!

Rob’s path to his winemaking philosophy began when he was a computer programmer in Los Angeles. Like many of us, he began his wine drinking career by trying to get bottles of wine on the cheap, and he refined his palate that way. In 1977, he visited the Foundation Plant Materials Service group at University of California – Davis. This independent arm of the university protects, preserves and distributes disease-free plant material, particularly grapes. From the list of 60 or 80 wine varieties available, Rob selected 29 varieties for his experimental vineyard in Tulare.

After many years as a grape grower of the experimental kind, and an avid home winemaker, Rob moved his family to Nevada County in 1990. He had a hunch he could grow grapes quite well on his site at 2500-foot elevation.

“I believed that Sierra Foothill wines could be as good as those from any area, and we planted vines in 2000 and 2001 on 3 ½ acres here.” Now, Avanguardia Wines blends over twenty Italian, Russian, French and University of California-created crosses grown in its estate vineyards. “Many of the grape varieties have been imported by the University especially for us and are available nowhere else, outside of Europe.” To his own estate-grown grapes, he adds other Sierra Foothills fruit. He started to produce cutting-edge blends, and they’ve found a loyal following.

“I call my winery a varietal-free zone because we don’t produce traditional chardonnay, zinfandel and so on. Although several of my wines could be considered varietals because they contain enough of one varietal to be termed that, instead we chose to give them fanciful names,” he said.

Rob sincerely believes that blending is the way to go to get the best quality, tastiest wines. “I do non-traditional blending, what I call “hedonic blending”, because I am looking for the maximum sensory pleasure out of the wine. I want to produce wines that are extremely food friendly.” His wines are not high alcohol, nor are they fruit-bombs. Subtle oak and good acidity are key. He produces 1000 cases of wine each year, and 90% of the grapes in those wines come from his estate vineyards in Nevada County.

A chat about the names of his wines is informative and entertaining. Premiato means “prizewinner”. Sanginet is a 14^th century archaic name for Sangiovese. Ampio means ample, generous; Cristallo means crystal. Selvatico is actually an adjective about an Italian wine characteristic that is used to describe a wild berry or undomesticated flavor. Due Fiori…two flowers.

Looking for a daytrip to nearby wine county? Head to Avanguardia’s winery at 13028 Jones Bar Road, Nevada City, CA 95959, open Saturday and Sunday 12-5. There’s also a tasting room in Grass Valley at 209 W. Main Street that’s open daily 12-5. More information? http://www.avanguardiawines.com/

~~~~~
Copyright 2011 Barbara Keck

Barbara Keck is now working on iPhone and Droid apps on Wineries of the Sierra Foothills

Floral notes in Muscat from Calaveras County: Harvest report from Ironstone Vineyards

2011-10-12T17:36:00.000-07:00

Steve Millier, winemaker at Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys/Calaveras County sends these notes:

On October 11, we picked our Sierra Foothills (Calaveras County) Muscat Canelli. The grapes are tested at 26.8 brix and show distinctive floral notes. The 2011 vintage Muscat Canelli when bottled will be our second release of the Ironstone Reserve Muscat Canelli. These are limited release wines that are exceptional, exciting and just enjoyable!

The rain on October 10 has slowed production, but we anticipate continuing to pick our Estate vineyards. After the Muscat Canelli, we will move back to another Chardonnay vineyard followed by Tempranillo.

~See previous Ironstone and other Calaveras County Harvest reports at
http://mountainhighwines.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20Harvest%20Report%20from%20Calaveras%20County

"My Fruit not Ready to be Picked" - El Dorado Harvest Report from C.G. Di Arie, Mount Aukum

2011-10-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

Chaim Gur-Arieh, Ph.D., winemaker and proprietor of C.G. Di Arie Vineyard and Winery in the Mount Aukum part of El Dorado County, Sierra Foothills region of California, sends these interesting notes:

As of October 10, 2011, our harvesting for 2011 is delayed. I see my neighbors in the valley picking their vineyards and feel envious. Are their fruits riper than mine? All I know my fruit is not ready to be picked. The skins are leathery and astringent, the flesh gelatinous, the seeds not completely brown and the flavors not intense enough for my taste.

Therefore I decided not to rush into harvesting before it rained last Wednesday. By not harvesting, at least the Zinfandel and Primitivo, I was taking a calculated risk that I might lose the crop to bunch rot. Bunch rot is caused by a fungus called Botrytis Cinerea. Zinfandel and Primitivo that have large tight clusters and thin skins are most susceptible to get bunch rot after a rain. During the rain, water penetrates into the clusters and stays there without getting a chance to evaporate. The cooler temperature causes the thin skins to blister and the water around them provides the ideal conditions for this fungus to grow, flourish and destroy the grapes.

To protect my crop, before the rains came I sent my crew to remove the leaves and branches that were shading the “afternoon sun” side of my Zinfandel and Primitivo vineyard blocks. This opened up the canopy so that when the wind and sunshine returned to the vineyard the clusters had a chance to dry out. After the rain I sent my two tractors towing two large sprayers that were blowing air directly onto the clusters of the Zinfandel and Primitivo to ensure that they were completely dry.

On the morning of October 10, I went back to inspect my vineyards and was very happy to see that we were able to avoid this disaster. Unfortunately, I cannot be so joyous since the rain is back again in full force. Tomorrow when the sun shines again we will repeat blowing off the moisture with the help of the sprayers and hopefully this will be the last time it rains before harvest.

This report will not be complete without telling you my evaluation of each variety that I did last week before the rains started:

Barbera: Brix – 24.5; pH – 3.1. The flavors are developing magnificently and it seems like this vineyard which is on its 5^th leaf will deliver a star wine. I am expecting to get 4 tons from this block this year. Last year we only had 1 ton. I am waiting for the pH to raise to 3.3-3.4 and hope that this will happen the week of October 17.

Cabernet Franc: Brix: 22.6, pH: 3.39; fairly large crop, flavors developing very well – bell pepper flavor is almost not evident. Considering that Cabernet Franc was one of the last to change color, it made very rapid progress. I predict harvest to be around October 20.

Cabernet Sauvignon: The star of this year’s harvest; Brix – 23.5; pH – 3.2; relatively large crop with at least one cluster per shoot – which is excellent for a vineyard that is on its 5^th leaf. The fruit is ripening very graciously with no evidence of bell pepper flavors. This vintage will deserve using these grapes for a standalone Cabernet Sauvignon varietal wine. Harvest week of October 17.

Petite Sirah: This block has a bumper crop. I did not take any samples to run through the lab since the grapes are lagging behind in ripeness. I will revisit this block the end of this week. Harvest may be in November.

Primitivo: Brix – 20.4, pH – 3.33; more shot berries than the Zin; thin crop and irregular ripening. Harvest estimated week of October 24.

Syrah: Brix – 22.0, pH – 3.25; very good crop, flavors are coming up, berries are softening and seeds are getting completely brown – an indication of ripeness. Might be the first variety to be harvested the week of October 17

Zinfandel: Brix: 19.5, pH 3.20; good crop with some shot berries damaged from the frost, irregular ripeness – some with intense flavors and others lacking flavor. Needs two weeks of warm weather with harvest the week of October 24.

Tempranillo: Brix – 21.5; pH – 3.65. These grapes have the highest pH while being the most astringent. I expect a lower yield than last year and hope that the astringency will mellow before harvest which I expect it to be the week of October 24.

Touriga: Brix – 19.8; pH – 3.34. The flavors are developing well, we just need some warm weather to raise the sugar levels up. The vines are carrying a nice crop and if the weather will cooperate I hope we can harvest this block the week of October 24.

As I am writing this newsletter, the last chapter of “Harvest 2011” has not been told yet. As the saying goes “being a winemaker is not for the faint hearted and making good wine is not by accident”. Cheers! "

More about C. G. Di Arie Vineyard & Winery, from their blog

Founded:            2001

Owners:            Chaim Gur-Arieh, Winemaker
                         Elisheva Gur-Arieh, Brand Manager

The Vineyard and Terrior:
A 209 acre estate of rolling hills, well drained, moderately deep soil. Surface soil
consist of decomposed granite and coarse sandy loam. 47 acres are planted to
vines, at altitude of 1,700 ft. on hillside, using sustainable farming practices.
Varieties planted include: Grenache, Touriga Nacional, Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah (3 clones), Barbera, Primitivo, Zinfandel.

The Winery:12,000sq.ft. cutting edge facility, on a hillside with spectacular views of the nearby vineyards and the Sierra Foothills. Using the natural terrain, the winery was constructed on 2 plateaus, with “gravity -feed” design as part of the winemaking process. The facility features 2 art galleries and built to enable the winery to maximize production up to 13,000 /cs. a year.

Winemaking Philosophy:Chaim believes in a winemaking process that maximizes the potential of the grapes: harvesting when the fruit is completely ripe, hand sorting and handling the grapes gently at winery to avoid maceration of the skins and breaking of the seeds and using the oak barrels for flavor enhancement and not as a focus.

The Technology:Chaim invented (patent pending) the “Dual Compartment Submerged Cap Fermentation Tank” that keeps the cap submerged during the entire fermentation process, thus creating fully extracted and concentrated wines with robust fruit, soft tannins, elegance, balance and complexity.

From their website: VINEYARD & VITICULTURE

With 40 acres already planted and plans to cultivate 20 more over the next five years, the Gur-Ariehs have crafted a promising vineyard that is already producing great fruit.

Planted at an elevation of 1,700 feet with Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Primitivo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc; one of the main goals of the vineyard is to develop consistency of fruit from vine to vine. With subtle variations from red, granitic rocky loam, to sandy loam, the soil at C. G. Di Arie is ideal, offering good root penetration to the vines.

Rootstocks have been selected for their ability to withstand disease, and paired with Zinfandel clones from Howell Mountain, as well as Syrah clones from France and Australia. C.G. Di Arie’s vineyard crew is under clear instruction to limit yields by dropping a large amount of fruit to concentrate flavors in the remaining grapes. Green and out-of-sequence clusters are dropped in an attempt to remove the harsh flavor of green tannins derived from the seeds and skins of immature grapes. When necessary, the vineyard is harvested multiple times to ensure consistent quality and maturity.

At the beginning of each growing season, Chaim and Elisheva sit down with their growers to discuss which viticultural practices will work best. Chaim and Elisheva have set a two-acre vineyard block aside from “The Original Grandpère Vineyard” in the Shenandoah Valley. Established over 140 years ago, this vineyard is the oldest living Zinfandel vineyard in America and has produced numerous award-winning wines. “The Original Grandpère Vineyard” is used primarily for C.G. Di Arie’s Southern Exposure Zinfandel.

Founded on a commitment to the finest viticultural practices, C.G. Di Arie is prepared to take the next step in its evolution. Having created an original and engaging palette of flavors from its estate and partner vineyards, C.G. Di Arie is poised to make world-class Zinfandel and Syrah in the Sierra Foothills.

Yuba County Harvest Report - Clos Saron: Good quantities and Quality

2011-10-10T09:51:00.000-07:00

Gideon Bienstock, winemaker at Clos Saron (Oregon House, Yuba County, Sierra Foothills region) sends his harvest report update:

At Clos Saron, we finished picking our Pinot Noir and Syrah October 3, just before the storm. Quantities were good, as our 1999 planting keep maturing and producing more, now reaching one ton per acre (!!).

Quality was good with two issues: larger grapes (from heavy rains all through the spring and early summer) in the Syrah, showing as less concentrated than usual (some may view this as a plus); in the Pinot, there was considerable shrivelling - not as bad as last year, but bad enough. Perhaps 10% of the crop had to be cleaned out of the raisins while picking. Average sugars were low (which is the way we like it), around 22.5-23 brix. Acidity was excellent in the Pinot and good in the syrah.

We are no longer farming the sites we used to lease, so for the next few years, until our own new plantings come to age, we will be sourcing fruit outside of our area. All of our whites were purchased this year, as well as some Cinsault.

(Gideon clarified that he sources his "outside fruit" from Yuba County, mostly the North Yuba AVA)

More about Clos Saron (from their website)

"A cool microclimate in the Oregon House Valley: forty five hundred vines planted on a gentle, well-drained, north-east facing slope. Red loam and clay topsoil on decomposed granite and volcanic ash subsoil, sprinkled with fragments of granite rocks, basalt, and quartz. The virgin soil is pure, uncontaminated, alive with microorganisms and earthworms.

The Sierra Nevada Foothills are not the first to spring to mind when thinking about Pinot Noir in California, and yet this site provides an ideal microclimate and soil combination for its demanding nature. The soil – poor in organic matter and rich in minerals – has a unique combination of volcanic, clay, and alluvial elements, providing a rare equilibrium of water retention and good drainage. Our growing season is neither too dry nor too wet, neither too hot nor too cold. Bud break in late-March to mid-April, bloom in late-May to mid-June, harvest in early-September to mid-October.

Our Vineyard is like a Nature Reserve

Age-old Burgundy traditions are implemented in our young, virgin soil:

Densely planted vines (3‘x6’).
Vine-vigor and crop level kept to a minimum by dry farming and precision pruning.
Vinifera vines are grown on their own roots (this area is free of phylloxera).
The long-term well-being of the soil and the vines is ensured by a sustainable approach to viticulture combining organic and Bio-dynamic principles.
A well-balanced, symbiotic micro-cosmos is established in our farm, including humans, animals, trees, vines, and all other living organisms.
Our vineyard is like a natural reserve: free of herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers. To control mildew, we spray elemental sulfur two to three times per season (compared to 8-15 times of powerful “high-tech” fungicides in conventional viticulture).

We tend to every vine numerous times during the season, making sure every shoot bears only what it can ripen fully. The small size of the vineyard allows us to harvest only perfectly ripe grapes, in consecutive passes through the vines.

The Essence in the Bottle

Our goal is to produce enjoyable, well–balanced wines, expressive of their distinctive terroir.

Our primary interest in Pinot Noir is due to its unique ability to capture the essence of its place of origin. “Traditionalists” in Burgundy will tell you that a good Pinot expresses its varietal, whereas a great one expresses its terroir... You will certainly find our Pinots distinctly different from their Russian River, Central Coast, and Oregon relatives, while being as true to their varietal as any.

Our other blends and varietal wines are made from grapes grown in nearby vineyards. Saron and I are closely involved with all the viticultural aspects of producing these grapes, to make sure they match our demanding standards: organic farming practices, very low yields (1-1.4 tons/acre for reds, 1.5-2 tons/acre for whites), hand harvesting. In the winery, they get the same red-carpet treatment we give to our estate-grown fruit."

Amador Harvest Notes: "After the rain, better chance for great wines"

2011-10-10T09:28:00.000-07:00

Scott Harvey sends along this note:

"Went through all the remaining vineyards I work with in the Sierra Foothills on October 9 to assess picking times and the effect of the rain. Saw no mold growth. Luckily we had a drying wind after the rain that dried everything out.

Dick Cooper in
his vineyard

Dick Cooper (Cooper Vineyards, Plymouth) was dealing with some splitting berry problems with Petit Syrah.

The sugars have dropped and the skins are softer giving the grapes more flavor at lower sugar levels which will lead to more balanced wines with lower alcohols and more flavors.

All in all I feel the wines after this rain have a better chance to be great than those harvested before the rain."

Sierra Foothills Harvest Reports- Calaveras, Placer, Amador

2011-10-09T21:36:00.000-07:00

CALAVERAS COUNTY

Ironstone Winery, Murphys, has this update:

Steve Millier, Ironstone's winemaker

Last week, Steve Millier, Ironstone's winemaker, was photographed checking the Chardonnay that will go into our Ironstone Reserve Chardonnay program.

On Monday October 3rd, Ironstone brought in our Sierra Foothills Estate Grown Viognier. The Viognier came in at 25 brix will go into our Reserve program. The flavors were wonderful and we are very pleased with the grapes.

Tuesday, Oct 4th, we picked our Sierra Foothills Estate Grown Chardonnay. Going into press the Chardonnay was at 24.2 brix and was showing intense flavors. This was a relief to get these grapes in before the midweek rain, which caused us a delay in harvest. We had possibly an inch of rain, but the soils in Murphys tend to dry quickly.

We picked our Muscat Canelli on October 7 & 8.

PLACER COUNTY

Charlie Green of Green Family Winery, Auburn (Placer County), informed me that on September 20th, he picked 45 tons of Pinot at brix of 23.7 & TA of .67 average.

NOTE: Green Family Winery is the oldest producing winery in Placer County, with vineyards averaging 18 years old.

AMADOR COUNTY

Scott Harvey sent this note:

We finished the Bowman vineyard on September 28th. We were expecting 40 tons and ended up with only 24 tons. So, it seems that the Zinfandel in Amador county was also greatly affected, like the Napa Valley floor, by the poor set due to the cold spring. Quality is way above average, great zinfandel flavors.

I think this will be a vintage where the wines definitely talk to you. Much like the great 1991 vintage in Amador County.

October 5, we harvested Zinfandel from both the Manby and Norton vineyards in the Shenandoah Valley of Amador county.

Nevada/Washoe County NV - Harvest Notes PART TWO

2011-10-09T20:04:00.000-07:00

Professor Grant Cramer at University of Nevada-Reno provides this updated information.

We dodged the frost bullet once again (35°F low) and the outlook for the week of October 9 is great weather!

Our Gewurztraminer was nearly perfect with a Brix/TA ratio of 3.4 (22.4 Brix and 6.6 TA).

The Pinot Noir grapes were quite ripe with a Brix/TA ratio of 4.4 (22.6 Brix and 5.1 TA).

We'll be harvesting Semillon and maybe Merlot of October 9. Still have Pinot Gris and Chardonnay to harvest...maybe later this week.

To follow harvest progress, go to
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nevada-Wine/238589812856937

Harvest Report: "Fantastic Wine Grape Crop" says Tanner Vineyards (Calaveras County)

2011-10-06T23:53:00.000-07:00

Nanette Tanner of Tanner Vineyards, Vallecito, Calaveras County (Sierra Foothills wine region) provides this report:

"Calaveras County whites have begun their wine journey (with reds some weeks behind) to the crush pads throughout the Sierra Foothills and beyond. Mother' nature has taken her time and done her job quite well this year, nurturing the vines and grapes, and giving them a growing season this year that looks more like classic Napa than classic Sierra Foothill weather. But as the saying goes, it ain't over till the fat lady sings! The proof of the pudding this year, will be in the reds. We are singing that familiar tune: Rain Rain go Away!.... and don't come back until harvest is over!

From Alicante Bouchet to Zinfandel, Calaveras County, with all of its micro-climates, hidden valleys, varying soil profiles and elevations, is known for her ability to produce myriad varieties of wine grapes. So far it looks like Mother nature, the fickle matriarch that she is, is rewarding farmers with a fantastic wine grape crop albeit light... if that proverbial last lap to fruition can be reached. On September 17th Tanner Vineyards harvested Viognier, the first white varietal of the 2011 season: a season that growers Dick and Ron Tanner believe could be stellar.

Scientific data is important for record keeping and guidance, but the bottom line when you pick is flavor. Early in the season, brothers Dick and Ron took pediole samples. In one way, these samples act as their 'crystal ball' for farming. Depending on test results, they supplement or cut back where needed, drop fruit etc.. as the season progresses they adjust the canopy by hand with wires designed precisely for this purpose. Opening up the canopy is an expensive viticulture practice - it has to be done in stages and more importantly it has to be done by hand. By hand = by dollars. We baby our grapes up here.

Opening up the canopy allows sunlight and air to get in, where it wouldn't be able to otherwise. Getting light and air to where it is needed means getting these elements to where they can make a dramatic difference in the final analysis..producing a better wine.

Fast forward to the last 6 weeks of the season...

Walking through the family's vineyard, tasting grapes, brothers Dick and Ron Tanner have begun the task of checking each varietal weekly now, nine in all, and evaluate each one's ripeness by color, skin health, sweetness, flavor, the color darkening (or browning if you will) of the grape's seeds. The overall flavor profile is being carefully tracked- pre-harvest brix and acids are monitored; which is why wine quality predictions for the 2011 year are coming in with very high marks. Keeping our fingers crossed and praying for warm weather!"

ABOUT TANNER VINEYARDS (from their wine club brochure):

Tanner Vineyards, the story behind the generations…

Tanner siblings Richard, Ronald and Judy, following the footsteps of their great grandfather Angelo Sciaccaluga, planted their vineyard in the spring of 1998. Grandpa Angelo brought his wine making skills to the Mother Lode in the 1860’s. Settling in the small gold rush town of Vallecito, he was the first winemaker in Calaveras County to pay an official ‘alcohol tax’.

Fast forward to 2004 when the first Tanner Vineyards label was born. In naming their first vintage, the siblings honored their mother, Jacqueline Rose Tanner with Mélange de Mère; French for ‘mother’s blend’. This special blend is made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot. Over time the family has added more plant ings with varietals that thrive in the rocky and volcanic soils of their family vineyards. To date they have produced 11 estate grown wines: Viognier, Vermentino Viognier, Doux Rose, Barbera. Mouvèdre, Syrah, Mélange de Mère, Petit Verdot, Petit Sirah, Cabernet, and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tanner Vineyards
Tasting Room - 202 Main Street, Murphys, CA 95247
(209)728-8229 ph & fax
Business Address - PO Box 21, Vallecito, CA 95251
tannervineyards@att.net - http://www.tannervineyards.com/
Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday!
Closed Tuesday & Wednesday except by appointment.

Nevada/Washoe County NV - Harvest Notes

2011-10-06T22:21:00.000-07:00

This succinct harvest report from Grant R. Cramer, Professor and head of the wine program at University of Nevada, Reno, where a small demonstration vineyard exists. Lots of eager UNV students and home winemakers in Washoe County are learning about Nevada wines via full-time classes and Dr Cramer's Tuesday evening tasting program.

We harvested our first grapes, Gewurztraminer on Tuesday, October 4.

We harvested Pinot Noir today (October 6).

11 more varieties to go!

More about this UNR program:

There’s a groundswell of interest building in Nevada wines, and this is in part due to the work being done by Dr. Grant Cramer at University of Nevada-Reno, and in part by intrepid vintners and winemakers in Fallon and Genoa. Here's a glimpse at the wonderful work in UNR.

What can be done on 2 acres of vineyards in arid Reno? A lot. That’s being proven by Dr. Cramer’s eonology and viticulture crew. Each Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m., you too are invited to the wine tasting and study at UNR's Experimental Winery. It is in a blue metal building behind the NV genomics center at 910 Valley Road, Reno. When the sliding gate is open, go on in.

In the winery, you’ll find 30-40 folding chairs set up on the winery floor, and a smiling Dr. Cramer and his student assistants. No doubt you will be greeted by Kitty Spreeman, an extremely knowledgeable lab technician who makes it all run smoothly. Take a seat as near to the front table as you can. Pay your $10 class fee, and take a little extra cash because you’ll no doubt want a Nevada Wines baseball cap or polo shirt. Barbar Keck did, and she's proud to wear it too!

Settle in for a wonderful tasting experience of 12-14 different bottles each week. The Experimental Winery makes its own wines and blends right there on site. They have a “library” of wines going back to 2003, and they often do vertical tastings of the same wine from different years, and comparisons of wines from well-(sufficiently)-watered vines and drought-stressed vines. Sometimes the event features blind tastings or comparisons to commercial wines. Regardless of what you taste, you’ll be asked to fill out a tasting sheet so that the Winery can collect evaluation data of the wines as they age.

The wines are all estate wines; they come from grapes planted as long ago as 1995 on the two acres on Valley Road at the Agricultural Experiment Station. The wines made include reds such as Pinot Noir, Lemberger, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Meunier, and whites, such as Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Semillion, and Sauvignon Blanc .

The vineyard is itself an experiment. Vines are growing under conditions of well-water, and drought-stressed. There is an ongoing study to see if drought-stressed vines increase the amount of resveratrol, which is now considered to be a heart-healthy element of red wines. “Resveratrol might be a key ingredient in red wine that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduces "bad" cholesterol and prevents blood clots,” says a news note from the Mayo Clinic. The grapes from these vines at UNR are tested for many things (Phenolics, brix) and the buds of the vines undergo scrutiny too, including testing for different hormone levels. It’s all very sexy for the wine lover!

If you want to taste these wines, you must come to the Winery. By Nevada law, the college is not allowed to sell its wines in Washoe County. In addition to tasting these types of Nevada wines, you’ll be treated to a discussion on such topics as pruning and trellis design in the vineyard, and vineyards of the world.

Dr Cramer, Kitty and the crew would love to see you there! For more information, go to http://www.ag.unr.edu/cramer. Or email Kitty Spreeman for more information: spreeman@unr.edu.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

© 2010 Barbara Keck

Frog's Tooth Vineyards (Calaveras County) Harvest Report: "good fruit, lower yields"

2011-10-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

Gary Grant, winemaker at Frog’s Tooth Vineyards, Farmington (Calaveras County, in the Sierra Foothills region of California) reports good quality fruit to date, lower yields, and harvest “a bit late”:

"Harvest seems to be running slightly behind again this year. Our first harvest of the year was our estate Sauvignon Blanc on 8/28. Weather effected crop yields and the Sauvignon Blanc was down by about one-third. Fruit quality was excellent. Acids and pH were in line and the flavors were outstanding.

Torrontes

We have also pressed 6 tons of Torrontes from Silvaspoon Vineyards in Alta Mesa on 9/13. The overall quality of the fruit was good. According Ron Silva, the yield this year was also down from previous years.

2.27 tons of Semillon from Chatom Vineyards was pressed on 9/20. Fruit quality and flavors were very good. TA was down and an acid addition was required.

Next up was our estate Viognier on 9/22. Crop yield was disappointing, weather related issues being the culprit, but the remaining fruit was very nice.

On 9/28, we pressed Sauvignon Blanc from Chatom Vineyards. Once again, fruit quality was excellent. High yield of juice (180+ gallons/ton).

Grenache

Our first red fruit, our estate Grenache and estate Petite Sirah, we are harvesting this week and watching the rain forecasts closely."

About Frog’s Tooth Vineyards, from their website (www.frogstooth.com)

"Our Story...
Once upon a time, not so long ago, in a valley known more for cattle ranching than vineyards, our story begins.

It was the Winter of 1999 when Frog's Tooth Vineyards began its life as a tadpole with the purchase of 67 acres of land in the Salt Springs Valley of Calaveras County.

It slowly grew through infancy until the Spring of 2003 when it began its transition to adolecence with the planting of approximately 10 acres of premium wine grapes.

Frog's Tooth Vineyards entered young froghood in 2005 when we crushed fruit for what would become our first vintage wine. Our transition continued with the opening of our Tasting Room in Murphys, California in the Fall of 2007 followed by the completion of our winery building at the end of 2008. "

Frog's Tooth Vineyards Tasting Room is now open daily at 380 Main Street in Murphy's, right off Main Street, behind Murphy’s Grill.

Crystal Basin (Camino/El Dorado County) Harvest Report- "A Decidedly Odd Growing Season"

2011-10-03T18:54:00.000-07:00

Mike Owen, Founder of Crystal Basin Cellars in Camino, El Dorado County (Sierra Foothills), sends this report:

After a decidedly odd growing season that started late and appears to be showing signs of ending early, Crystal Basin brought in its Barbera grapes on Sunday, October 2, from the Valley Oaks vineyard in Lotus owned by winery partners Jack and Diane Wohler. This small vineyard is set to come in at 26.5 brix and will again provide the big, structured, high-acid foothill Barbera grapes that Crystal Basin's winemaker Peter Zimmerman loves to craft into intense red wines.

Jack was quoted as saying " this harvest is coming just in time, the grapes stabilized at 24 brix and held, but they gained a couple of extra points in last week's heat and they are going to be perfect. We will be bringing in a normal-sized crop this year and then we can go back to enjoying the stuff."

Crystal Basin's other grape sources are set to weather this coming week's expected rain.   Crystal Basin uses a number of higher-elevation vineyards that typically ripen later the in growing season.

"It's kind of a crap shoot this year to figure out what percentage of the planned harvest we'll actually see", noted Mike Owen, Founder of Crystal Basin.

About Crystal Basin, from its website (http://www.crystalbasin.com/):

Crystal Basin Cellars has its roots in amateur cooperative winemaking. Beginning under the house in 1981, CBC created a long string of vintages that captured fun times with friends. Steadily growing from 3 barrels to 25, CBC outgrew its space and was formed as a commercial winemaking operation in 2000. Since then, we've made more than 10,000 cases of wine that have been eagerly devoured by our fans and ourselves. We've been awarded a pack of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals since 2001. In fact, each of our vintages has won at least one Gold Medal at a major wine competition in California.

Our goal, to make wines from the heart, is driven by a passion to craft the highest quality wines possible from El Dorado County grapes.

At Crystal Basin, we are not grape growers but are blessed to have strong community connections to source great local grapes. We've been buying our fruit from the same super-premium vineyards for over 15 years.

One of the key strengths of Crystal Basin Cellars is our Team. We've worked together for a long time and we're all part-timers. We somehow always pull it together and look pretty good doing it.

Harvest time in the Sierra Foothills, time for visits! Suggestion: Solune WineGrowers in Grass Valley

2011-10-03T18:33:00.000-07:00

“The reward for a daytrip to Sierra Foothill wineries is intense flavorful wines from passionate winemakers”

Andrea & Jacques Mercier

It’s Harvest Time in the Sierra Foothills, and if you’ve been following my Harvest Report blogs, you know that the late spring and cool summer are manifesting in a later harvest than usual. It’s a good time right now to take a trip to some of those wineries you’ve been wanting to visit. Suggestion: Solune WineGrowers in Grass Valley (Nevada County).

Not every winemaker has the advantage of bringing the world’s “best practices” to his winemaking. Jacques Mercier of Solune Winegrowers has done that, thanks to an extensive background as a trained sommelier and an esteemed wine judge. From tasting and judging wines around the world – Spain, the Douro, Mendoza, Switzerland, France – he’s gathered wisdom from observation and from other wine judges who are winemakers. The result: award winning wines from his own vineyard and winery.

Jacques and wife Andrea bought their property in Grass Valley in 2001: 15 acres with a house, barn, a 3 acre vineyard in place and another 7 acres that could be planted to vines. “We decided to name our winery Solune, which is a combination of the French words for sun (soleil) ad moon (lune),” explained Jacques.

At 2600 foot elevations where many of his vines grow, he knows that every little valley has its own microclimate. Initially, Jacques planted 24 varieties and at the end of his first decade, he has 11 reliable varieties.

Jacques’ winemaking style is very hands-on. He has an East Coast palate, and fine tunes every wine he makes. “I pay careful attention to the acidity,” he says. “I think that a lot of California wine is too flabby. I make careful decisions about when to harvest; I pick my grapes to give my wines a smooth yet rich quality.”

At 1500 cases now, he wants to keep small in order to keep quality high. Jacques is looking forward to a 50/50 ratio of juice from his own estate vineyards and grapes that he buys in from selected Foothill growers. “If I don’t like my own wines, I’ll throw it out. I can’t hype anything. Solune will produce good wine, smooth wine, great food wine,” he said.

What to taste? Last season when I was tasting at Solune, I had a wonderful Port. I don’t see it for sale on their website now, but ask about it. Try these:

The 2008 Barbera, Sierra Foothills, has intense red berry flavors and aromas, great balance, silky texture, long finish, and this vintage is unoaked, with a hint of smokiness due to the 2008 forest fires. $25 the bottle.

The 2007 Fleur de Lune, Sierra Foothills, is an off-dry blend that combines Muscat Blanc, Orange Muscat and Gewurztraminer. I like the touch of sweetness, which Jacques notes is perfectly balanced by a vibrant acidity, providing a refreshing finish. $20 the bottle.

The 2006 Cinq Etoiles, Sierra Foothills, is a classic five-varietal Bordeaux blend. The website has a great description: Cabernet Sauvignon leads the flavor profile with black currant and plum, Petit Verdot adds color and structure, and the Merlot smooths the texture and brings spicy flavors and a hint of tobacco leaf. Cabernet Franc brightens the nose with a whiff of flowers and the Malbec helps to fill the mid-palate with a fruity lushness. $20 the bottle.

Solune is located at 16303 Jewett Lane (Colfax Hwy), Grass Valley. Open for tastings Saturday & Sunday from 12 to 5. If you want to visit during the week, call 530-271-0990 and perhaps they can arrange a time.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

© 2011 Barbara Keck

Night Harvest at Naggiar (Grass Valley/Nevada County): "season off to a late start"

2011-09-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

Tony Tibshirani of Naggiar Vineyards in Nevada County, Sierra Foothills, sent these spectacular night harvest photos taken the week of September 25, and an update:

"This season is off to a late start for high elevation growers in Nevada County. Naggiar's vineyards are at a 1200 ft elevation in the Sierra Foothills, between Grass Valley & Auburn.

Our Rhone whites are showing exceptional quality. We’ve harvested Viognier, Marsanne, & Rousanne. We've seen very little raisining and the yields are somewhat lower than previous years due to the spring rains. We’ve been harvesting around 24 Brix and a pH of 3.5.

We've also picked our Syrah and Sangiovese, but this next week, we’ll be focusing on most of our reds."

About Naggiar Vineyards (from their website)

"After searching for 3 years for a suitable vineyard site, we found a 160 acre site with ideal wine grape growing conditions in the Sierra Foothills between Auburn and Grass Valley. The 160 acre site sits on a large knoll with gentle hillside slopes providing good breezes and air circulation while at the same time reasonable hillside tractor access conditions. We purchased the land in 1997.

The Nevada County Irrigation canal runs through the site providing an ample and dependable supply of clean water throughout the growing season. We built a one acre surface area and 20 ft deep pond to ensure that an adequate reserve of water would be available at all times of the year.

The estate vineyards consist of 50 acres planted with 12 different varieties of grapes which provide the flexibility and choice of creating the best varietal wines or the best possible blends."

According to owner Mike Naggiar, the winery made 2600 cases 2010, and they plan to get to 5000 cases. Their first vintage was 2003, with wines released in 2005.

Lava Cap (Placerville/El Dorado County) Reports Harvest is "latest start ever, in 26 years"

2011-09-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

Tom Jones, Winemaker and one of the owners of Lava Cap Winery in Placerville, El Dorado County, and wife Beth Jones, Marketing & Sales, note that this harvest is the "latest start ever, in 26 years"...

Tom Jones judges grapes'
readiness for harvest

We are hand picking our Sauvignon Blanc today- it is now at 24 brix, 3 tons/acre and we should have 15 tons coming in on September 29- all estate produced (Tom’s brother Charlie is vineyard mastermind!)

Next, may be the Chardonnay ... but nothing until next week at earliest or maybe some early estate Zinfandel from our sunny slope vineyard.

Ideally the rain will stay north of us and we will have a warm Fall!

We have picked and crushed in early November before but it appears that our harvest 2011 may break that record as well! One upside… all of our bottling which we do on our line is completed this year before crush begins- That is a very good feeling!

About Lava Cap (from their website)

Family tradition is hands-on
at Lava Cap

"Lava Cap Winery began in 1981 when the Jones Family purchased an old 64-acre pear farm in the Sierra Foothills just east of the gold discovery town of Placerville, CA. It was the culmination of a year-long state-wide search for premium vineyard land by David and Jeanne Jones. David Jones, a professional geologist at USGS and later University of California, Berkeley, knew the critical role that soil plays with premium wines. They found that the old farm met their requirements: volcanic soil of modest depth, gentle sloping terrain affording numerous microclimates, a high elevation providing moderate temperatures for even ripening, and an abundance of super quality mountain sourced water. The residual “lava cap” topography had eroded from the volcanic activity in the Sierra Nevada millions of years ago. The old pear farm showed the potential of tremendous terroir and superb wine grapes, and thus was reborn into a vibrant, new enterprise.

Lava Cap Winery has always been a family affair. Family members include sons Tom and Charlie, and their wives. The family started clearing and planting the vineyard in 1981 with Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Charlie took the reins of vineyard management and pursued additional vineyard development with plantings of Petite Sirah, Barbera, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Tom completed the business from grape growers to vintners by earning a Masters degree in Enology & Viticulture, University of California, Davis in 1989.

Over the years, Tom has worked hard to forge the Lava Cap style of elegant, textured-driven wines. Today, his winemaking style creates the consistent quality and concentrated flavors recognized far and wide by Lava Cap wine lovers everywhere. Charlie has developed over 90 acres of vineyard using sustainable practices for Lava Cap’s elegant estate wines. Almost three decades later, the old farm has indeed proven the wonderful terrior that was hinted at many years ago. "

Szabo Vineyards (Nevada City/Nevada County) - Good Sugar in Grape Harvest

2011-09-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

Sandor (Alex) Szabo of Szabo Vineyards sends this brief Harvest Report:

We recently harvested our muscat blanc and orange ----yum-- talk about sugar!

On Tuesday September 25 we harvested the Primitivo and then the Syrah today (Wednesday the 26th September).

We'll be working from 5 am to 11 am if anybody wants to visit: fresh juice to be served!

p.s. From the time of picking to them getting crushed is no more than 25 minutes ....we like it fresh!

About Szabo Vineyards : (from their website http://www.szaborvineyards.com/)

Szabo Vineyards is a small, family-owned operation; the vineyards, 40-acres, are at 1900 feet and on south and west-facing hillsides off of Bitney Springs Road in Nevada City. Sitting almost exactly halfway between Grass Valley and Nevada City, the views include the Pacific Coastal Range and the Sutter and Sierra Buttes.

We are proud of our new winery building, which was designed by architect David Wright of Grass Valley and completed in July 2009. This state-of-the-art, passive solar facility is built into the hillside and was engineered to keep the wines at a constant temperature year-round. We crushed our own grapes at the new winery for the first time in September 2009.

We pride ourselves on the hand-crafted quality of our wines, which are made exclusively from sustainably grown grapes from our mountainside estate. Our Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Syrah wines are intense and fruit-forward without being dominated by oak.

Pilot Peak (Penn Valley/Nevada County) - "Latest Harvest to Date"

2011-09-26T17:52:00.000-07:00

Lynn Wilson, winemaker and one of the owners of Pilot Peak Vineyard & Winery (Penn Valley, Nevada County) sends us this note about the Sierra Foothills harvest experience there:

"Until yesterday (September 25), we didn’t have any news to get out – just harvested our first grapes off the estate grown Sauvignon block on the property. Got them off the vines about 10 minutes before the light rain started so we just barely cheated Mother Nature. The fruit was whole cluster pressed and is currently settling in the tall stainless steel tank. The juice will be inoculated tomorrow morning with the fermentation normally taking 10 to 14 days (fermented in the range of 65OF – 68OF). The fruit was harvested at 24 Brix with a pH of 3.3 – the acid/sugar balance developed very nicely in the cool summer we’ve just experienced.

This harvest has been our latest to date and it appears the majority of the fruit will be harvested in October.

Tempranillo or Syrah should be the next in line, but they are at least a week to 10 days off – all dependent on temperature. We’re all keeping our fingers crossed that we don’t get substantial early rain which would have a major impact on the crop yields which are already light this year. Given the cooler weather and longer growing season, the fruit sampled thus far is excellent and should make for a great vintage.

About Pilot Peak Vineyard & Winery (from their website)

"PILOT PEAK Winery is located in Northern California’s Sierra Foothills – An hour north of Sacramento – just a few miles outside Grass Valley and Nevada City in the town of Penn Valley. We currently produce approx. 2500 cases, using our estate grown Sauvignon Blanc and Mourvédre and other grapes sourced within 20 miles of the winery. We have worked with the following Sierra Foothill growers: Damiano Vineyards, S&L Vineyards, Naggiar Vineyards, Leeham Vineyards & Dibble Vineyards.
We established the winery in early 2004. The metal shop building was converted from a construction shop to a winery starting on July 6, 2004 and completed on August 29, 2004. 8 short weeks! -- Luckily - just in time for the first grapes to arrive (one of the earliest harvests on record). We made 600 cases of wine that first year - which later sold out in record time (Cabernet Franc sold out in 1 day! The Viognier lasted about a week!). "

Kautz Family Vineyards (Calaveras County) & Bowman Zinfandel Vineyard & Sobon (Amador County) - Harvest Reports

2011-09-25T20:38:00.000-07:00

CALAVERAS UPDATE

Steve Millier, Director of Winemaking at Kautz Family Vineyards, which includes Ironstone Vineyards and Leaping Horse Vineyards (Murphys/Calaveras County) sends this report:

We picked Verdelho last Monday (September 19) from Hay Station Ranch. The grapes looked fantastic with outstanding sugar + acid balance.

Friday, September 23, we picked the 85+ year old Zinfandel from Larry Nies. This is an old vine Zinfandel vineyard that backs up to the Mokelumne River along Hwy 12 (across the street from the Rous Estate vineyards) in Lodi. This vineyard is noted for its intense cherry focused fruit.

TWO AMADOR UPDATES:

Leon Sobon sends us this report from Sobon Estate Winery, Plymouth/Amador County:

We picked our first grapes Thursday September 22- the Sauvignon blanc and the Viognier. Three weeks later than normal!!! The quality seems to be excellent, partly because of the small crop, 40 % of normal, and partly because of the long hang time. The cool, wet spring during bloom has affected most of our varieties. The reds are a week or two away.

Scott Harvey sends this report:

Scott at Riesling Harvest

We’ll start with the Amador harvest on Tuesday with the Bowman Zinfandel Vineyard. It is the first Zin vineyard we bring in every year. Will be bringing in approx.. 40 tons. We produce both wines from Amador County and Napa Valley for Scott Harvey Wines .
Amador and the 2,000 foot mountain areas around Napa such as Atlas Peak both bud out three weeks later than the Napa Valley Floor.

Seems like the valley floor of Napa has been much more affected by the late cold spring. The earlier bud break really hit the Napa Valley floor while the later bud break in Amador and the hills around Napa were not as affected. A Sauvignon Blanc vineyard we get grapes from in Napa that normally produces 40 tons, this year only produced 15 tons. We harvested Riesling from the Rutherford Bench last Monday and it came in at normal tonnages, although a month later than normal.

Montoliva (Chicago Park/Nevada County) - Harvest Report and commentary

2011-09-23T04:34:00.000-07:00

Mark Henry, owner and winemaker at MontOliva Vineyard & Winery, located in the Chicago Park area of Nevada County, sends along a very interesting report in Q&A format:

That June rain that never seemed to end, how did it affect the growing season?

More than I originally thought it did. Although it was wet and cool, we did not get a late frost this year. Although we got some snow in mid-May, the air temp never dropped below 34'F in my vineyard. Because I did not get the same frost burn in 2011 that we got in 2010 (frost event in late May), canopy development was pretty normal, and although things did progress slower, my thinking throughout the summer was that we are maybe a couple of weeks behind.

Last year I did sample testing on 20 September. So, I sample tested yesterday. The numbers throughout the vineyard are most exactly what they were last year. This is a little disheartening. I had thought that with dodging the late frost this year, we would be at least a couple of weeks ahead of last year, the cold, wet Spring notwithstanding.

How does this year compare to a normal growing season?

Normal? I planted my vineyard in 2000. Except for maybe 2006 and 2007...maybe 2009, I don't think I've had a "normal" year yet. This year is looking suspiciously like last year. Maybe this is the "New, Improved" normal!

What does the '11 crop size look like?

This is the area where I am probably still trying to figure things out. We didn't get a late frost this year, and lots of rain early, so the crop load was heavier than usual. I almost always do some crop thinning, Sangiovese almost demands it, however, I think after the light crop load of last year (because of the frost), I got a little greedy this year. Perhaps the fact that I am almost exactly in the same place as last year, without a frost event, is because I left a bit more on the vine this year than I usually do.

Did you have to do any crop thinning this year?

I probably haven't thinned enough. I dropped fruit once in early summer, and again about two weeks ago. I may go through the vineyard again later this week. by the time I'm done, I may end of dropping about 50%.

This year seems to have progressed much like last year. Are you expecting similar results?

I actually think it may be something better...assuming the weather holds up. The saving grace last year is that although we had a couple of rain events in early, then late October, it cleared up/warmed up immediately afterward, so no problem. We harvested MV&W on October 31st last year. The brix were at around 22, ripeness was pretty good, not great. This year bloom and fruit set occurred earlier (because we didn't get the late frost), so assuming the weather holds up, we may harvest on Halloween again, the brix may be around 22 again, however, the physiological ripeness factors should be improved, meaning better colors, more flavor development.

When do you expect to harvest?

I probably need the weather to hold up until the last week of October. It did it last year. Keeping my fingers crossed

What happens if it starts raining next week?

Well, rain isn't necessarily a bad thing. It rains a fair amount during the growing season in both France and Italy (or at least it used to). Here in the north Sierra Foothills we don't have the same issues that Napa or Sonoma have. There, it can rain, then stay cold and foggy for days. That inevitably means rot...especially with Chardonnay. Here, it may rain for a day or two, but then it clears up, and warms back up. This is what happened last year, so while Napa was scrambling to pick before too much rot set in, here in the north Sierra Foothills, we were able to sit tight for another couple of weeks. Now, if it starts raining, and doesn't stop...that's a different matter altogether. Or if we get a frost event. If it freezes any time between now, and near the end of October, I'm toast.

About Montoliva Vineyards & Winery

Mark Henry was one of the first to plant the prized clones of Sangiovese introduced to the U.S. by Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo in 2001, and the first to plant the southern Italian mainstay Aglianico in the North Sierra Foothills. Chicago Park, California is on the western slope of the Sierra Foothills at 2200ft elevation, about equidistance from Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. Warm summers, cool evenings and soils of decomposed granite create a very happy home for our 1820 Sangiovese and 80 Aglianico vines. This, combined with the old world tradition of close planting (4ft x 3ft), means that Montoliva Vineyard & Winery is blessed with an annual bounty of high-quality fruit.

Some of the original settlers of Chicago Park were first-generation Italian-Americans from Chicago, Illinois. The orchards and vineyards of Chicago Park bear witness to their quest to start a community in the untamed West that mirrored their homeland. Their spirit lives on at Montoliva Vineyard & Winery. Founded in 2000, Montoliva Vineyard & Winery creates Tuscan-inspired wines of uncommon depth and character

Nevada City Winery (Nevada City/Nevada County) Harvest Report

2011-09-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

Mark Foster, winemaker for Nevada City Winery, Nevada County in the Sierra Foothills, sends along this report:

Mark Foster looking
at the grapes

"Nevada City Winery has harvested only whites to this point: Viognier, Sauvignon blanc and Gewurztraminer.

The Sauvignon blanc numbers were perfect, but the crop was down 40% due to the late Spring frost this year.

The Gewurztraminer came in at about 50% of estimated crop. It too had beautiful numbers and color.

We are expecting Sangiovese and Primitivo early next week along with Chardonnay from Clarksburg. Our local Chardonnay supplier lost most of his crop to frost too.

It is looking like there are some varieties that may not make it this year. I am seeing some leaf loss on older vineyards. It has been quite hot for the last few days and the sugars are climbing and the acids seem to be holding."

About the Nevada City Winery, from their website:

"Nevada City Winery was founded in 1980 in a small garage on the outskirts of town by Allan Haley, a Nevada County native with a European wine education and a dream of bringing winemaking back to the region. They are extremely proud of their role in revitalizing the wine industry in Nevada County and have been recognized with numerous awards.

Winemaker Mark Foster joined the Winery team in time for the ’92 crush. As a scientist with numerous advanced degrees, he found himself seduced by the science of wine after a trip to Napa. He went to U.C. Davis and worked towards yet another Masters degree, this time Enology. The result was three years at Chalone followed by seven years as a winemaker at Madrona Winery before coming to Nevada City. “First of all, for the philosophical scientist, wine is the perfect blend of art and science. My goal as a winemaker is to be creative and make great wine. Nevada City is the perfect place to blend experimentation with wonderful viticultural environment. The result? Great wines!”

Sierra Foothill Wine Region- Hotbed of Wine Experimentation

2011-09-22T13:55:00.000-07:00

Walking amongst the 14 El Dorado winery tasting stands in South Lake Tahoe, I hailed my friend and mentor, John MacCready of Sierra Vista Winery, Placerville. Under a canopy on Ski Run Way in the early September sun, he poured his fine wines, wife Barbara at his side. Yes, he admitted modestly, he had a role in encouraging this first-ever "Sample the Sierra" event. But of course, that is typical of John, who after all was one of the pioneers of winemaking in the Sierra foothills.

You can read about John on other of my blogposts, but he deserves accolades for another great vintage of fine wines. The 2010 Viognier has a medium straw color with lovely fragrances of honeysuckle, rose petals and citrus blossoms. Tastes of peaches and apricots are balanced with a rich texture and a bright level of acidity. 13.7 per cent alcohol, $18 the bottle.

The Sierra foothill wine region is a hotbed of wine experimentation. For example, Brian Bumgarner of Bumgarner Winery, Camino, poured wonderful Barbera sourced from Placerville’s Stone Vineyard from a tap in a wooden box. Normally I am an all-natural cork gal, but I was surprised at how fresh this wine tasted. Because of the packaging format, however, you can only taste the Barbera in his tasting room on his Silver Fork label and packaged in a refillable 750 ml wine bottle. “Bring your clean bottles back and get a credit on your next purchase. This is sustainable wine making in practice at your local winery! “ Brian noted. Brian poured other nice wines, and these you can buy by the bottle. The Bumgarner 2008 Pinot Noir has an aroma of strawberry and rose petal, s nose redolent of strawberry with subtle rose petal. You can also get a bit of smokiness from this wine; remember those forest fires that put some haze in the region in 2008? 14.1 per cent alcohol, $27 the bottle.

Always a pleasure to meet a female winemaker, and Debbie Knutzon of Synapse Wines, Placerville, is a molecular biologist by background. This accounts for the Synapse Wines logo: a junction of two nerve cells – a metaphor for family and friends coming together. Debbie learned winemaking by shadowing an experienced local winemaker, none other than John MacCready! She poured what she notes is their flagship wine, the 2006 Kspace Resonance Syrah, a deep rich syrah with mild blackberry and spice flavors. It’s won many Gold Medal awards! 14.5 per cent alcohol, $28 the bottle.

Lava Cap, Placerville, poured its 2007 Merlot Reserve, which recently won the Best of Class award in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. It’s a medium-tannin wine, with structured ripe cherry notes, green apple, chocolate, and a nice clean balance to it. 14.8 per cent alcohol, $20 the bottle.

Shadow Ranch Winery, Fair Play, poured its 2008 Zinfandel. With a deep ruby color, and aroma of raspberry and cherry, this wine has a medium-full body, a nice tangy acidity and good depth. The finish has a hint of spice and a nice tannic structure. 14.5 per cent alcohol, $20 the bottle.

Jodar Vineyards & Winery, Placerville, poured its 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. Aroma of black cherry and plum with toasty oak, vanilla and spice. Brown spice of clove, colarm, cedar on the finish. 13.7% alcohol, $22 the bottle.

Other El Dorado wineries pouring were Crystal Basin Cellars, Colibri Ridge Winery & Vineyard, Latcham Vineyards, Gold Hill Winery, DK Cellars, David Girard Vineyards, Madrona Vineyards, and Auriga Wine.

A great event, and I plan to go every year! Watch for it at www.samplethesierra.com or http://www.tahoechamber.org/.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
© 2011 Barbara Keck

For more information on dining and the wide range of activities around Lake Tahoe, see the online version of The Tahoe Weekly. This article appeared in my column "Wine Adventures" in September 2011.

Research in Process for Book on : "Mountain High Wine: The Sierra and Its Foothills".

Roland Rosario Cellars (Copperopolis/Calaveras County) Harvest Report

2011-09-21T20:52:00.000-07:00

Martha Rueca-Gustafsson, winemaker at Roland Rosario Cellars, Copperopolis/Calaveras County, sends us this report:

Roland Rosario vineyards,
Copperopolis-Calaveras County

"Our 3 1/2 acre vineyard in Copperopolis, CA yielded its first fruit of the season on Sept. 5th. .38 tons of Roussanne and Viognier field blend came in at 23.9 brix, 3.55 PH, .73 TA

The remaining 3 acres divided in equal portions of Mazuelo clone Carignane and 2 clonal selections of Zinfandel will not be due for for harvest yet another 2- 3 weeks. Weekend brix readings on Sept 17, 2011 were in the 21s, just under 22s. We just pulled down our bird netting this past weekend.

After months of getting family and friends to help us with weekend green dropping, cluster thinning, and cane tucking, we see the light at the end of the tunnel!

p.s., I'm still fermenting in the cold room at Winterhawk Winery in Fairfield, where I work a "day job" as the Enologist/Assistant Winemaker. The best perk about working here is that I can personally oversee the Roland Rosario Cellars fermentations right here, everyday."

Baiocchi Wines (FairPlay/Eldorado County) - Harvest Report

2011-09-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

Greg Baiocchi, owner and winemaker at Baiocchi Wines, sends his harvest report for his vineyards in Fair Play, El Dorado county:

HARVEST REPORT

"After the coolest spring and summer we have experienced since planting our 12 acre estate vineyard in FairPlay, I am excited about the potential wines of 2011. The vineyard, now in its 6^th leaf, looks tremendous as I walk through it taking samples this September.

Last September we started harvest on the 15^th and we were a little behind from a cool season then. This year I am sampling fruit the 15^th of September, looking at harvest starting in our Upper Syrah blocks at the end of the month.

The fruit is exceptional this year, phenolic profiles are much riper at lower sugars than last year. Some of this could be age of the vines but more due to growing conditions this year. We did not have to drop as much fruit this year, 20% of our yield. Smaller berries, lighter clusters, the vineyard is telling me I can make some really concentrated, complex wines from the 2011 fruit.

I am tasting much riper flavors and nuttiness in the seeds at 20 Brix, still waiting for skins to soften a bit and the fruit to achieve total balance. I am very excited about harvesting some Syrah below 25 Brix something I was not able to do in our first two vintages.

Tempranillo should be next, in the first week of October. Grenache I would anticipate harvesting Mid October into November this year. From start to finish that would be two weeks later than last year as well. I believe the Mourvedre will be end of October/beginning of November as well, hopefully.

Mother Nature will have everything to do with our hang time. Looking for consistent heat and for Autumn to stay on the warm side in October with cool nights keeping our acids and sugars in balance, we have the potential for a truly great vintage that will enable great wines with complexity and balance."

About Baiocchi Wines, from his website:
"Situated among the rocky, granitic hillsides of the Sierra Nevada foothills, Baiocchi Wines is a family-run vineyard producing high quality, small lot wines from our estate-grown grapes. Our twelve acres of fruit, fed by a warm, dry growing season and cool evening breezes, are quite literally the foundation of the fruit of our labors: elegant wines crafted in the Southern Rhone and Rioja traditions."

Amador County - Brief Harvest Report from Grower's Association Member

2011-09-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

Brian Miller, director of the Amador County Wine Grape Growers Association, sent a brief overall report:

"I've spoken with people and have a general feel for the Amador harvest this year.

Generally: Late and light. 2-3 weeks late, 20%+ light (with many saying 30%-40%).

Spoke to one Barbera grower that will get 3 tons off of a vineyard that usually yields around 27."

Brian has encouraged Association members to send more detailed harvest reports, so watch this space...

About Amador County Wine Grape Growers Association
Amador County Wine Grape Growers Association represents almost 20 growers among its 95 members. Notes the website: http://www.amadorwinegrapes.com/, "More than 60% of Amador's production is delivered to wineries outside the county. Amador County’s wine grape industry is flourishing with a substantial amount of new acreage planted each year. The premium wines that are produced from Amador County grapes are consistent medal winners, and are gaining major recognition throughout the wine industry. Members grow more than 30 different varieties of grapes. Amador County vineyards are now also producing world-class Rhone, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese varieties" For a list of grower members, click here.

Also from the website: Appellation and Terrain

"As diverse as the wine grape varieties planted, so are the conditions in which they are grown. Amador's vineyards range from an elevation of 250 feet in the western foothills to 2900 feet in the east. Summer daytime temperatures range from the eighties to more than one hundred degrees, while nighttime temperatures dip into the fifties and sixties due to breezes from the Sacramento Delta and the Sierra Nevada mountains. Such a diurnal temperature shift is good for the grapes because the sunshine produces high acids and high sugar content while the temperature drop stabilizes the acid balance in the fruit.

Another factor that differentiates the grapes in Amador County is the jumble of the soils, from alluvial to decomposed granites, fertile to not-so-fertile, level to steep, and fine to coarse-textured. Amador County's diverse growing conditions have been acknowledged by the designation of one appellation of origin - Amador County, and two American Viticultural Areas (AVA's) - the Shenandoah Valley of California AVA and the Fiddletown AVA."

Ironstone Winery (Murphys/Calaveras County) - HARVEST REPORT

2011-09-15T12:39:00.000-07:00

Ironstone Winery's Steve Millier, Director of Winemaking, reports from Murphys in Calaveras County:

"We had our first day of crush on Tuesday, September 13th. We crushed our “Rous Vineyard” Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel which came in at 25.5 brix and was absolutely beautiful. This is a very special wine for us, as it is a single vineyard designate in our Reserve range. The vineyard was planted in 1909, so as you can imagine it comes in intense with very low yields!

We anticipate picking our Murphys Verdelho early next week.

Overall, the quality of all of our grapes look outstanding this year. Unfortunately, the yields are either short or very short depending upon the variety!"

Fortezza Winery (Auburn/Placer County) - Harvest Report

2011-09-14T17:01:00.000-07:00

Lisa Mann, owner of Fortezza Winery, Auburn (Placer County) sends this report. Fortezza is a small estate located in the beautiful rolling Sierra foothills of Auburn California, near California's Gold Country.

“We are about 1,260 feet in elevation. I have two vineyards. We have 5 acres of wine grapes planted total at this time but have room to expand on our 18 acre estate. We planted our vineyards in 2006 with Sangiovese, Petit Verdot, Primitivo and Viognier wine grapes.

We will be harvesting our Viognier (planted in 2006) on or around the 19th or 20th this month.

I will harvest my Sangoivese next around the 26th or 27th (brix is about 22), then the Primitivo soon after.

We will wait on the Petit Verdot (only 18 brix); it is hard to ripen, generally needing a long hot summer, so possibly we will harvest the last part of October.

The past couple of years it has not been that hot for a long period of time. We dropped some more fruit and did some shoot thinning.

Our first estate 2009 wines will be released in the next couple of months."

Pescatore Vineyard & Winery (Newcastle/Placer County) - Harvest Report

2011-09-12T22:27:00.000-07:00

David Wegner, Owner/Winemaker at Pescatore Vineyard & Winery, Newcastle (Placer County, sent this report on September 12, 2011:

"We will be harvesting our Syrah and Petite Sirah this Saturday. September 17th. We have a great crop of Petite Sirah, large and very good quality, nice full clusters, great color. Our Syrah is also very good, but we had four rows that had a fungus from the wet spring, so our crop will be down about 20%, but the rest looks great. Sugar is running about 25.5 brix to 26.

Our Zinfandel and Barbera look about 2 weeks out, and the Sauvignon blanc, our white, looks about 2 weeks out too.

So, its going to be busy here!! We use all our grapes in the winery, and we do not sell grapes."

The vineyard was planted in 1998, and Pescatore's first commercial harvest was in 2003.

Other information on Pescatore's vineyards, from their website:

Pescatore Vineyard is 5 acres and includes Syrah, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, and Barbera grapes.

The Syrah and Petite Sirah are on south facing slopes, getting the full benefit of the warm/hot summers.

The Zinfandel and Barbera are on an eastern slope that almost reaches the Auburn Ravine. This slope benefits from cooler air from the ravine and the shadows of the afternoon. This allows the fruit to hang a little longer and assures good balance between sugar and acid.

The vineyard's soil is decomposed granite, perfect for growing grapes, who love any soil but can't stand to be in flat water retention type soils. We drip irrigate during the June - Sept. timeframe"

Andis Wines (Plymouth/Amador County) - Harvest Report

2011-09-11T14:53:00.000-07:00

September 10: from Mark McKenna, Winemaker & General Manager, Andis Wines, Plymouth:

"While the weather still feels like Summer, even a brief walk through the vineyards reveals that Fall (or at least harvest) has arrived.

We walked several vineyards this morning and it looks like the Sauvignon Blanc will be the first grape to come off the vine this year. The Brix (how winemakers measure sugar) is 21.5 and climbing at a rate of about 1.5 brix per week. The flavors are starting to develop beautifully and the acids seem in balance, with pHs in the 3.2 range.

After we bring in the Sauvignon Blanc; Rose, Zinfandel and Primitivo will quickly follow, Syrah after that and then an unpredictable and furious free for all – Barbera, Petite Sirah, Grenache, and more.

The Andis estate vineyard is looking great and we are more thankful than ever in this difficult growing year for the fabulous growers we work with, as they have done a great job under tough Spring conditions. Crop yields look to be down this year, but, quality could be exceptional if the weather continues as it has the past few weeks.

Andis continues to grow and the enthusiasm with which we have been greeted this inaugural year has been much appreciated and very gratifying. We will be crushing about 50% more grapes this year than last and that means it is time for a winemaker's favorite thing – NEW TANKS! We have placed 6 new tanks in the winery in the past two weeks (four new stainless tanks and two more concrete tanks). The stainless allowed us to finish “furnishing” the fermentation room and they look just great.

After months of anticipation the two new concrete tanks arrived Wednesday…… and six hours later they were almost in place. Turns out moving around 9500 pound tanks proves a bit challenging (and a touch terrifying) even for our crack cellar crew."

First Report...from Tuolumne County

2011-09-11T14:26:00.001-07:00

Coming Soon!

First Report...from Mariposa County

2011-09-11T14:24:00.001-07:00

Coming Soon!

Naggiar Grapes in Featured Wines at Charity Event in Lake Tahoe

2011-09-09T13:19:00.000-07:00

The Wine on the Water event at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe benefitted the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe and gave the opportunity to taste wonderful wines and nibble on hallmark foods from some of Lake Tahoe’s best chefs. It was a sunny day and moderately hot there on the lawn near the Hyatt’s great Lone Eagle Grill restaurant.

Among the wines were some with great fruit sourced from Nevada County in the Sierra Foothills.

The 2009 L’Ingenue from Elyse sources its fruit from Naggiar vineyards near Grass Valley in the Sierra Foothills. This is an exquisite white Rhone blend of 40% Roussane, 34% Marsanne, 20% Viognier and 6% Grenache Blanc. “Aromas of honeysuckle, lycee nuts, peaches and a hint of orange zest. Explosive fruit flavors,” notes the winemaker. 14.6 percent alcohol. $28/bottle.

Another lovely Rhone blend from Elyse is the 2007 C’Est Si Bon, also sourced from Naggiar vineyards. This red blend is a fruit, berry-flavored wine, with low tannin and, I confess, very much my favorite style in a Rhone blend. The blend is 46% Grenache, 26% Mourvedre, 18% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, 4% Counoise and 1% Viognier. I am a pushover for Châteauneuf-du-Pape lookalikes, and the Counoise grape is the grape is a key component of many of these wines. Legend has it that Counoise was introduced from Spain into France and it was offered it Pope Urban V when the papacy was based in Avignon in the mid-14th century. This yummy wine from Elyse is 14.4 percent alcohol, $28/bottle.

The Hyatt Regency at Incline Village is located at 111 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, NV. All proceeds from this event are donated to the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe.

To read a longer report on this event, originally published in The Tahoe Weekly, click here

Helwig Winery hosts benefit for Amador Arts: Music by Sons of the San Joaquin

2011-09-09T12:40:00.000-07:00

EVENT DATE: Saturday, September 24, 2011 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

The Sons of the San Joaquin are
Lon, Jack and Joe Hannah,
performing September 24 at
Helwig Winery in Amador County

LOCATION: Helwig Winery, Plymouth, in Shenandoah Valley, Amador County
The concert by Sons of the San Joaquin is a benefit for the non-profit AmadorArts and its Arts in Education Program which serves students with arts classes and scholarships and awards mini-grants to other non-profits who provide arts-related services to schools.

AmadorArts is proud to be presenting a concert at Helwig Winery by musicians known around the world as the undisputed standard bearers of the Western Music genre, the Sons of the San Joaquin.

On Saturday, September 24, starting at 5:00 pm, Jack, Joe and Lon Hannah will perform powerful, lush three-part harmonies that tell the stories of a unique character in global history: The American Cowboy. Not only will they be singing your traditional Western favorites, but those penned by Jack Hannah, who has written more top-quality cowboy songs than he’ll ever be able to record.

The Sons’ distinctive sound has carried them from local church gatherings in the central valley, to which the Hannah family migrated from Missouri during the Depression, to such far-flung locales as Switzerland, the Arab peninsula, and to Japan. In the latter, traditional cowboy music is esteemed above contemporary country music. Here in the U.S., they headlined in New York’s Carnegie Hall. They also have professional baseball and teaching careers in their backgrounds. But it’s their uncanny vocal blend and true love of cowboy heritage that have made the Sons of the San Joaquin the barometer for all Western harmony groups.

You’ll be able to enjoy their laid-back, “get-along-little doggies” charm in the intimate setting of the beautiful outdoor amphitheatre of the new Helwig Winery located in the heart of Amador wine country at 11555 Shenandoah Road outside of Plymouth . Bring your own low-back lawn chairs –must be no more than 12” off the ground -- or blankets to the grass-tiered setting that offers spectacular vistas of the color-changing foothill vineyards on one view and the peaks of the Sierra on the other. No outside food or beverage will be permitted, but tasty personal trays of hors d’oeuvres, water, and the fine wines of Helwig will be available. Gates to the amphitheatre open at 4:00 pm. Helwig Winery is open for complimentary tastings on this day from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Tickets are $30 each, festival seating, and are sold on-line at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/188795.

Seating is limited to 450, so it is advised to make reservations early, as Sons of the San Joaquin concerts frequently sell-out. If you have questions, call AmadorArts at 209-223-9038 or visit http://www.amadorarts.org/.

Press release info per Penny West

El Dorado Wineries announce September Events

2011-09-01T17:39:00.000-07:00

From the recent newsletter of the El Dorado Winery Association, these notes of upcoming events:

Crystal Basin Cellars, Camino, CA

Psycho Pseptember!
Time Flies when you're having fun and sipping tasty red juice! We're celebrating our 5 years in Camino all during the month of September! Wine specials each week. Cool events and maybe - just maybe - a killer surprise for all of our fans!

Fenton Herriott Vineyards, Placerville, CA

Doggy Date Night
September 10, 5:30pm - 8:00pm
Spend an evening pampering your "best friend"! Featuring canine and human foods & beverages, as well as local, dog-friendly businesses showcasing their items for sale! Live music and fun all evening. Well behaved dogs are welcome. Please register you and your pet.
Cost: A small entrance fee to be donated to a dog friendly charity.

Uncommon Ground
September 17, 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Enjoy a relaxing and fun-filled day with the music of Uncommon Ground, featuring originals as well as covers. Bring a picnic and enjoy the music amongst the vineyards with a bottle of Fenton Herriott wine.
Cost: Free!

David Girard Vineyards, Placerville, CA
Labor Day Weekend Wine Sale
Friday, September 2 through Monday, September 5
Join us Labor Day Weekend for great discounts on your favorite DGV wines! Case specials include:
$100/case 2008 Rosé
$200/case 2006 Coeur Rouge
Mix & match specials (the more you buy the more you save!)

Jodar Vineyards & Winery, Camino, CA
September 3-5 (Labor day weekend) Enjoy the "fruits" of our Labor
Wine Specials. Wine and food pairing. 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Photo courtesy Lava Cap

Lava Cap Winery, Placerville, CA
Lava Cap Sunsets
September 3, 4:30pm - 7:30pm
September 10, 4:30pm - 7:30pm
September 17th, 4:00pm - 7:00pm
September 24th, 4:00pm - 7:00pm

Enjoy the spectacular sunsets from the deck and garden at Lava Cap Winery. We will have music until dusk. Bring a picnic dinner and purchase a bottle of luscious Lava Cap wine. Deli items are also available for purchase. This event is complimentary.
September 3 - John Martin, electric guitar
September 10 - Alan Thompson, guitar, Country & Western
September 17 - Phillip Reddin - classical guitar
September 24 - Little Delta Band - blues, folk and Americana music

Miraflores Winery, Placerville, CA
French Picnic
September 11, 2011
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Make your reservations without delay for this cooking class, it sells out very quickly as seating is limited. Prepared by Chef Christian Masse from Allez. Chef Christian will whip up his fanciful luncheon right before your very eyes in our new vineyard pavilion.
Class starts at 12:00noon
Make your reservations Online or by calling the winery.

Charles Mitchell Winery, Fair Play, CA
Live Maine Lobster & Endless Pizza Every Friday!
Every Friday Night, 5:00pm - 9:00pm, $15.
Wine club members, $10.
Includes Italian barrel stave burning fire belching Gourmet Pizza and Caesar Salad. Bocce court groomed, lit, and open. Enjoy the evening.
In 1968, Mitchell's first entrepreneurial venture was a pizza restaurant and pool hall in Southern California and he has made pizzas at home and for friends at his nearby yacht club for years. This passion adds a unique flare to the winery.

Oakstone Winery, Fair Play, CA
Join Oakstone on September 4, 5, 6 from 11:00am to 5:00pm for a Labor Day Weekend Celebration. Visit http://www.oakstone-winery.com/ for details.

Perry Creek Winery, Fair Play, CA
4th ANNUAL UNCORK THE COBRA RELEASE PARTY @ PERRY CREEK WINERY
September 17, 12:00pm - 5:00pm
$25 per person ($20 Club Members)
Entrance to the event includes live music, lunch, commemorative cobra glass and 4 drink tickets.
Join us as we uncork the first bottles of our exclusive limited-edition 2009 Cobra Zin and Cobra Syrah. Drink a toast to the purest muscle car ever built! Enjoy some fantastic wine, great food and live music. There will be many Cobra cars and classics on hand to admire and you will have the chance to vote for your favorite.
Anyone who brings a Cobra car or Classic car will have the entrance fee waived for them and one guest.
Join us as we celebrate vintage cars at our second annual Vintage Ride Classic Car Show. Nestled in the charming foothills of El Dorado County, you can view a sampling of classic rides dating prior to 1960.

Boeger Winery, Placerville, CA

2nd Annual Vintage Rides Classic Car Show
Saturday, September 10th
10am -2pm

Join us as we celebrate vintage cars at our second annual Vintage Ride Classic Car Show. Nestled in the charming foothills of El Dorado County, you can view a sampling of classic rides dating prior to 1960. This first annual show features some of the region’s finest and most unique vehicles. Both Greg and Justin Boeger’s cars will be on display for this special occasion. It is a must see if you're in the neighborhood.

Pack a picnic or pick up some goodies from our deli cheese case, buy a bottle of wine and enjoy the a relaxing day in our garden. We'll be serving our famous Hangtown Coolers for just $2! A sure way to keep cool on a hot day.

If you would like to attend, enter a car or for additional information contact Tara or call 800/655-2634 x: 18

Gold Hill Winery, Placerville, CA

Art & Wine in the Meadow-Gold Hill Winery
Saturday, September 10, 10:00am - 2:00pm FREE
Stroll through lovely Cornelia's Meadow and peruse the wares of local artists and artisans.
Sunday, September 18, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Luscious, award winning Gold Hill wines and beers will be available by the glass.

El Dorado Winery Association:
Signing up for the El Dorado Winery Association newsletter is the best way to get news of events delivered right to your email in-box, but the interactive calendar on the EDWA website offers even more events on a frequently updated basis.

To sign up for the newsletter, click here

For the interactive calendar, click here
2nd Annual Vintage Rides Classic Car Show
Saturday, September 10th10am -2pm
Join us as we celebrate vintage cars at our second annual Vintage Ride Classic Car Show. Nestled in the charming foothills of El Dorado County, you can view a sampling of classic rides dating prior to 1960. This first annual show features some of the region’s finest and most unique vehicles. Both Greg and Justin Boeger’s cars will be on display for this special occasion. It is a must see if you're in the neighborhood.
Pack a picnic or pick up some goodies from our deli cheese case, buy a bottle of wine and enjoy the a relaxing day in our garden. We'll be serving our famous Hangtown Coolers for just $2! A sure way to keep cool on a hot day.
If you would like to attend, enter a car or for additional information contact Tara or call 800/655-2634 x: 18

Sierra Vintners annouces Wineries Pouring at Sept 24 event in Grass Valley

2011-08-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

The following 15 wineries will participate in the Sierra Vintners event in Grass Valley on September 24.

Avanguardia Wines (www.AvanguardiaWines.com)
Bent Metal Winery (www.BentMetalWinery.com)
Coufos Cellars (www.CoufosCellars.com)
Double Oak Vineyards & Winery (www.DoubleOakWinery.com)
Indian Springs Vineyards (www.IndianSpringsWines.com)
Lucchesi Vineyards & Winery (www.LucchesiVineyards.com)
Montoliva Vineyard & Winery (www.Montoliva.com)
Naggiar Vineyards (www.NaggiarVineyards.com)
Nevada City Winery (www.NCWinery.com)
Pilot Peak Vineyard & Winery (www.PilotPeak.com)
Sierra Knolls Vineyards & Winery (www.SierraKnollsWinery.com)
Sierra Starr Vineyard (www.SierraStarrWine.com)
Smith Vineyard (www.SmithVineyard.com)
Solune Winegrowers (www.SoluneWinery.com)
Szabo Vineyards (www.SzaboVineyards.com)

For more information on the event, go to the earlier blogpost by clicking here

About Sierra Vintners

Sierra Vintners is a partnership of wineries located in Nevada County, California, collaborating to promote the emerging wine region located midway between Sacramento and Reno in the Sierra Foothills.

Sierra Vintners features fifteen wineries and additional tasting rooms, offering a diverse wine experience with handcrafted and award winning wines, rural vineyards and wineries, and downtown tasting rooms in the historic towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City, CA. For more information, visit http://www.sierravintners.com./

Perry Creek Winery of Sierra Foothills featured at Wild Goose Restaurant on Lake Tahoe

2011-08-26T11:17:00.000-07:00

The Wild Goose, an open-to-the-public venue of the Tahoe Mountain Club, has an award-winning wine list and unbelievably wonderful food. Lou Phillips, an experienced sommelier with a great palate, recently joined wine expert Patrick Hedderman’s team at the Wild Goose.

“I’ve rarely had the opportunity to work with a wine list that is as deep and mature as this one at the Wild Goose,” Lou said . “At the same time, we’re not afraid to serve our guests wines from up-and-coming regions like the Sierra Foothills.”

In August, The Wine Spectator magazine recognized Wild Goose with its Award of Excellence, bestowed on restaurants that offer interesting wine selections that are appropriate to its cuisine and appeal to all wine lovers. Over 340 wines to select from at the Wild Goose and 4800 bottles on site, the list is divided between a regular and a reserve wine list. We tasted from the regular list, and primarily those in the wine-by-the-glass section.

The Perry Creek “Altitude 2401” is a Sierra Foothills Zinfandel from El Dorado County. It is a plummy fruit-forward zinfandel with ripe, earthy, jammy flavor. Winemaker Stefan Tscheppe produced this reserve wine in an old-world style. Named after Perry Creek’s Fair Play Farms Vineyard's that have an average elevation of 2401 feet, only 1000 cases were made. Tasting notes from the www.perrycreek.com website echo my experience: “Exotic papaya and guava play with lively acidity and rich berry, spice and chocolate flavors. Exotic spices and cherries in the long and smooth finish. “ 14.9% alcohol. $35 the bottle at Wild Goose.

Wild Goose restaurant and bar is located at 7320 North Lake Blvd, Tahoe Vista, CA 96148. Open six evenings a week through mid-October, closed Tuesdays. Make reservations for dining via OpenTable or call (530) 546-3640. http://www.wildgoosetahoe.com/

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

© 2011 Barbara Keck

For more information on dining and the wide range of activities around Lake Tahoe, see the online version of The Tahoe Weekly. This article appeared in my column "Wine Adventures" in August 2011.

Book in Process: "Mountain High Wine: The Sierra and Its Foothills".

Sierra Vintners Rides Again...this time to Grass Valley

2011-08-25T14:42:00.000-07:00

A Taste of the Gold –Premier Tasting Event in Grass Valley

Presented by Sierra Vintners & Grass Valley Downtown Association

Sierra Vintners and the Grass Valley Downtown Association will be presenting A taste of the Gold, a premier wine tasting event on Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, CA.

This fabulously fun and tasty event, featuring some of the Northern Sierra Foothill’s finest restaurants and wineries, takes place on the Saturday afternoon of the Draft Horse Classic. Find your favorite wine, and with glass in hand, nibble your way through more restaurants than you could possibly visit in a long weekend. With your first taste and your first sip, you’ll soon recognize why “A Taste of the Gold” has become such a popular event.

Early Bird tickets are $30 in advance, by going online to www.sierravintners.com. Tickets can also be purchased for $40 on the day of the event at the Gazebo, just as you enter Gate 5 at the Fairgrounds. Wine club members can contact their winery directly for special pricing. For more event information or tickets by phone, call 530-272-8315. (You must be 21 years of age or older to attend this event.)

Entertainment will be provided by Bob Mora & The Third Degree Band. The event is sponsored by Interstate Benefits and Casualty Insurance Services (www.ibcinsuranceservices.com). A Taste of the Gold takes place at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, adjacent to the Pavilion, near Gate 5, and is held in conjunction with the Draft Horse Classic! For Draft Horse Classic performance tickets, visit the Nevada County Fairgrounds website at www.NevadaCountyFair.com.

For more information about Sierra Vintners and their wineries, visit www.sierravintners.com, email Sierra Vintners at info@sierravintners.com or call 530-205-3016.

About Sierra Vintners

Sierra Vintners Pull it All Together at Nevada City Tasting Event

2011-08-23T18:55:00.000-07:00

As a big booster of wines from the Sierra and its Foothills. I was delighted to go to the recent Sierra Vintners event held in Nevada City. Almost twenty wineries from Nevada and Placer County participated. Tasting tables were set up in a number of retail shops, hotels and restaurants – all within a short walk of one another. Brilliant. I suggest you get on the mailing list for an alert for future events: go to www.sierravintners.com

Marilyn Szabo pours Primitivo

First stop was the tasting of Szabo wines. The 2008 Syrah is produced from estate grown grapes from their 40-acre vineyard at 2100 feet elevation that sits almost exactly halfway between Grass Valley and Nevada City, with views that include the Pacific Coastal Range and the Sutter and Sierra Buttes. The wine has taste and aroma of raspberry, vanilla and black tea. The tannins to my taste were relatively high, which is not unusual for Syrah. There’s a bit of smokiness or teriyaki on the back palate too. $23/bottle, 14.6 percent alcohol.

Frankly, I thought that the Szabo Primitivo was one of the best Foothill wines I’ve tasted in a long time. Primitivo and Zinfandel are closely related; in fact the two varieties have identical isozyme fingerprints. This 2008 Primitivo is redolent of plum, chili and allspice. $19/ bottle, 14.3 percent alcohol. Winery owners Marilyn and Sandor Szabo have done a great job; their first vintage was just in 2006. http://www.szabovineyards.com/

There’s some thought that Primitivo is a Croatian grape relative, but there’s not enough room in this column to go into that. However, this leads me to talk a bit about the intriguing wines of Rob and Marilyn Chrisman, owners of Avanguardia, on Jones Bar Road in Nevada City. Avanguardia specializes in hand-crafted artisan blends. Over 20 Italian, Russian, and French grapes and University of California varietal crosses are estate grown, many of which rootstocks were imported especially for them. They poured their Cristallo, a white wine blend where the dominant grape is the Georgian Rkatsiteli, a grape of high quality that is widely planted in eastern Europe but wines made from Rkatsiteli are seldom exported. At Avanguardia, it’s combined ( at about 70-90%) with Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Melon de Bourgogne. Melon is the sole variety in the Loire wine known as Muscadet, sometimes referred to as the quintessential “oyster wine”. This is a delicious wine, dry, crisp, taut, and relatively full-bodied; and the fruit flavors are of apples and pears. $14/bottle. 12.5 percent alcohol. http://www.avanguardiawines.com/

If you want an interesting discussion about the history of wine along with some lovely wines to taste, then you will want to go visit Sierra Knolls Vineyards just south of Grass Valley near Lake of the Pines. and chat with John Chase, one of the owners. John is an interesting guy, also keen on alternative energy topics, and Sierra Knolls was one of the first 100% solar powered wineries in the Foothills. They are guided in their winemaking by Mike Foster from Nevada City Winery, and feature handcrafted small lot wines. Their 2006 Sangiovese is a terrific Italian varietal, with a nice spiciness. At $16 a bottle, 13.5 percent alcohol, you might want to stock up. http://www.sierraknollswinery.com/

Bent Metal's Scott Brown
pours his great Viognier

David Winn of Coufos Cellars
pours Buffo Blanc, Rhone blend

Other notable wines I tasted:

Naggiar Vineyards 2009 Mistero, a blend of 60% zinfandel, 30% sangiovese, 10% syrah, nicely fruit-forward. $22/bottle, 14.5 percent alcohol. http://www.naggiarvineyards.com/

Coufos Cellars Buffo Blanc 2008, a white Rhone varietal blend of 40% Marsanne, 40% Roussanne and 20% Viognier. Tropical fruits, spice at the end. $17/bottle, 14.5 percent alcohol. http://www.coufoscellars.com/

Bent Metal Winery’s 2009 Viognier, fruit forward with a great mouthfeel and smooth finish. $21/bottle, 15.2 percent alcohol. http://www.bentmetalwinery.com/

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

© 2011 Barbara Keck

For more information on dining and the wide range of activities around Lake Tahoe, see the online version of The Tahoe Weekly. This article appeared in my column "Wine Adventures" in August 2011.

Book in Process: "Mountain High Wine: The Sierra and Its Foothills".

El Dorado Wines featured at Big Band Event Aug 26 on Tahoe's West Shore

2011-08-11T14:23:00.000-07:00

Are you “In the Mood” for a summer night under Sierra stars on Lake Tahoe’s magical West Shore? Hear Big Band jazz played at beautiful Sugar Pine Point State Park on

Friday evening August 26th, 2011. The Ehrman Mansion “Pine Lodge” is a stunning backdrop on Lake Tahoe’s shoreline to relax while serenaded by professional musicians.

The show begins at 6 o’clock with music planned through 8:30 PM.

Gates open for picnics at 5 o’clock on the lakeside of Sugar Pine Point State Park; access from Highway 89 South/West Lake Boulevard. No parking fee after 5 PM. Bring a low backed chair to enjoy the music in comfort. Add a blanket or cool-weather gear for crisp Tahoe evenings. Flashlights may be helpful after the show to access your car.

Featuring wines of El Dorado County; available for purchase by the glass. This festive first time event is a fundraiser to benefit the West Shore Association so donations are gladly accepted! California State Parks, the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, and the Tahoe City Public Utilities District are contributing to make the evening a success.

We hope to see you on the West Shore for this free event: Friday, 08/26, 5 PM!

Skinner Vineyards in Fair Play-El Dorado County is Worth a Visit

2011-08-11T11:43:00.000-07:00

The Fair Play AVA is unbelievably beautiful right now, and an afternoon at Skinner Vineyards is a perfect way to experience these delights. The new Tasting Room at this new winery in the Fair Play AVA of El Dorado County features a state-of-the-art GreenTech winery, as well. The Skinner heritage in the wine business goes back to 1861 in El Dorado County.

Winemaker Chris Pittinger (l) and
Tasting Room Manager Ryan Skinner

The Skinner family has both a passion for winemaking in the Foothills and a dedication to continuing the Skinner winemaking tradition there. The new winery was designed with care to encompass many forward-thinking eco features. Winemaker Chris Pittenger often escorts visitors through the winery and vineyard manager Bryan Rahn has created a first-class vineyard, the Stoney Creek Vineyard, and you may have an opportunity to walk through there, too.

Skinner Vineyard’s winery is primarily solar powered; they installed a 55 kW PV system. They also situated the building so the sun side (south) maximizes the solar-power generating potential, and the solar panels line up to give the largest potential area for sun exposure.

In the winery, they strategically situated the barrel rooms on the north, more-shady side, of the building for better energy efficiency. Each of the four barrel rooms and the main cellar were built with temperature-controlled sensors, which allows for cooling to be supplied by the cool outside air.

All of the fermentation tanks are located within the winery, rather than being isolated outside. This simple design reduces energy costs significantly. The result is the use of much less electricity in order to keep the must and wines at a stable temperature in the tanks. The trellising systems optimize fruit temperatures, and the rows are run up and down the hills to minimize soil disturbance during development, preserving the topsoil and improving erosion control.

Skinner’s flagship wine is its Eighteen Sixty-One. This is a Rhône-style blend, a red wine made in the style of a Châteauneuf-du-Pap.

The vineyard’s warm days and cool nights, coupled with its well-draining granitic soils, provide the ideal growing conditions for Rhône varietals. Skinner Vineyards' current collection includes 10 Rhône grape varieties, in addition to several legacy grapes grown by James Skinner himself. The first releases included a 2007 Viognier and 2007 Syrah, both made with fruit sourced from the Skinner family’s Stoney Creek Vineyard, and also a 2008 Grenache and 2008 Grenache-based Rosé from El Dorado. Skinner Vineyards offers another Rhône-style blend – the Seven Generations white wine, a blend of Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier.

Mike Skinner, co-owner with wife Carey Skinner, has inherited his ancestor’s passion for growing high-quality grapes and producing premium wines that reflect the unique spirit and heritage of the Sierra Foothills. The Skinner family set out to reestablish the family legacy by planting vines just a short drive from the original vineyard location. In keeping with the spirit of the original ranch and distillery, Mike and Carey designed the new winery in Fair Play by using a drawing dating back to 1885 and the old sepia photographs as their inspiration. The adjoining tasting room, situated at 2,700’, has a breathtaking 360-degree view of the majestic foothill landscape; perfect for enjoying a glass of wine while viewing the snow-peaked Sierra during winter or the rolling acres of green vines during spring and summer. For more information and tasting room hours, call (530) 620-2220 or visit http://www.skinnervineyards.com/

Disclosure: I assisted Skinner Vineyards with marketing communications for their grand opening in May 2011.

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© 2011 Barbara Keck

For more information on dining and the wide range of activities around Lake Tahoe, see the online version of The Tahoe Weekly. This article appeared in my column "Wine Adventures" in August 2011.

Book in Process: "Mountain High Wine: The Sierra and Its Foothills".

Barbera: Food-Friendly Wine from the Sierra Foothills

2011-07-24T07:10:00.000-07:00

Dick Cooper, "The Godfather of Barbera", who hosted
the Festival at his vineyard in Amador, shares a glass
of wine with Barbara Keck

I’m fond of Barbera, and it’s not simply because it’s one wine varietal that I can pronounce easily. The Tahoe Weekly newspaper editor Katherine Hill and I went to the first-ever Barbera Festival in June in Plymouth, CA, on the grounds of Cooper Vineyards. Along with the fun music and food tents, the event was truly festive: more than 80 California wineries and a few Italian ones poured for an enthusiastic crowd of 1500.

Barbera originated in the Piemonte region of northern Italy. It was first imported into California in 1884 and the Italian Swiss Colony Winery used Barbera for several of its table wines. After prohibition, a wine labeled as Barbera was produced by Louis Martini in 1954. Today about 7000 acres are planted in California and Barbera is produced by nearly 200 California wineries.

The wineries of the Sierra Foothills are producing great Barbera, and it is a food-friendly wine that you will enjoy. It is characterized by structured acidity, smooth tannins, dark pigments, bright fruit flavor (spice and chocolate too), and it ages nicely – if only you don’t drink all of this scrumptious wine right away!

To my palate, here are some of the best and most interesting Barberas and Barbera-blends sampled at the festival:

Andis Wines

Andis Wines (Plymouth, Amador County, CA) poured its 2009 Andis Barbera. I found it rich and deep, aroma of plum predominating and taste of raspberry, black cherry, and cranberry with a lingering finishing of black cherry and a bit of spiciness. Grapes were sourced from the upper reaches of a hillside vineyard in Amador County’s Shenandoah Valley region. 15.5 percent alcohol. $24 the bottle. http://www.andiswines.com/

Pilot Peak at Barbera Festival

The 2008 Barbera from Pilot Peak Winery (Penn Valley, Nevada County, CA) is a medium-bodied wine with a smoothness in the mouth. It has the classic Barbera crisp fruit flavor of cherry and raspberry. Nice and balanced, it has a lingering finish. Fruit for this wine came from Placer County’s Duarte Vineyards. 13.7 percent alcohol. $25 the bottle. http://www.pilotpeak.com/

Avio Vineyards (Sutter Creek, Amador County, CA) offered its yummy 2008 Barbera for tasting. Aroma of black fruit such as blueberry and blackberry, maybe a hint of mint. On the palate, a delightful juiciness. Stefano and Lisa Watson, owners, say that this wine is “our favorite anytime, any meal, going to the neighbors after a long workday wine It’s rich without being aggressive, our Barbera is simply delicious with your favorite comfort (or take out) foods." 14.7 percent alcohol. $28 the bottle. http://www.aviowine.com/

The 2008 Estate Barbera from Lava Cap (Placerville, El Dorado County) is a classic, and, I confess, the Barbera that I tasted last summer that made me a Barbera convert. Winemaker Tom Jones offers these notes: “Lava Cap Barbera Reserve has a complex aroma of dark red cherry fruit, spicy with foresty herbs and a dash of licorice. The velvety taste of strawberry and plum are complimented by the white pepper finish.”. Grapes are sourced from their steep, west facing vineyard and to augment the depth and complexity of flavors, Tom added 8% Petite Sirah, 10% Sangiovese and 6% Zinfandel Reserve. 14.7 percent alcohol. $20 the bottle. They also offered samples of the 2009 Barbera, a very-berry yummy wine that is being bottled soon. http://www.lavacap.com/

Other tasty Barberas we tried:

• Boitano Family Wines (Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras County) - a wonderful 2006 Barbera that won a “Best of Show” at the 2008 Amador County Fair.

• Borjon Winery (Plymouth, Amador County) - a 2007 Barbera with 5% Zin blended in

• Easton Wines (Plymouth, Amador County) – a delightful Barbera with grapes sourced from the Cooper Ranch

• Latcham Vineyards & Granite Spring Winery (Somerset, El Dorado County) the 2008 Special Reserve Barbera

I look forward to the next festival! Many thanks to Cooper Vineyards for hosting!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

© 2011 Barbara Keck

For more information on dining and the wide range of activities around Lake Tahoe, see the online version of The Tahoe Weekly. This article appeared in my column "Wine Adventures" in July 2011.

Book in Process: "Mountain High Wine: The Sierra and Its Foothills".

Sierra Foothill Wines: a Great Feature at Charity Event in Reno

2011-07-22T08:16:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of Atlantic Casino

There are more than 7600 bonded wineries in the USA, and more than 3300 in California alone. So it is no surprise that I run into many wines from wineries that are new to me. I have to give credit to the organizers of the recent Toast and Taste of Summer event held at the Atlantis Casino Report Spa in Reno for finding 58 very compelling wineries to include in this interesting tasting event.

The function was a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and featured gourmet food pairings from 17 restaurants including Lake Tahoe’s Sunnyside Resort, Wild River Grille, and Wolfdale’s, and also the new Campo soon to open in downtown Reno under the guidance of Mark Estee, executive chef at Moody’s in Truckee.

Among the wines I tasted was the Mt. Vernon Vineyard, Auburn (Placer County, Sierra Foothills, Cuvee Blanc, a 50/50 blend of Viognier and Roussane. This wine, just released, was cold fermented with its own indigenous wild yeast for 32 days. This is a field blend created by winemaker Ryan Taylor. Aroma of honeysuckle, a crispness and a creamy finish characterized this wine. Only 240 cases made. 13.9% alcohol, $25/bottle. www.mtvernonwinery.com

Frogs Tooth Vineyards, Murphys (Calaveras County, Sierra Foothills), poured their flagship wine, the 2009 Pinot Grigio. It’s a perfect summer wine: it is delicate and fragrant, a bit floral, a flavor of lemon, and is a nice rich, round full-bodied white wine. 14.5% alcohol. $16/bottle. http://www.frogstooth.com/

The Atlantis Casino Resort Spa is located at 3800 S. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89502. It features the Atlantis Steakhouse, an upscale dining restaurant with a wonderful wine list. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 5PM to 10PM. Reservations call 775.824.4430 http://www.atlantiscasino.com/

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International is dedicated to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications. For more information, go to http://www.jdrf.org/

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

© 2011 Barbara Keck

For more information on dining and the wide range of activities around Lake Tahoe, see the online version of The Tahoe Weekly. This article appeared in my column "Wine Adventures" in July 2011.

Book in Process: "Mountain High Wine: The Sierra and Its Foothills".

WINES MADE FROM AMADOR COUNTY GRAPES SHINE AT 2011 STATE FAIR

2011-07-19T14:49:00.000-07:00

A recent press release lauds wines from Amador County grapes:
Wines made from Amador County grapes brought home 25 Gold Medals, including 8 Double Golds and 5 Best of California awards, from the 2011 California State Fair Wine Competition.

“This year’s 2011 competition should go down as a proud moment for all the wineries in the Sierra Foothills Appellation,” said G.M. “Pooch” Pucilowski, Head Judge of the California State Fair Wine Competition.

Eight wines from the Amador appellations (including Amador County, Shenandoah Valley, and Fiddletown) brought home Double Gold medals, while another 17 took Gold medals.

Of 27 Best of California varietal wines, 5 were made from Amador grapes. Amador County grew the best Barbera, Primitivo, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, and Other Red (Touriga).

Here is another interesting observation. While Napa earned 23 Gold Medaled red wines, Sonoma earned 19, and South Central Coast (Paso Robles and Santa Barbara) earned 12. Amador County brought home 25 Gold Medals!

Less than 1% of the state’s wine grape acreage lies in Amador County. Why the disproportionately strong showing by Amador wines? “Footprints in the vineyard” said Dick Martella, president of the Amador County Wine Grape Growers Association, referring to the fact that Amador County vineyards are mostly small fields tended by their owners.

Comments from judges reflect the quality of this year’s wine competition entries. Peter Gamble, Wine Maker and Wine Consultant from Ontario, Canada stated firmly, “In over 25 years of my judging wines from around the world, the greatest single flight of wines I've ever had was at this year's California State Fair; over thirty of fifty wines presented in the regional finals were at the 'spectacular' level. Amazing!”

The California State Fair Wine Competition has been judging California wines since 1854. This year 2,646 wines were tasted in the traditional blind wine judging method in which wines are sorted by varietal and divided up among the 72 judges. The judges know the type of wine, but they are not told the prices of the wines, the appellation, or the winery.

Amador County is one of California’s historic grape growing regions and is home to the oldest still-producing Zinfandel vineyards. More recently, Amador County has become known for producing some of the state’s best Italian and Rhone varietals and in June, 2011 nearly 2000 Barbera aficionados converged in Amador for California’s first ever Barbera Festival.

Fittingly, an Amador County (Fiddletown AVA) wine won Best Zinfandel and an Amador County wine won Best Barbera at the huge 2011 San Francisco International Wine Competition.

For further information go to amadorwinegrapes.com or call 209-231-4318.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Barbara Keck is currently writing a book, Mountain High Wines: The Sierra and Its Foothills, which will include stories of pioneering winemakers in Amador County, historical anecdotes, and pairing recipes. Email her at mountainhighwines@gmail.com if you wish to be notified when the book publishes. It will publish in both e-book and print formats. Barbara is the wine columnist for The Tahoe Weekly newspaper.)

Terre d Oro (Amador) 2007 Zinfandel- Great Review by Mike Dunne in SacBee

2011-05-30T10:08:00.000-07:00

Mike Dunne could not be more complimentary about Terre D Oro's 2007 Amador County Zinfandel, part of his May 25 review on SacBee.com

The link to the full review is
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/25/3650959/zinfandels-the-foundation.html#ixzz1Nr6BZ1hU

but just in case you do not subscribe to SacBee's online edition (which is easy to do, and I recommend it!) , here are a few salient quotes:

"When we stopped by the winery not long ago, the Terra d'Oro 2007 Home Vineyard Zinfandel was especially likable for its earthiness, smokiness and length. Terra d'Oro's 2006 SHR Field Blend Zinfandel was a meatier and sweeter take on the varietal. And the Terra d'Oro Deaver Vineyard Zinfandel was the most voluminous and ripest representative of the varietal in the place, seizing the fully ripe flavors for which Amador County zinfandel is recognized without crossing into prune and raisin territory.

Our favorite of the four this day was the Terra d'Oro Winery 2007 Amador County Zinfandel. It was the first of the four in the lineup, acknowledgment that it also was the gentlest. Still, it's a zinfandel packed with the fresh blackberry and raspberry fruit and the clove spiciness for which the varietal is recognized in Amador. Of the four, it was the liveliest and longest on the palate. It's rich and solid, more medium-bodied than heavy, and while accessible now could benefit by three to five years of aging.

It fully captures the warmth and sunshine of Amador County, but in a manner that, well, is more mannerly than more brash and intimidating interpretations. And at $18, it offers the best value of Terra d'Oro's zinfandels.

Terra d'Oro winemaker Chris Leamy credits the wine's clarity and complexity to the winery's rolling 400-acre vineyard, in particular how it gives him grapes from varied elevations ranging from 1,000 feet to almost 2,000 feet, and stretching north and south across the valley.
"This geographic range helps to bring a bit more complexity and to really showcase what zin from this area can produce," he said. "I think this wine's most pronounced character is the classic spice/fruit nose that you don't find as much in other regions. The dominance of the clove/allspice character really speaks to the area."

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/25/3650959/zinfandels-the-foundation.html#ixzz1Nr8Vs0O4

FLAGSHIP WINE: Lone Buffalo's "Where the Buffalo Roam"

2011-05-28T16:19:00.000-07:00

IN HIS OWN WORDS:

"Where the Buffalo Roam” is our signature wine because the Rhone varietals from which it is blended thrive in our Mediterranean climate and our well drained, decomposed granite soil We are all about making wines that showcase grapes that excel in Placer County."

Phil Maddux, Owner and Winemaker

LONE BUFFALO VINEYARDS

Auburn, California (Placer County)

WINEMAKER NOTES:

This is a Rhone-style blend that was produced from Syrah, Mourvedre and Grenache grown in Placer County. We harvested the grapes at optimum ripeness and vinified as simply as possible. We cold-soak for 24 -48 hours before fermentation to ensure maximum extraction of fruit flavors, and allow for long skin contact during fermentation. We barrel aged the wine for a minimum of one year, using both French and American Oak. The wine is minimally racked(2-3 times) not filtered. The result is a wine that is concentrated but shows lively fruit, silky tannins, depth with a hint of spice, elegant and easy to drink. WHY A BLEND? Blending different varieties offers the ability to create a wine with more balance, the flexibility to compensate for differences in individual varietals and fruit sources from vintage to vintage, and to create a wine that is better than its individual parts. It was a wonderful experience to select and blend the grapes and wines which make up this blend. This is a very smooth red wine not high in tannins; it goes well with most meats from pizza and burgers to Filet Mignon. Extremely food friendly!

Alcohol 14/6% 350 cases produced

Suggested retail: $22/bottle

Buy it at: http://www.lonebuffalovineyards.com/wines.html

Lone Buffalo Vineyard wines are also available at the winery and fine wine shops and restaurants in Sacramento, Roseville, Rocklin, Granite Bay, Loomis, Newcastle, Auburn, Truckee, Squaw Valley, Tahoe City and Northstar. Click here for a list.

Where The Buffalo Roam: Awards, Reviews

"...rich and concentrated, yet agile. Where the Buffalo Roam is all that, plus it's bright and juicy, with just a touch of peppery spice. Its build is sinewy, its texture supple, its tannins softer than buffalo hide. Mostly syrah, with backing from mourvedre, grenache and cinsault, the wine reinforces my belief that when varietals traditionally cultivated in France's Rhone Valley are blended they generally yield more expressive results than if they are released as individual varietals, whether in France or California."
-Mike Dunne's Wine of the Week/Sacramento Bee/ October 20, 2010
AWARDS -2009 Vintage

Silver Medal - 2011 West Coast Wine Competition

AWARDS - 2008 Vintage

Best of Class - Sierra Foothills Appellation, 2010 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition
GOLD Medal, Best of Class- 2010 West Coast Wine Competition
Silver Medal - 2010 Grand Harvest Awards, Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine

AWARDS - 2007 Vintage

Gold - 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Excitement in Fair Play as new Skinner Winery/Tasting Room opens to the public

2011-05-18T10:01:00.001-07:00

The Fair Play AVA is unbelievably beautiful right now, and the official Open House for Skinner Vineyards and Winery on May 22 is a perfect way to experience these delights.

Mike and Carey Skinner, owners, and Ryan Skinner, General Manager, are debuting the new Skinner Tasting Room located at their Stoney Creek Vineyard and offering a few tours through the state-of-the-art GreenTech winery and into the vineyards too. It's a celebration of the Skinner heritage in the wine business that goes back to 1861 in El Dorado County, and the Skinner family is there to tell you the story of their passion for winemaking in the Foothills and continuing the Skinner tradition. Their Rhone wines, too, are fantastic!

Skinner Vineyards prides itself in the care they took to design the new winery with many forward-thinking Eco features. Chris Pittenger is winemaker, and vineyard manager Bryan Rahn is proud of the Stoney Creek Vineyards, with the wonderful view all the way to Pyramid Peak.

THE WINERY DESIGN WORKS WITH THE SUN – AND THE SHADE

The winery power needs are provided primarily by solar power; they’ve installed a 55 kW PV system. The Skinners also situated the building so the sun side (south) maximizes the solar-power generating potential, and assured that the solar panels line up to give the largest potential area for sun exposure.

They strategically situated the barrel rooms on the North more-shady side of the building for better energy efficiency. Their location here means this room requires less refrigeration and electricity, yet keeps the storage for Skinner's wines at ideal temperatures. Each of the 4 barrel rooms and the main cellar were built with temperature controlled sensors, which allows for sufficient cooling to be supplied by the cool outside air of the Sierra foothills evenings and mornings.

All of the fermentation tanks are located within the winery rather than being isolated outside. This simple design consideration reduces energy costs significantly. The result is use of much less electricity in order to keep the must and wines at a stable temperature in the tanks.

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE, USING THE PAST

A large percentage of the steel for the metal winery building is recycled steel – almost 80%. The Skinners sought out drought resistant California heritage plants and shrubs to minimize water needs. They also used the highest R-Value insulation available in order to reduce energy needs and keep the barrel rooms at proper temperatures. And a final conservation detail concerns the wastewater from the winery: after treatment, the wastewater is spread out onto the property, and the grey water is used for the tasting room's landscaping too.

THE VINEYARD DESIGN

Bryan Rahn, vineyard manager, is proud of how the vineyard was designed as well as the farming practices used. The trellising systems optimizes fruit temperatures, and the rows are run up and down the hills to minimize soil disturbance during development (preserves the topsoil and improves erosion control). Before planting, they performed an intensive soil study to match the rootstocks to the soil characteristics. Rahn is proud of the plant mapping and irrigation management program, and the Skinner policy of only using materials that are the safest for the workers and environment. The Integrated Pest Management includes new owl boxes. Last but not least, they matched the clonal selections to the local climate.

It's worth the drive.

Skinner Vineyards & Winery
at Stoney Creek Vineyard
8054 Fairplay Rd
Somerset, CA 95684
Fair Play AVA / El Dorado AVA

For a map, please CLICK HERE to go to the contacts page on Skinner Vineyards’ website, and then click on the MAP (lower left)

FLAGSHIP WINE: Terre Rouge's Ascent Syrah

2011-05-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

IN HIS OWN WORDS:
"Ascent Syrah is our flagship wine because is offers great complexity and long term aging capacity. It represents the apex of of wine production from the Sierra Foothills region. First bottled in the 1999 vintage, it has consistently received stellar reviews from all major wine publications. It has fared well in world Syrah competitions, and was chosen as the top North American Red Wine in 2005 by Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine."
       Bill Easton, Winemaker & Winegrower
       DOMAINE DE LA TERRE ROUGE, Ltd.
       TERRE ROUGE and EASTON Wines
       Fiddletown, California (Amador County)

WINEMAKER NOTES:

Ascent Syrah represents the pinnacle of Syrah production at TERRE ROUGE. Twelve of our very best barrels of Syrah are selected from our cellar each vintage to make a meager 600/6 packs of this luxury cuvée. All of the grapes are grown in selected Syrah sites scattered throughout the Sierra Nevada in granite and volcanic-based soils. This is a deeply concentrated wine with dense layers of aromatic complexity. Loads of deeply concentrated and incredibly spicy fruit aromas fill your glass. In the mouth you’ll find thick concentrated and riotous meaty Syrah flavors, smoky wood tones, exotic spices, mineral tones, and fine tannins. Great structure and aging potential. The grapes macerated for two weeks in an open-top fermenter with punch-downs two to three times a day. The wine was aged for 23 months in French oak barrels (100% new François Frères - from four different forests) and lightly egg-white fined prior to being bottled unfiltered. A sublime treat!

2006 was a special year. It was a cool early season, with a heat spike in late July, and a cooler August. Harvest was about normal time for our Syrah vineyards and the finished wines have a plush, elegant, and silky texture. It will still benefit from several years in the bottle.

14.5 % alcohol by vol.; 3.85 pH; 6.3 gm./liter total acidity - 600/6 packs bottled

Release date: November 2010

Suggested Retail: $85 a bottle

Buy it at http://terrerougewines.com/store.html
Three Vintages Available: 2004: $95. 2005: $85 2006: $85

Ascent Syrah Reviews

“You could look on both sides of the Atlantic and in Australia as well and not find a deeper, richer,more complete Syrah for the money. Sure, you could pay $300 for the top wines from those places,but, if $80 is more in line with your interests, this dramatic, age worthy wine should go to the top of your list.”

-Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wines - Charles E. Olken

2007 ascent syrah sierra foothills:

· “92 points” - the Wine Spectator, January 31 - February 28, 2010 Firm and spicy, with a mix of white pepper, sage, mineral, and beefy berry fruit that’s taut, full-bodied, savory and layered, ending with a long, complex finish. Drink now through 2016. - James Laube

· "92+ points" - Parker's Wine Advocate, August 2010

· "95 points" - the Wine Enthusiast, May 2010

· “93 points” - the Rhône Report, November 2010

2006 ascent syrah sierra foothills:

· “92 points” - the Wine Spectator, February 28, 2009

· "92 points" - First Place - the California Grapevine, Sept./Oct. 2009, "Very Highly Recommended"

· "94 points" - CELLAR SELECTION - Top- Rated - the Wine Enthusiast, July 2009

· Top 100 Cellar Selections for 2009 - Number 57 - the Wine Enthusiast, December 2009

· “89 points” - One Star in Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine, July 2009

· “88 points”- Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2009

2005 ascent syrah sierra foothills:

· “92 points” - the Wine Spectator, March 31, 2008

· “90 points”- Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, June/July 2008

· "92 points" - First Place - the California Grapevine, June/July 2008, "Very Highly Recommended"

· “91 points” - Two Stars in Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine, July 2008

· "90 points" - Parker's Wine Advocate, June 30, 2008

· "93 points" - the Wine Enthusiast, May 2008

2004 ascent syrah sierra foothills:

· “91 points” - the Wine Spectator, January 31, 2008-February 29, 2008

· “89 points”- Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2007

· "91 points" - First Place - the California Grapevine, June/July 2007, "Very Highly Recommended"

· “92 points” - Two Stars in Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine, July 2007

· "90 points" - Parker's Wine Advocate, August 28, 2007

· "92 points" - the Wine Enthusiast, June 2007

What exactly makes a FLAGSHIP WINE?

2011-05-13T14:40:00.000-07:00

When I asked various Sierra Foothill winemakers and winery owners to tell me what they consider to be their FLAGSHIP WINES, that caused a bit of confusion. To a winemaker, every wine is his greatest wine, it seems. To a winery owner, the wine that sells the best is the flagship wine. To a consumer... who knows.. it is so much a matter of personal taste after all. But here's the short list of what characteristics constitute a flagship wine: the factors that this group of winemakers and winery owners considers when it puts that information in my hands for publication.

A wine that the winemaker feels is representative of his style
A wine that is expressive of the terroir
A wine that is true to its varietal characteristics
A wine that is consumer-friendly, ie approachable in price and amenable to food pairings
A wine that's won accolade after accolade
A wine that the wife serves to the family's cherished friends and important guests

The FLAGSHIP wines that you'll be reading about will be varied. In fact, they'll be all over the terroir, style, varietal, price, and taste map. But these Sierra Foothill wines are great wines, and the winemakers are proud of them. I encourage you to use these blogposts for your center-of-table and your gifting lists! Just search at the top left of the blog for "FLAGSHIP WINES of the Sierra and its Foothills" to get the list.

Enjoy!

VineTalk TV Show: Why not Sierra Foothill Wines?

2011-05-11T15:44:00.000-07:00

Ray Isle on the set in NYC
Dec 2010 Vine Talk tapings

Pasted below is a press release on the success that Paso Robles Wine Country's marketing efforts have garnered. The latest is scoring an episode of Vine Talk, a new TV show on PBS. I actually know the producer of the show and was in the invitation-only audience of the first two tapings, back in early December 2010. I've been talking to him about featuring Sierra Foothill wines, but no joy so far. Why? Because this Sierra Foothill wine region which is so beloved of me is just too darn disorganized for a unified push to make the national-recognition thing happen.

Amador, El Dorado, Calaveras, Placer, Fair Play, Nevada County... all the winery associations there do great jobs for their counties and AVAs. But to achieve true marketing success, there needs to be one umbrella organization. With a budget. With goals and objectives and accountability. With at least a part-time executive director. You know... an effort that is run like a business.

Mike & Jeff from Wine Enthusiast;
fellow audience members Vine Talk

Let me get down off my MBA-highhorse for a moment and say that I know it is hard to organize an effort like this. A bit like herding cats. Winemaking in the mountains and Foothills has economic and other challenges. The last thing any winemaker wants is another set of dues to pay, meetings to attend, energy-consuming events to pour at.

The reality, however, is that a rising tide floats all ships. (Sorry for all the aphorisms). That's one of the reasons I promote (re-promote?) the outreach of the Sierra Foothills associations. (SEE THE RESOURCE LIST ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS BLOG !) I blog their press releases to reach more eyes, Tweet and RT, Facebook and Link-In, because I believe. I believe in this region, I support the winemakers and winery owners, and I'm here to beat the drum.

Surely there is a way we can all pull together on this?

And yes ... Stanley Tucci is as good looking, compelling and sexy in person as he is on stage and TV. I almost got to kiss his ring.

Relaxing at Boulod Restaurant w/
Bruce Marcus, Exec Producer of
Vine Talk, after tapings Lincoln Center

Elena Crespo, Chief Marketing
Officer, on the Vine Talk set

~~~~~~~~~ (below, courtesy of PR Newswire) ~~~~~~~~~

"Paso Robles Wine Country to Be Featured on New Television Show – VINE TALK"

A-List Host Stanley Tucci and Panel of Celebrities Blind Taste Paso Robles Zinfandel

PASO ROBLES, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Paso Robles Wine Country continues a pattern of positive recognition in mainstream media as a featured wine region in the new television series, VINE TALK. Paso Robles Zinfandel wines will be showcased in the sixth episode of VINE TALK where celebrity A-Lister and long-standing foodie, Stanley Tucci, guides a panel of celebrity oenophiles through an on camera tasting. This new PBS show strives to break the mold of stuffy wine content programming by creating a fun and welcoming environment for viewers where even the studio audience is a part of the show. Paso Robles has been chosen as the region to highlight Zinfandel with six Paso Robles wine brands to be sampled, discussed, judged and unveiled including – Carina Cellars, J Dusi Wines, Peachy Canyon Winery, Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery, Turley Wine Cellars, and Victor Hugo Winery.

“VINE TALK stands to enthrall new wine consumers into discovering Paso Robles and our wines. The timing could not be better as we prepare to celebrate the biggest festival of the year in Paso Robles Wine Country.”

Each week a different wine region from around the world serves as the inspiration for a lively and engaging conversation which highlights the varietals or wine characteristic of that region. The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance assisted producers from VINE TALK to compile a sampling of standout Zinfandel wines to be considered for the inaugural season. Mr. Ray Isle, executive wine editor of FOOD & WINE magazine provides his expertise on the show by answering questions about the wines and providing background on regions. Episode six features celebrity chef, Tim Love; former MLB All-Star pitcher, Ron Darling; and internationally acclaimed violinist, Philippe Quint, as they sniff, swirl, and sip while discussing their current projects and of course Paso Robles Zinfandel wine.

“It’s exciting for Paso Robles wines to be highlighted in this show with such incredible personalities,” said Christopher Taranto, marketing director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. “VINE TALK stands to enthrall new wine consumers into discovering Paso Robles and our wines. The timing could not be better as we prepare to celebrate the biggest festival of the year in Paso Robles Wine Country.” (etc etc)

Getting Ready for the Summer: Rose from the Foothills ~ Terre Rouge Vin Gris d’Amador

2011-05-05T15:41:00.000-07:00

It's 73 degrees and bright and sunny in San Francisco, and my thoughts are turning to summer wines and entertaining possibilities that combine something refreshing to drink with something interesting to pair with it.
Terre Rouge/Easton wines makes that fantasy easy to fulfill. First, there was the note in the Amador Vintners newsletter about the upcoming events and a note about the one at the Terre Rouge/Easton tasting room in Plymouth ( a Rose' weekend, May 14-15).

There is also the upcoming RAP tasting in San Francisco on May where a few Sierra Foothill wineries will undoubtedly be pouring.

Bill Easton is so responsive to the press that he is becoming one of my all-time favorites. I asked for a pairing recipe, and here it is. The recipe is created by Jane Riordan, chef-owner of Domaine de la Terre Rouge, and it is designed to pair perfectly with the Terre Rouge Vin Gris d’Amador, a dry rosé that is excellent as an aperitif and with a variety of appetizers

Goat Cheese Spread with sun-dried tomatoes and capers:

Sun-dried Tomato Goat Cheese Spread
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbl. sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil
6-8 oz. fresh-style goat cheese, Montrachet or California log
12 oz. cream cheese
1 Tbl. capers

In bowl of food processor fitted with a steel blade, puree the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes.
Cut the cheeses into small hunks and add to bowl.
Pulse/process until all the cheese is blended into a smooth spread with no white lumps.
Add the capers and pulse briefly to mix.
Scrape into a pretty serving bowl.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Serve surrounded by crackers, toasted baguettes or sliced bread.
Makes about 3 cups. Keeps 4-5 days in refrigerator.

A glass of Sierra Foothill wine on the beach at Tahoe in June

2011-05-02T23:51:00.000-07:00

So today I set up a new Twitter account called @SierraFoothill. The intent is to promote the wines of this exciting region that I like to refer to as "the new Napa". I know I'll be blasted about that, but seriously, some darned good winemakers ended up there because Napa land was too expensive and they simply had a passion they couldn't deny: the passion to make good wine.

Now it's time to get serious about these wines and wineries. Just how many wineries are there? If you guess correctly by May 31, I'll personally pour you a glass of wine on a private beach on Lake Tahoe's West Shore. A Sierra Foothill wine. I'll even cook dinner for you, date TBD mutually in June.

Since I did my last count (http://tinyurl.com/4894lwu), I've heard from a few new wineries. Over the next few weeks, I'll be writing about them. Keep track.

There's a great fun time at Tahoe in store for you!

150 Years Later... in the path of James & Jessie Skinner

2011-04-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

I've been following the progress of Mike and Carey Skinner and their sons as they re-establish the Skinner legacy in the wine business in the Sierra Foothills, specifically in El Dorado county. From son Kevin doing the initial research on the Skinner winery in what is now Cameron Park, to mom Carey putting her real estate skills to work to find a great vineyard location in Fair Play and now working on marketing and branding, to dad Mike deploying his business skills and opening his checkbook to create yet another enterprise, to son Brendan doing research on tasting room and accounting software, to son Ryan giving his all as the on-site manager ... the green-tech winery and heritage-imbued tasting room emerged. Chris Pittenger, winemaker, spec'd out the winery, and it is a beauty. His wines crafted for Skinner are already receiving good acclaim, and the Estate Wines to come will be great too. You can read more at their website.

Chris Pittenger, left, and Ryan Skinner

The Grand Opening is not until May 22 up at 2700 feet at the Stoney Creek Vineyard at 8054 Fair Play Road in Fair Play, but the tasting room is open now to the public, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday-Sunday.

Mike Dunne, columnist for the SacBee, and blogger at "A Year in Wine", just did a great blogpost following his visit to the ridgetop. Read it here.

It is worth a visit to Fair Play!