Rain or Shine

It has been a frustrating time for grape growers in Northern California with the late season rain storms which is just part of the roller coaster ride that goes along with being in this crazy business! The storms have taken their toll and have threatened to devastate much of this years crop. I hear first hand from many growers on hillsides and down in the flats that the most recent storms could have affected anywhere from 5% to 20% of their crop. The past weeks have been crucial to the development of the grapes which are at the point of 'self-fertilization' where the flowers on the vines have been opening. The late season downpours can wash away the pollen and even prevent the flowers from fully opening and unfortunately many vineyards were heavily into bloom. If you have ever seen or held a cluster of perfectly formed pea-sized grapes you know just how delicate they are. I recently was chatting with a group of wine grape growers as we sat and watched the heavy rain pelting the earth and the comments went like this..."this just is not good for the grapes", "when is this going to stop", "I've lost 10% of my crop for sure". So much of the potential damage will depend on at what point their vineyard was when the storm hit and those that were blooming will probably be hit the hardest. Each vineyard manager and winemaker are faced every season with decisions that affect the crop and ultimately the quality of the end result, the wine in your glass! Did we prune too early? Should we prune the canopy back to allow more sunshine to reach and ripen the grapes? Too much water? Too little water? The issues such as the pruning, water and fertilizer are things that you have some control over, but the rain, wind and bugs you can do nothing about! As the sun has finally started to show up I feel the optimism that only a grower can feel...the excitement and anticipation that a good summer growing season will steer us back in the right direction! So now with the summer season upon us, and the rains, hopefully behind us I turn my attention to easy summer wines, crisp roses and sauvignon blancs and mellow reds to sip as I watch the sun slowly fade over the vineyard and the valley floor below.

Here are some of my favorites:

Mas Neuf Costieres de Nimes Paradox Rose 2010 ($10.99)
The palate is elegant with a beautiful soft finish...nice dry Rose!

Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc Sonoma County 2009 ($15.00)
A well balanced wine with a crisp and refreshing finish...a blend of some of the best vineyards!

Mantanzas Creek Chardonnay Sonoma Valley 2007 ($20.00)
Sourced from cool climate vineyards in the Bennett Valley and Carneros, great structure!

Inman Family Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 ($30.00)
A pure sipping luxury...elegant wine with great balance!

Once Wines The Fork Napa Valley Red 2007 ($20.00)
The fork is a fruit forward, food friendly red blend of Cab, Cab Franc and Merlot.

Cheers!