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!

Rain or Shine!

Going wine tasting is always an adventure to me. It never gets old and my anticipation is almost that of a 10 year old at the gates of Disneyland! Kirsten and I have visited wineries throughout California, from Santa Barbara County on up to Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino and I can honestly say that I recall most of each and every visit, scary isn’t it? I think it is because each one of these regions has such distinct characteristics. This past week, some friends were visiting us on the vineyard and even though the weather was not cooperating (15 inches of rain had fallen already that week and it was still coming down), we decided that nothing could stop us from exploring at least a couple of wineries and so we decided to go down to the Dry Creek region. We donned raincoats, hats and umbrellas and packed into one car...and yes, we had a designated driver! In order to try to maximize the wine tasting adventure in the rain, we called one of our favorites, A. Rafanelli Winery as they only take appointments thinking that they would not have a lot of traffic and that we might have the opportunity for a more intimate experience, maybe even a conversation with the winemaker. To our surprise, they were completely booked...hmmm, maybe the downpour was not keeping people away as we expected. We decided to visit two wineries... Dutcher Crossing and Fritz Underground Winery. With windshield wipers flapping and the storm pounding, we drove carefully down the rain soaked hill and over to Dutcher Crossing, which is one of my favorite settings. The parking lot was full and the tasting room was warm and welcoming with a fireplace in full glow! Two couples were feasting on an impromptu picnic by the fire (nothing would spoil their plans!), and the bar was full of people conversing and sipping. The vineyard views out the back doors are magnificent and the moody sky made the view even more dramatic. I loved their 2008 Stuhlmuller Chardonnay and the 2008 Maple Vineyard Zinfandel is fantastic! I enjoy sipping and just listening to the conversation all around me, a couple were inquiring about where to make a reservation for dinner, while another were scribbling down notes. At this point, the crowds that showed up made it feel like a spring day...on to Fritz. This winery has a great view over a secluded hilltop that looks out over a serene pond (reservoir). The stove pot fire was blazing as we stepped up to the bar...my favorite was the 2008 Reserve Russian River Valley Chardonnay! I was amazed at how many people braved the weather to pursue their passion for wine! As we made our way back to the Ranch I couldn't help but smile...even the rain couldn't stop the fun!

Here are the rainy day wines:

Dutcher Crossing 2008 Stuhlmuller Vineyard Chardonnay ($34)
Delicately balanced with hints of nuts, pear and butterscotch.

Dutcher Crossing 2008 Maple Vineyard Zinfandel ($40)
Big, luscious fruit with deep blackberry flavors.

Dutcher Crossing 2006 Port ($32)
A stunning port that will pair well with Stilton cheese!

Fritz 2008 Russian River Valley Reserve Chardonnay ($45)
A full bodied Chard with aromas of baked pear and hazelnut.

Fritz 2006 Estate Zinfandel ($25)
Rich in color with aromas of blackberries and spices.

Fritz 2007 Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($35)
This Cab opens with aromas of currents, cherries and coco.

Cheers & Happy New Year!