Harvest is here - in a big time way!  In the cool morning hours of August 20, the first grapes arrived from one of our Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc vineyards.  Harvest 2008 had started.  Little did we know that a string of persistent warm weather days were on the way.  As a result, everything was ripening at once.  Yikes!  So far, the pace has been frenetic in the cellar as the crew tries mightily to keep up. We’ve received all of our Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc along with much of our Zinfandel.  Chardonnay is well on its way too.  Cabernet is still a ways off, but given how warm the weather has been, it might be closer than we think.  Bottom line is that harvest is in full swing and the pace is fast and furious.  
 
Join us for a look-see out on the crush pad as new grapes come in.  Harvest is a terrific time of year to visit the winery and catch a glimpse of all the action!
 

As in Oprah Magazine!   That’s right folks, our 2007 Chenin Blanc was one of Oprah’s great wines priced under $15.00 in her current September issue (pg. 168).  And because we all know whatever Oprah says goes, be sure to pick up some of this delicious wine before its gone. 
 

Some call it an Indian Summer.  Others say its global warming.  Us?  Well, we just think it’s been downright hot!  Since grapes arrived on August 20, we’ve had 14 out of 20 days of 90 degree plus weather including a stretch from August 27-29 when the temperature was 102, 105 and 101 on consecutive days!  

This can cause several things to happen: 1) People get crabby cause it’s hot and there’s nowhere to hide (except the cellar), 2) Grapes try and ripen all at once (see above), 3) Fido looks for shade and lots of water to try and keep cool.

So yes, it’s been hot.  Unusual?  Not really.  Such is the pattern of another Indian Summer in Northern California.  And trust us, it will cool off.  Mother Nature’s air conditioning is not far away.