The grapevines are soaking up the rain, which is sorely needed. We're still facing a drought, but every single drop of water counts.
Showing posts with label Rain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rain. Show all posts
Friday, May 1, 2009
May showers
It's pouring here ... and supposed to rain all weekend. The April showers seem to have brought May showers! It feels like February outside, and instead of springy whites, we're opening up Cabernets. (That said, you never know what people will want to drink! When it was 95 degrees the other week, the tasting room visitors were snapping up the Dessert Syrah. )
The grapevines are soaking up the rain, which is sorely needed. We're still facing a drought, but every single drop of water counts.
The grapevines are soaking up the rain, which is sorely needed. We're still facing a drought, but every single drop of water counts.
Friday, February 20, 2009
California sunshine, Napa mists, bottling Chardonnay
It's been a topsy-turvy month! We finally had a deluge of rain, and then everything dried up once again. Supposedly we are in for more rain starting Saturday night. I adore rainy Februarys, so here's hoping.
The Symposium for Professional Wine Writers has been taking place at Meadowood the last few days, and I greatly enjoyed reading NY Times wine writer Eric Asimov's "From the Mists of Napa" post:
Greetings from Napa Valley, where, since I arrived on Sunday, I’ve seen nothing but cold rain. You would think this would be a blow to smug Californians, who generally feel that sunshine and warmth are their reward for living in such a beautiful place, but no. When asked about the rain, they to a person feign sincerity and say, “We really needed it.’’
I blushed. That was me in the tasting room last week. I love the commenters who also pled guilty! But no faux sincerity here and I don't think on the part of anyone else. During the downpours, we could see the lovely swirling Napa mists and the green hills from the tasting room, and with tasters from out of town, I fully meant it every time I said we missed the sunshine but absolutely really needed the rain.
Here at the winery, we are bottling 2007 Lot 205 Chardonnay today! Hooray! (we sold out of the 2006 here at the tasting room a few weeks ago)
Winemaker Paul Moser says, "The wine has a supple, lingering mouthfeel and inviting pear/peach flavors filled out by spicy oak, lychee and butterscotch." Yum!
We just tasted it off the bottling line (no bottle shock the first day), and it's fantastic!
HAPPY FRIDAY!
The Symposium for Professional Wine Writers has been taking place at Meadowood the last few days, and I greatly enjoyed reading NY Times wine writer Eric Asimov's "From the Mists of Napa" post:
Greetings from Napa Valley, where, since I arrived on Sunday, I’ve seen nothing but cold rain. You would think this would be a blow to smug Californians, who generally feel that sunshine and warmth are their reward for living in such a beautiful place, but no. When asked about the rain, they to a person feign sincerity and say, “We really needed it.’’
I blushed. That was me in the tasting room last week. I love the commenters who also pled guilty! But no faux sincerity here and I don't think on the part of anyone else. During the downpours, we could see the lovely swirling Napa mists and the green hills from the tasting room, and with tasters from out of town, I fully meant it every time I said we missed the sunshine but absolutely really needed the rain.
Here at the winery, we are bottling 2007 Lot 205 Chardonnay today! Hooray! (we sold out of the 2006 here at the tasting room a few weeks ago)
Winemaker Paul Moser says, "The wine has a supple, lingering mouthfeel and inviting pear/peach flavors filled out by spicy oak, lychee and butterscotch." Yum!
We just tasted it off the bottling line (no bottle shock the first day), and it's fantastic!
HAPPY FRIDAY!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Rain, rain ...
... don't go away!
It was so warm and lovely and spring-like (and dry) the last few weeks that everyone seemed to be in white wine mode. In a quick return to winter weather, we here at the winery were all enjoying the rain last night and this morning.
There was a brief respite of blue sky earlier this afternoon, and we thought about trying to go find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Dylan took this picture from the door of the tasting room. The sky has since clouded over and it looks ominous to the west - but ominous in a good way! It looks like it might pour in 10 minutes.
Winemaker Paul Moser says we need rain! With the drought and last year's frosts, many grape growers emptied their reservoirs - and if there are frosts later this season, there's really no where to go. In cases of frost, growers without wind machines rely on overhead sprinkler systems to prevent damage.
And now we just have to wait and see about budbreak.
It was so warm and lovely and spring-like (and dry) the last few weeks that everyone seemed to be in white wine mode. In a quick return to winter weather, we here at the winery were all enjoying the rain last night and this morning.
There was a brief respite of blue sky earlier this afternoon, and we thought about trying to go find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Dylan took this picture from the door of the tasting room. The sky has since clouded over and it looks ominous to the west - but ominous in a good way! It looks like it might pour in 10 minutes.
Winemaker Paul Moser says we need rain! With the drought and last year's frosts, many grape growers emptied their reservoirs - and if there are frosts later this season, there's really no where to go. In cases of frost, growers without wind machines rely on overhead sprinkler systems to prevent damage.
And now we just have to wait and see about budbreak.
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