Monday, September 27, 2010

It's Neither Petite nor Syrah


The wine gods have blessed us with a bountiful bunch of beautiful Petite Sirah. We harvested this varietal early Saturday morning. We arrived at the vineyard as the bright harvest moon was still high in the sky casting a luminous glow on the vineyard. Within moments, the first light of the day appeared on the eastern horizon. Once the laborers arrived,we climbed up the steep hillsides to the top of the vineyard. Vineyard manager Steve Crouch said a brief but touching prayer and the picking began.

We harvested 2 tons and were exhausted by the end of the day. Dave earned his fatigue. He had been in Vegas Friday night and drove to Paso Robles. He fell into bed at 4:30 a.m. for an hour before it was time to head out. He then spent the day processing the wine while I entertained our tasting visitors.

We aren't getting as much fruit as last year but thanks to the strange weather of the summer and now days of temperatures over the century mark, harvest could be condensed in just a couple of weeks. Wish us luck.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

the Sounds of Harvest


Clues that harvest has arrived are everywhere. There is a literal buzz in the air as the bees are out in force. Air cannons are blasting trying in vain to scare away the birds that feast in the vineyards. I have had guests seriously question whether we are under artillery attack. Pick-up trucks pulling trailers toting picking bins rush to get the fruit to the wineries. The clickity sound of the rackety crawler as it climbs the gentle slope between the rows is almost hypnotic.

We are about to begin our third harvest. Growers are anxious. Our below average summer temperatures have been great for people but the grapes are struggling. The big question is can they ripen before the frost and rains of autumn arrive? If so, it should be a great vintage as they have had a lot of hang time. Paso Robles is sitting better than other wine regions in the west. Santa Barbara county and Edna Valley have had such heavy marine layers with cool temps they are worried about both immature fruit and rot. Napa had frost and now they are predicting rain. We are at the mercy of Mother Nature.

We harvest the Petite Sirah on Saturday. This means an early morning in the vineyard where the first sort begins. We then move on to the winery for processing. It's a long day that leaves one with a rush of adrenaline, anticipation and exhaustion. Unless you have been in the winery at harvest, you can not fully appreciate the lovely sound of uncorking a bottle of wine.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Life is short, drink more wine!

I have been composing lots of blog entries in my head, usually around 3:30 a.m when I should be sleeping but when I ultimately do drop off, all the great thoughts evaporate and I am left completely blank. I hate that. This entry will probably be a bunch of mumble-jumble from the stream of weary mind threads that I will try to weave together into the something cohesive.

I have been thinking about life and death a lot lately. Morbid, I know, but when you loose people you care about, it really puts a new spin on what's important. My dear friend Kate lost her son a few weeks ago. I have never been this close to anyone who has buried their child. When I saw her and realized that words failed to say what my heart long to say to try to express some sense of comfort. I have concluded, there are no words, only actions. Kate swallowed her sorrow and eloquently honored Jake's life in the most symbolic and dignified celebration I have ever witnessed.

I just learned my favorite uncle passed away last week. He was on a dream vacation cruising the ancient cities of the Mediterranean Sea. Tragically, he fell very ill, very quickly and the sub-par Turkish hospital was not equipped to save him. My poor aunt is stuck in a backward, nearly third-world situation trying to figure out how to return to the States with her beloved husband.

Wow, whatever problems I have, they are nothing. I still can talk to my girls almost anytime I need/want to. I can hug my husband on the weekends as he still has his crazy travel schedule trying to have a day job on top of caring the torch of a weekend wine warrior. Wine is flying out the door and the beds at the B&B are full more nights than they are empty.

Here's the good news. We bottle two new vintages this week, the 2008 Epi Telos and 2009 Late Harvest Zinfandel. Our 2009 Tres Blanc won Best of Class for the white Rhone blend in the Central Coast and gold medals in the coveted Orange County Wine Society competition. Harvest is imminent and some think the fruit will rival the celebrated 2005 vintage.

I am busy planning for the October Wine Fest in Paso Robles, October 15-17. This is a big weekend traditionally and we will have extra food pairings to showcase the wines. Wine Club shipments will be heading out October 25 so this means we will need to create new materials that will accompany the wines. If anyone has some unique wine-focus recipes, please share! We have pick up parties to plan and then there are the holidays!

Harvest will demand extra attention but it really is a very special time in Paso Robles. Unless you've been out in the vineyards at dawn with the pickers and then to the winery doing the punch-downs and pump overs, you can't fully appreciate the labor of love in that bottle you open tonight at dinner. Hopefully, some Per Cazo Cellars is finding it's way to your table. If not, we got more!