Earth Day 2022

It has been over 2 1/2 years since we hosted an in-person dinner in our Tasting Room. Earth Day seemed like the perfect time, reason and reward for our fans.

The 'Earth Day' theme was a hyper local ingredients, showcasing farmers, producers within a few miles from our Tasting Room in Graton.

  

A sold out crowd arrived to toast with our 2017 Blanc de Noirs. Then a 5 course dinner paired with multiple wines from our library and new releases.

2017 Blanc de Noirs served as a welcome. As the guests sat in the dining room, 3 glasses to try with the 1st 3 courses were lined up. Our newly released 2021 Rose' of Pinot, 2020 Viognier, and 2016 TNT Pinot.

1st course Mushroom Soup featuring Mycopia Mushroom Co on Hwy 116 about 2 miles from Graton.

Best pairing wine for 70% was Viognier with Rose' coming in 2nd

Quiche ala Forestville, made with eggs from a farm in Forestville, bacon from Black Pig Meat Co. 

The winning wine paired with this perfectly prepared quiche was Pinot almost 100%. But all the wines did well with this dish.

Then a Caesar salad with Nightengale Bakery croutons and the dressing made from meyer lemons from Hicks Road friends. Best wine pairing was Rose' / Viognier about 50/50.

Next up rack of lamb from Panizzera Meat Company in Occidental. Paired with 2 Pinot's, 2016 TNT Vineyard and 2015 Ruxton Vineyard. We always describe Ruxton as being our 'Lamb Wine". I think in all honesty, the lamb stole the show as in was cooked to perfection and plated with harissa spiced cous cous. The guests agreed that both pinot's paired great.

We chose two library Pinot's that we love to showcase with great dishes

Cheese course from left to right. Bohemian Creamery goat cheese with local seaweed crust, sheep milk 'Bopeep' . WC Cofield aged Cheddar and lastly Bodega Blue. Nightengale bread.

The always interesting voted winning food and wine pairing.

A happy crowd with full bellies, smiles and sipping on our finisher 2015 Syrah

The enjoyment of great food, wine and friends is truly the 'pis de resistance' in life 2022 style.

Live for today and do right by your neighbors. Cheers to Earth Day!

Next up DUCK!

 Harvest 2021

 

Every year we anticipate the harvest, a joyful time of celebration and hard work

Estimations start after the completion of veraison at our Ruxton Vineyard, our warmest sight and always first pick. This year is no different from any other. 

 

 

Harvest started  a little early, August 27th with the Ruxton Pinot 4 days after our golf tournament. Tiny yield, just 3 barrels, equalling about 75 cases. A few days later August 31st we picked a new Pinot that is in the Fort Ross - Seaview AVA, 2 tons of beautiful coastal Pinot. Then a week later Dolcetto ( Sept. 6th ), and then Grenache ( Sept. 10th ). TnT next on Sept. 14th. 2nd round of Dolcetto Sept. 21st.   And then Pinot Noir specifically for Rose' on Sept. 22nd, YAY for Rose'.   As of today all the wines are away for winter except Bohemian Pinot Vineyard is still to be picked. Mat is cheching every few days and estimating picking October 8th. Grapes appear ripe but seeds are still green. The current sunny warm weather will be bringing the ripening to fruition. We have picked this vineyard close to Halloween, so it's nothing new for this to be the last fruit in.   A truly fabulous, low stress harvest. Nicely tiimed to lower crazy long days of the past.    We are thrilled and excited for the 2021 vintage!!!!

Bohemian cluster August 13th showing almost no sign of veraison.

Ruxton with 100% veraison a week before picking August 27th.

The last 2 years of harvest have been like no other. 2020 we experienced horrible forest fires, evacuating a lot of wine country homes, wineries and much more. Many grapes smoked tainted from ash coating grapes weeks before harvesting. We only picked 4 vineyards that were safely declared un tainted.

2021 beginning early but not as early as 2016. Looking like tiny clusters and yields across the county.