October 3, 2014
Well, that was fast! It seemed that I was just getting revved up for the 2014 harvest and the next thing I knew, it was all over.
September 2, 2014
It’s hard to believe that harvest is already getting going again, but actually, I wouldn’t have it any other way. We’ve had a string of early harvests over the last few years and this one is continuing the trend, only even more so.
July 1, 2014
First off, apologies to my reader, I know this may be a little longer post than usual and maybe too technical, but lately it’s an issue on which I’ve seen some interest. It seems to me that many people, from the casual drinker all the way to the seasoned wine journalist, use the term “carbonic maceration” interchangeably with “whole cluster fermentation.” I asked some friends who are also winemakers and they too have witnessed this phenomenon.
April 8, 2014
Perhaps I’m just excited about the new Russell Crowe movie coming out, but it seems like we’ve been in an almost reverse “age of the great Flood” situation out here on the West Coast. As much as I love going on February picnics in Golden Gate Park, this can’t be good in the long run. Plus, there’s the guilty feeling of having dinner outside in early March when our friends on the East Coast are buried under snow for what must be the 5th time this year.
February 7, 2014
This first month of the New Year is definitely a busy time here at R2 Wine Company! It used to be that January was almost a sleeper month for winemakers. Aside from making sure those last lots from the just-past harvest were at long last done with fermentation, there wasn’t much else to do. When I was working at Punch Down Cellars and then again at Copain, January was known as “soccer month.”
December 19, 2013
It’s hard to believe the year is winding to an end, and a good time to assess the changes, challenges and major events of the year. 2013 brought a lot of them, some good and some not so good. Clearly, the two biggest changes for this winemaker were leaving Napa and coming back to beloved Sonoma to work here at R2 Wine Co. (the good), and breaking my ankle (the bad).
November 14, 2013
Near the beginning of summer, Roger and I talked about adding a small, “true Sonoma Coast” vineyard to our portfolio. The Sonoma Coast is actually one of the largest viticultural areas in all of California. Its boundaries stretch eastward far from the reaches of cooling ocean breezes, colder days, and foggy mornings. We really wanted a site that was as close to the coast as possible -- a beautiful site that could deliver Pinot Noir with floral notes interplayed with rich spice and black-fruit.
November 14, 2013
Having just about completed my first harvest here at R2 Wine Co., I am happy to report that we brought in some amazing fruit from our vineyard sources up and down the California Coast.
October 1, 2013
The harvest got off to an early start this year. After several years in a row of late blooms in the spring leading to late harvests in the fall; many of us winemakers just expected we’d be lounging in September and picking in October. As a result, there were many generally unprepared and grumpy winemakers throughout the state during that first week of September when the fruit told us in a big way that it was ready.
