• Blog
  • About Me
    • Press Release
  • Back Road Wineries
    • California Wine Trail
    • Tuscany Wine Trail
    • Baja California Wine Trail
  • Wine A Bit ~ Editorial & Reviews
  • Contact Me

UNCORKED WINE TRAVELS

Musings Along The Wine Trails

A Walk Between The Vines At Emeritus Vineyards…

June 29, 2018 by Deborah Mines

When walking through Emeritus Vineyards’ Hallberg Ranch, a 110 acre Pinot Noir vineyard near Sebastopol,  the quote from famed Italian Astronomer/Philosopher Galileo Galilei instantly flashed through my mind.  “Wine is sunlight, held together by water”.  Of course, what else could wine possibly be?  And this renown Pinot Noir vineyard was certainly living proof!

Guided by the “Ambassador of Fun”, Paige Hansen, we walked between the vines on a spectacular late Spring afternoon, Pinot glass in hand.

The vines danced in the wind.  And, as if on key, tiny clusters of flowers were forming to signal the start of the grape growing season.  Interestingly, Vinifera grapes are self-pollinating and due to the close proximity of the flower clusters, there is no need for bees or other insects to aid with fertilization.

Within a few short weeks, small berries are formed  which is referred to as fruit set.  The entire growing process from bud break to verasion (a french word for the onset of ripening or color change) is approximately 100 days, depending on the grape varietal and the wine region.

Hallberg Ranch vineyards are planted on the coveted Goldridge soil, composed  of one to four feet of sandy loam underlain by Los Osos clay.

All three Emeritus vineyards, are sustainably and organically dry-farmed, which helps the grapes to achieve full ripeness without excess sugars and extracted flavors.  Additionally,  a cover crop of mustard is planted between the vines to aid in moisture retention from the morning fog and to harbor beneficial insects.

The scenery was breathtaking and the close up of the flowering vines was mesmerizing.  Many thanks to Paige for her stories between the vines and for the intimate look behind the barrels.

As expected, the vineyard walk ended with a spectacular Pinot Noir tasting of the 2014 Hallberg Ranch (Russian River Valley), the 2014 Pinot Hill (Sonoma Coast) and the 2014 William Wesley (Sonoma Coast).  An added bonus was the newly released  2016 Ruby Ruby Saignee (Russian River Valley), a perfect Summer sipping Rosé.

It’s no wonder that Emeritus Vineyards has become one of my top picks for Pinot tasting.

Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: Pinot Noir, vineyard tour, Wine Tasting

Wine Trail Search

Follow My Wine Blog

    Your Name

    Your Email

    A Little About Me

    To many, I’m simply known as a wanderlust ~ a free-spirited adventuress with a passion for travel and a lover of great wines!Read more...

    Vintage Posts

    • Jordan Winery’s Chateau Block Vineyard Tasting Is Unforgettable November 26, 2021
    • Trending Now ~ Top 3 Wineries in Temecula September 12, 2021
    • Freeman Vineyard & Winery’s Cave Tasting Is A “10” August 8, 2021
    • 2021’s Top 10 Winery Picks off Russian River Valley’s Iconic Westside Road July 5, 2021
    • Kickstart The Weekend In DRNK’s Wine Cave June 6, 2021
    • Cannabis in Wine Country? NIMBY. May 29, 2021
    • Ojai’s Spiritual Vortex (And Great Wine) Soothes The Soul April 4, 2021
    • Book Review: The Billionaire’s Vinegar January 3, 2021
    • Book Review: Sonoma Wine And The Story Of Buena Vista November 29, 2020
    • California Wineries Are Now “Waiting For The Other Shoe To Drop…” November 15, 2020
    • Russian River Valley Welcomes Visitors in Uncertain Times… September 20, 2020
    • BOOK REVIEW: A Wine Journey Along The Russian River May 30, 2020
    • US Wine Market Update: A Regional Perspective Webinar Unites Top Industry Leaders April 17, 2020
    • The Lifecycle of a Grape Vine ~ From Vine To Wine March 26, 2020
    • 2019’s “Top 10” Eclectic RRV Wineries December 29, 2019
    • Russian River Valley’s Arista Wines Earn Top Accolades From Wine Spectator September 24, 2019
    • Littorai Wines ~ A Tale of Two Coasts & Three Pinot Noir Styles September 13, 2019
    • After Much Ado, “House of Flowers” Debuts In Russian River Valley August 29, 2019
    • Best Backroads For Cycling In RRV-Healdsburg Wine Country August 16, 2019
    • Experience Cave-Aged Wines At DRNK Winery in Russian River Valley July 3, 2019
    • Best Kept Secret in Sta. Rita Hills ~ Spear Vineyards & Winery May 17, 2019
    • Spring Is An Ideal, And Uncrowded, Time To Visit Wine Country April 19, 2019
    • NEW BOOK RELEASE: Root Cause, A Novel by Steven Laine February 19, 2019
    • Discover the Hidden Wine Caves in Sonoma Wine Country December 17, 2018
    • Vin Santo Reigns In Chianti’s Medieval Hamlet of Castello di Volpaia November 16, 2018

    Uncorked Wine SD

    Uncorked Wine Travels

    Follow on Instagram

    Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in