UNCORKED WINE TRAVELS

Musings Along The Wine Trails

2017 Russian River Valley Grape Harvest Is One For The Record Books

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“Wine is sunlight, held together by water.”  Galileo Galilei

My yearly tradition, is to travel to a different wine region to observe the grape harvest.  Last year I was fortunate to be in Tuscany for la vendemmia, and this year I chose my all-time favorite Russian River Valley in Northern Sonoma County to observe the harvest.  There’s something magical about harvest time.  There’s a sweetness in the air of the grapes hanging on the vines and a musical trill of the grape press as it hums along.   It’s a time of high energy, camaraderie, bustle and communion with nature in the vineyards, but it can also mean anxiety, sleepless nights, anticipation, relief and ultimately, jubilation for the wine maker.

Depending on who you talked to, wine makers had various opinions as to the projected quality and yield of the 2017 grape harvest.  Wild weather conditions this year brought relief from the severe drought with heavy winter rains, which submerged vineyards in low-lying areas, an early Spring bud break and late Summer temperature heat spikes which ripened the grapes sooner than usual.  And then there was predicted rain during harvest, again, unusual.   All this, and more, make for interesting wine fodder around harvest time.

Harvest Moon Winery owner and wine maker extraordinaire, Randy Pitts, greeted me with a big smile and a paper cup of his freshly pressed Pinot Noir.  Optimistic as always, Randy was pleased with the harvest so far, although there were still grapes to be hand-picked in nearby vineyards and much work to be done.

Randy explained that night harvesting was commonplace in Russian River Valley.  Harvesting at night when the temperatures are cooler, helps to maintain the acidity in the grapes, which in turn, delays oxidation and spoilage before the grapes get into the winery for processing.

Indeed, it truly was  an eerie sight to see the dim sea of headlamps and blazing tractor lights dotting the vineyards in the late night  and wee morning hours.

There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes at harvest time, and getting the grapes to the winery production pad is only the first step.  Here’s to a great 2017 harvest and amazing future releases!  www.harvestmoonwinery.com 

Anderson Valley’s Seebass Vineyards’ Old Vine Zin Rocks

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Take the road less travelled…toss in miles of hairpin, white knuckled, high-banked turns, for a most scenic drive over the  Highway 128 pass to Anderson Valley, gateway to the towering Mendocino County redwoods and pristine coastal access.

Ahhhhh…. when I reached the top of the summit, I was spellbound by the beauty of the ruggedness and the color of the deep red soil against the vibrant vines and dense dark redwoods.

My destination was Boonville, population 1,035, home of the Boontling folk language (Scottish Gaelic, Irish with some Pomoan and Spanish), and the Seebass Vineyards’ tasting room.

For history buffs, Boonville was founded in 1862 by John Burgots whose claim to fame was building the Boonville Hotel, which still proudly stands.  A general store and post office also co-existed in the tiny western town.  Remnants of the original town are still evident driving down Highway 128.

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Much more modern that the Boonville Hotel, is the quaint Seebass Vineyards’ tasting room right across the street.   Fashioned after an early 1900’s parlor room, complete with a dark wood vintage bar, guests are invited to belly up to the bar and sample the estate wines.   [Read more…]

Russian River’s Bacigalupi Vineyards Has Deep Family Roots

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Having experienced an over-the-top luscious and peppery Pinot Noir several years ago, whose grapes were sourced from Bacigalupi Vineyards, I set out on a mission to find the mother lode.  Winding scenic country roads on the upper westside of the Russian River Valley led me to the homestead-like tasting room.

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Nicole Bacigalupi welcomed me into the cozy tasting room and filled my head with family stories that would make a fabulous Lifetime movie.  Bacigalupi Vineyards was founded by her grandparents, Charles and Helen Bacigalupi in 1956. Planted primarily in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the original rootstock was obtained from Russian River Pinot Pioneer, Karl Wente.

ChateauMontelena_weighbill1973Charles Bacigalupi’s earliest claim to fame was selling his Chardonnay grapes to Jim Barrett at Chateau Montelena, who produced the top award-winning 1973 Chardonnay at the historic Paris Tasting in 1976.  While the American win put Napa Valley on the map,  40% of those Chardonnay grapes were actually sourced from Bacigalupi Vineyards in Sonoma County.

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Oceanside’s Beach House Winery Views Are Astounding

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Looking to avoid the crowds in Temecula Wine Country this weekend, I headed toward the ridge of the Sleeping Indian on the Oceanside/Fallbrook border.  Lo and behold, there lie the Beach House Winery high atop the steep narrow driveway.

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I was warmly greeted by owner and wine maker George Murray, who was doubling as a valet.

Established in 2010, the Beach House Winery has been quietly making a name for itself with the locals.  

Beach House Winery’s tasting room, albeit cozy, features a spectacular tasting menu with over 12 varietals.  George and his wife, Kim, have been handcrafting wines since 1989, purchasing grapes from Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley and Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak, Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe and locally from San Diego County. [Read more…]

Porter Creek Vineyards is Best Kept Secret in Russian River Valley

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Deep in the heart of the Russian River Valley’s west side lies the sleepy Porter Creek Vineyards.  Named for the adjacent Porter Creek tributary, which flows into the famed Russian River, this little slice of heaven is certainly worthy of a visit.

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Untouched raw beauty surrounds the rustic enclave and old vines, with an array of dogs and chickens meandering about.  Porter Creek Vineyards was founded by George Davis in 1977 and was planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay only.  Today, Rhone and Burgundian varietals are organically grown on the steep hillsides and son Alex Davis handcrafts the wines in small lots.

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The tasting room is both eclectic and funky, with a mesmerizing view of the forest and hills.    I visited Porter Creek Vineyards at the 2015 Winter Wineland two-day event and was bowled over by the depth of the wines. [Read more…]