Tuesday, August 9, 2011

First Party

We held our first party this past Saturday. It was a great chance to meet a few of the people making wine with us this year and show off some of the new equipment and the work we have done in the winery. 
Our neighborhood butcher Olivier (http://www.oliviersbutchery.com/index.html) prepared some phenomenal treats for us right on our back dock and we tasted wines produced from a few of the vineyards we are sourcing fruit from this year. 
 David and Aran from Carlotta Wines tell their story.
 It was a great first event. We're looking forward to hosting more in the near future and being able to pour wines we've produced on site.
Thanks to everyone who came out to show their support, and thank you HM for the loan of your cooler at the last minute ;-)

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Christmas in August?

Most of our equipment was delivered today. It was a hair raising experience unloading all of this shiny new winery equipment but a very exciting day for us.

The truck full of new toys arrives
 Kevin giving the basket press a little kiss to say hello
 Trying not to think about how much the press weighs much less how much it cost
 Sorting Table and Basket Press safely in the winery
Whose grapes will be the first to pass through the new destemmer?

White Hawk Visit

My daughter Kate joined me for a quick visit to White Hawk vineyard this past weekend to check in on our Syrah. The crews just finished removing laterals and it looked like some leaves had been pulled as well. Kevin Merrill the vineyard manager said they were planing on hedging this week. As we've heard from other growers Kevin says it's going to be a light crop "but should make great wine".   

The sandy soil at White Hawk is amazing. It reminds me more of Lanikai beach than a vineyard.