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Lyricism and the Power of a Great Wine Review

The wine review is a bit of a hoary tradition, much ridiculed among the new generation of wine writers. And I get some of that. Describing which red fruit (Is it raspberry? Currant? Huckleberry?) or what herb (Thyme? Savory? Chervil?) is most evident in a wine can get esoteric, arbitrary,

Can I get an ice bucket for my red?

If I'm in a restaurant and ask for an ice bucket, you're much more likely to see a bottle of red on the table (and a surprised server) than you are to see a white. And I'm likely to wave away the proffered ice

The Beauty of Frost Protection

By Chelsea Franchi The beginning of last week brought some low temperatures to the vineyard and Executive Winemaker/Vineyard Manager Neil Collins and Viticulturist Levi Glenn were forced to work through the night to ensure that the 2013 harvest didn't get fried by frost. When freezing temperatures are

The High Costs of State Alcohol Franchise Laws

The power to take your business elsewhere is fundamental to capitalism. This power of choice keeps prices reasonable, incentivizes efficiency and customer service, and keeps the business environment healthy by forcing companies to innovate and winnowing out those that don't keep up. Remove the ability to choose another

Budbreak 2013

With the last two weeks of warm weather, the vineyard has sprung out of dormancy. Starting with Viognier, Grenache and Grenache Blanc, budbreak proceeds through Syrah, Marsanne and Picpoul, and eventually finishes with Roussanne and Mourvedre. The photo below, of a Grenache vine from last week, is typical: With budbreak

Of Broncos and Wine, 1996 Vintage

By Robert Haas This week we had fun visitors from Vermont: our daughter Rebecca, her husband, their three year old, Emmett, and old friends Mike and Cheryl LeClair. The LeClairs volunteered to drive our 1990 Ford Bronco here from Vermont in September of 1996 and help with the harvest. That

Balanced on the tipping point between winter and spring

This time of year in the vineyard is unique. The mild days, deep blue skies and warm sun give evidence of the summer to come, but the frosty nights, bright green cover crop and bare vines give evidence of the winter past. It's one of the busiest times

The stunning 2013 wildflower season

I've never seen a wildflower season like this one. Whether because of all the sun we've had the last two months, because of the work we've been doing with biodynamics to help build up the soil's health, or something else entirely, these

We finally get a little rain, and celebrate

Looking at our rainfall totals for this winter could cause whiplash. We booked over 12 inches by the year's end, but since then, the storms we've had have been duds. We totaled barely an inch in January and less than half an inch in February. The

Photo of the Day: Basking Vulture

One of the pleasures of driving out to Tablas Creek on winter mornings is arriving to see the vulture display. On these chilly but sunny days, vultures pick a high point where they can spread out their wings and soak up the sun, often ending up silhouetted against a deep