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Come shortly! I’m tasting stars! — Dom Perignon
Sorry to all that I haven’t written on this publication for 77 days, however there’s a very good purpose for that. Actually, there are a number of good causes, starting with the sheer breadth and high quality of this exceptional harvest season and the psychological and bodily power it took to navigate such an surprising enological time warp.
However to inform this story I’ll have to interrupt it into components; a lot transpired. And I’d like to start on the final day, which was only one earlier than yesterday. On that night we held our annual finish of the season harvest occasion for Magnolia Vineyard (the place I make my wine) within the barn at Will Bucklin’s Outdated Hill Ranch—nearly a month later than we held it final 12 months.
It was a reasonably well-attended, well-behaved form of occasion with wine contributions from everybody, a post-modern taco bar, unimaginable wood-fired pizzas, a salty and savory number of charcuterie, and yep, recent shucked oysters. A celebration for positive, however nonetheless, the temper appeared just a little reserved. Or maybe exhausted is a greater phrase. I’m guessing everybody was just about simply toast by that time, seeing how we’d all been amped up about grape pickin’ and winemakin’ for nicely over two months.
I’m not even technically completed with the season but as I’m nonetheless nursing alongside a Grenache/Syrah fermentation of pretty pink juice from 600 kilos of grapes that merely wouldn’t ripen previous 20° Brix. However the bulk of my work is over for now—11 totally different plenty of wine from almost 12 tons of grapes, at present resting in 30 French oak barrels and several other totally different metal tanks. I made two totally different varietals of Zinfandel, a Cabernet Sauvignon varietal, two totally different Syrahs, a Cab Franc, a Petite Sirah, a Sangiovese, a Malbec and two totally different Rosés.
The loopy factor about this harvest season is the way it defied each previous season during which I’ve been concerned. I used to be absolutely ready to begin harvesting in late August or early September, and hoped to have all the things in earlier than the inevitable onset of devastating warmth domes, atmospheric rivers and wildfires. However none of that occurred, together with any grapes ripening sufficient to even harvest in September!
There have been indicators within the spring, from as early because the onset of bud break, then bloom, then veraison that it is likely to be a late season and Deb and I began questioning if we may probably slot in a fast journey to Italy if we made positive to be again by mid-September. Our earliest harvest the 12 months earlier than had been September eighth, so, hey, with all indicators pointing to an prolonged season, what if we acquired again dwelling by the sixteenth? That ought to work, proper? Fellow winemakers I consulted simply shook their heads and muttered, “Now, watch out.”
However we went forward and began planning for a two-week, slam-bam-see-everything-you-possibly-can form of journey. Or, I ought to say Deb began planning. I stayed at arm’s size, considering that Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, would possibly query my dedication and jack the deal. By mid-summer Deb was placing down deposits and committing to planes, trains and vehicles. Because the season continued to increase itself any actual concern that we would not be again dwelling in time disappeared. We had been going to Italy—to see the sights, eat the meals, and most significantly, drink the wine!
The concept for probably going to Italy first arose once we RSVP’d an enormous YES to an invite we obtained from my son Penn, and his fiancé Lia. Truly, they had been already married, however solely formally, and solely on the West Coast. They’d snuck off approach again in April to an immediate-family-only occasion on the magistrate workplace in San Francisco’s iconic Metropolis Corridor. This was adopted by a two-day bacchanal of feasting and wine tasting in Napa, which just about sealed the deal—at the least for us in-laws.
However now they needed to throw a marriage for his or her pals and extra expanded members of the family, particularly these dwelling within the jap half of the nation. The venue was Lia’s uncle’s spectacular mountain property in western Pennsylvania. The closest airport was Pittsburgh, which simply occurred to have a continuous to London on the day after the marriage. From there we may fly to Venice… Whoa, this might occur!
Penn and Lia had been cool as cucumbers, having already been by their marriage ceremony as soon as. I, alternatively, was a wreck. However the conventional emotion a father feels for his kids on their marriage ceremony days, I had additionally promised the newlywedsX2 that I’d provide all of the wine for the celebration as a marriage present. Some would possibly say that was fairly munificent of me, however I feel the generosity was all Penn’s and Lia’s. In spite of everything, who would danger the success of their marriage ceremony dinner to an unproven winemaking beginner’s first business effort?
Instantly, and for the various months that preceded the occasion, I anguished over the potential outcomes of my thinly veiled largesse. And none of them had been fairly. The supply truck would break down someplace with 100-degree+ climate and the wine would “cook dinner,” the instances could be dealt with roughly and bottles could be damaged, or the wine could be shaken for over 3,000 miles and would chemically “come aside.” And the large one—what if the wine did survive the pains of cross nation journey, was dealt with fastidiously, was given sufficient time to recuperate, was correctly opened and allowed to breathe, and was served professionally. What if all that occurred after which… no person appreciated it? It was nonetheless a really younger wine in any case, and possibly I used to be pushing it considering it will be prepared after 18 months within the barrel however solely seven months within the bottle. I imply, keep in mind our Garagiste debacle? Would all that bottle shock be resolved?
However I needn’t have fearful. Everybody within the lengthy line of parents wanted to convey six instances of wine from Sonoma, CA to Pittsburg, PA, and put together it correctly for serving, did their jobs completely. The Greek gods, Aphrodite and Dionysus, absolutely seemed down on the marriage occasion and noticed that it was good, bestowing their items of affection and sweetness, wine and pleasure. Trying merely radiant, Penn and Lia sealed the deal… once more. And the wine wakened and drank nicely.
It drank so nicely, actually, that a number of friends on the marriage ceremony approached me to ask how they may procure extra. On the time the wine had not but been launched commercially, so all I may do was promise I might be in contact when it grew to become obtainable.
Properly, that day lastly got here! Simply final week we formally launched the three wines poured on the nuptials, and I delivered the primary 50 instances bought to advance-buyers all throughout the nation. I additionally made all of them obtainable to Penn’s and Lia’s marriage ceremony friends at a considerably diminished value in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. And expensive reader, in return on your loyal readership, I’m making the identical provide to you in the present day.
These three super-premium, handcrafted wines embody a daring, luscious crimson mix known as Requisite Purple, a magical Sonoma Chardonnay vinted in a mix of Burgundian and California kinds, and a particular Eclipse Malbec I made—only for enjoyable!— to commemorate and have fun the upcoming complete photo voltaic eclipse on April 8, 2024.
To make a purchase order please go to tinyvineyards.com the place you will discover specially-discounted costs, and FREE SHIPPING on instances and half-cases. Arrange an account and make your choice, then at checkout apply the coupon code IKNOWJOE to obtain an extra 15% off your whole order.
My suggestion is to order a combined case or combined half-case for one of the best worth, and so you’ve gotten sufficient of a range for vacation meals and the upcoming eclipse celebration. Please place your order by Monday, November 13 if you need your wine in time for Thanksgiving. If that’s too rushed you’ve gotten loads of time to order for the Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa celebrations.
With many thanks and far gratitude!
Joe
We get to Italy.
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