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Fall 2009


2009 South Central Coast Harvest Report – A Cool Growing Season Led to a Harvest with Record Heat and a Big Rain Storm

Optimism was in the air during a wonderful 2009 growing season. Although we continue to suffer from a three year drought, we received about 17 inches of rain in the Edna Valley during the 2008/2009 winter…we watched a larger than average crop develop in the vineyards. For Stephen Ross’s Stone Corral Vineyard, crop yields were at a perfect 2 – 2.5 tons per acre. I really believe this is the best level of yield in terms of wine quality. Below 2 tons per acre, Pinot Noir is very dark in color and concentrated in terms of flavors and tannins. Above 3 tons per acre we anticipate the flavors to become dilute. Since our first crop in 2003, this harvest was the first in which we exceeded 2 tons per acre, which was a wonderful bonus financially.

On Saturday, August 29, the air temperature in San Luis Obispo was 114 degrees F, the highest temperature in the country! We had just finished bottling our 2008 Chardonnays on August 27, checked sugars and ripeness at Stone Corral Vineyard on August 28, and then the heat arrived. The vineyard was ripe for harvest with sugars ranging from 22.8 to 25.2, but we were still transitioning from bottling mode to harvest mode. We were hopeful for a couple of cooler days, and we irrigated generously to prevent dehydration of the fruit. By September 2 we were committed to bring in the crop and finished picking the entire vineyard by September 3. To take advantage of the cool nighttime temperatures, we started picking at 2:00 am and finished picking by 9:00 am each day. We harvested by hand under electric lights – it a interesting scene, cool and calm, the sound of tractors, spoken Spanish and the occasional owl…and banks of lights pulled by tractors moving along with the crew.

So this is how we started the 2009 harvest. The heat pushed us to pick Stone Corral Vineyard, but it did not affect our other vineyards. Toward the end of harvest, by the second weekend of October, there was some talk of a large rainstorm headed to California. Talk of 4 – 5 inches of rain! How many times had I heard that false prediction over the past three years, only to be disappointed and not receiving a drop of water? At this point, we decided to pick our last lot of grapes, Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay on October 12. Low and behold, the storm came to San Luis Obispo on October 13 and dropped 7 inches of rain over a three day period. And the weather continued to be warm and humid after the rain, the worst situation for thin skinned varietals such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel. So that is how we ended the 2009 harvest, Mother Nature giving us a gentle nudge.

Like the wines from 2007 and 2008, quality is exceptional. It’s early in the wines life, but the flavor concentration is very good, and the fermentations progressed nicely.


Winery Visitors welcome during the Holidays

Our tasting room will be open Thanksgiving weekend, November 27 – 29, as well as Christmas weekend December 26 – 27 and New Year’s weekend January 2 – 3. There is a chance that we will be at the winery weekdays, call the winery 805.594.1318 to confirm a visit.


New Wine Releases

We now have available our 2007 Edna Valley Chardonnay, $22.50 a spectacular wine, well balanced with hints of oak and tropical fruit aromas, refreshing acidity and lingering flavors…Wine Spectator 90 points.

For those of you looking for an alternative to most California Chardonnays, we produced a stainless steel fermented and aged 2007 Oliver’s Vineyard Chardonnay, $28. This is pure Edna Valley Chardonnay with ripe tropical fruit aromas and crisp acidity. Try this with fish, pasta with olive oil or cream sauces, vegetable dishes or poultry…Wine Enthusiast 91 points.

A new vineyard and wine for us, 2007 Chorro Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, $35 has been very well received at the tasting room. This is our coolest Pinot Noir vineyard and is located between the towns of San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay. The wine is deep in color and has pretty cranberry and wild cherry fruit aromas and a rich yummy taste.

Here is a new vintage of our estate vineyard, 2006 Stone Corral Vineyard Pinot Noir, $50. Only the fourth crop from this new vineyard, the grape yield is low and translates to a very dark and concentrated wine. It has a bright red raspberry aroma and it is voluptuous and rich on the palate. We continue to learn from this vineyard. It is special for its well drained sandy soils, southern exposure to the sun and hill side location protecting it from winds coming of the ocean. As the vines mature the wines they produce are more complex and expressive in red fruit aromas…Wine Spectator 91 points.


Holiday in the Vineyards – December 17, Thursday 5:00 – 8:00 pm.

Celebrate the season with Stephen Ross, Special Savings on Wines, Holiday Treats, and Gift ideas.

I have in mind Christmas cookies that go with the wines – not too sweet, and maybe with nuts. Chocolates (store-bought). Maybe some kind of little cheesey thing I make….And discounts on wines – putting to use my “sampler” ideas:

Pinot Sampler
Chardonnay Sampler
Library wines…verticals of what we have – like Zinfandel. Sell off that 2004 we still have.

I also thought I could ask if Barbara Sharp or Valerie Ferrario wants to display some jewelry, or Kate Lemkuhl some beanies. This is a maybe.

I was toying with the idea of a special discount if someone donates a children’s book….but I’m not sure how to communicate that to people before they get here. Perhaps icontact to locals… I’m not sure about this one yet. 

And…new idea this morning…..Cards for a few wines (SCV) with a recommended recipe and or cheese pairing, that people can give as a gift.


World of Pinot Noir – March 5 - 6, 2010

This is a great event for anyone passionate about Pinot Noir and would like to experience a vast selection of wines made by great producers from around the world. The tenth annual World of Pinot Noir will be held on the beautiful shores of the California Central Coast in Shell Beach. This celebration of Pinot Noir includes two days of in-depth Tasting Seminars, Grand Tastings (each with a unique roster of wineries), a Featured Tasting with Burgundian producer Jean-Maria Fourrier of Domaine Fourrier, two Gala Pinot Noir Dinners featuring prominent guest chefs and culminates with a Santa Barbara style Paulée. These extraordinary food and wine extravaganzas will be hosted by participating wineries and feature an outstanding panel of Sommeliers from across the United States. For more information and tickets go to www.worldofpinotnoir.com.