Sierra Foothills/El Dorado Wineries Roll Out the Fall Color Carpet After Good Harvest News

How glorious is this?  Visitors to El Dorado County have a feast for their eyes right now, just as they will have a futuer treat for their palates with the 2012 vintage.

 

 
 

Holly's Hill Vineyards,
Placerville, CA

 



Chaim Gur-Arieh, winemaker/proprietor at C.G. Di Arie Vineyard & Winery in Mount Aukum, El Dorado County/Sierra Foothills, CA, welcomes visitors to his vineyards during harvest and afterwards to experience the wonderful fall colors in the Sierra Foothills.   He's kept a harvest journal to share, and these remarks are part of that: 

 

Chaim Gur-Arieh in his
Mount Aukum vineyards

"Our experience with this year’s harvest was quite different. We still had a cool and rainy early summer which progressed into more normal weather in July and a heat wave that lasted several weeks in August. Harvest started the first week in October which was a couple of weeks later than normal. While everyone was rejoicing from the bumper crop they received, for the most part our yields were considerably lower than last year. As for quality – my first impression is that this will be a memorable vintage. "

 

 



 

Other El Dorado wineries also offer the visitor some incredible fall color right now.





 

 

Grace Patriot Wines,
Placerville, CA
(photo by Trevor Grace,
Assistant Winemaker)





Chevalier Winery,
Shingle Springs, CA







Baiocchi Wines,
Fair Play, CA



Lava Cap Winery,
Placerville, CA

Fall Colors Lure Visitors to Sierra Foothill Wineries/NEVADA COUNTY

Thanks to Jacques Mercier of Solune Winery, Grass Valley/Nevada County, we are all reminded that "There's nothing like a vineyard to bring nature's seasonal changes to life."




Solune Winery, Grass Valley
Sierra Foothills




 

"The vineyard has finished its job for this year, getting its post-harvest irrigation soak and starting to show some Fall colors (red foliage for red grapes and yellow for white grapes), with some Sierra summits peering from a distance and tall pine trees standing guard (not a bad vista to wake up to). Soon it will go dormant and eventually get a pruning "haircut" over the Winter, to wake up ready for action in the Spring and ripen yet another harvest next Summer."



Visitors in the Vineyard,
Pilot Peak Winery, Penn Valley, CA

 

Smith Vineyard & Winery,
Grass Valley, CA




 



Penn Valley Vineyards,
Penn Valley, CA





Lucchesi Vineyards & Winery,
Grass Valley, CA





Naggiar Vineyards,
Grass Valley, CA

El Dorado/Sierra Foothills Wineries Allow Consumers to "Sample the Sierra" at Lake Tahoe Event

As you read this, Sierra Foothills vineyards will be almost done with harvest, and winemakers are looking at the sugar content of their juice, deciding whether to add this yeast or that, ferment cold or otherwise, and filter or not.   So many decisions go into producing an excellent wine, but if the wines poured at the 3^rd annual Sample the Sierra event held in South Lake Tahoe in September are indicative, the wines will continue to be good.

Sample the Sierra is a cooperative effort of El Dorado County organizations, growers, producers and businesses to increase awareness of the region’s bounty, heritage, culture and activities.   A great addition this year was the Rotary Club of South Lake Tahoe booth that enabled tasters to join the wine clubs of the various wineries.

Colibri Ridge winemaker,
John Alexander

 I started my tasting at Colibri Ridge, a winery located in the Fair Play area of El Dorado County.  Winemaker John Alexander poured his 2005 Mouvedre, with grapes sourced from the Helen Robin vineyard in Fair Play.  It’s a big fruity and spicy Mourvedre, and was rated as the best Mourvedre from the Sierra Foothills at the 2006 California State Fair.  15.2 per cent alcohol.  $22.00/bottle.   John was not pouring his white ports, one from Viognier, one from Chardonnary, but if you go to the winery, I suggest you buy those dessert wines too: perfect for the  upcoming holidays! www.colibriridge.com

Rowena Pegg from the Beach Grill,
South Lake Tahoe, pours
Toogood Estate wines

 

 

 

Another Fair Play winery, Toogood Estate, poured a teaser of a red blend named Foreplay.   Malbec, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc all combine to make a nicely tannic and provocative wine.  Winery owner Paul Toogood calls this his signature wine.  13.9 per cent alcohol, $30/bottle.  Lakeside Beach Grill in South Lake Tahoe serves this and other local wines.  www.toogoodwinery.com

Ravel Haynes poured for Shadow Ranch;
Sam Domingo, winemaker for
Wilderotter stopped by

 

 

 

 

Shadow Ranch Vineyard, located on Fair Play Road in Somerset, El Dorado County, poured its new red blend, Sheriff,  which comprises 65 per cent Zinfandel and 35 per cent Syrah.  This is a non-vintage blend, and great with the spicy food from Latin Soul restaurant.  14.5 per cent alcohol, $15/bottle.  www.shadowranch.com.



 

 

Bill Gunn, assistant winemaker at Jodar Vineyards & Winery, Placerville, poured his 2010 Chardonnay.  It has a nice Citrus on the nose with notes of grapefruit and lemon on the palate.  14.4 per cent alcohol, $18/bottle.  www.jodarwinery.com

Diane Stading , co-owner of
Auriga Wine Cellars, pours their
2009 Red Giant blend

Auriga Wine Cellars of Placerville poured its 2009 Red Giant, a blend of 50% Zinfandel, 25% Merlot and 25% Syrah.  It has fruit tones of black cherry, plum and spice with a hint of vanilla on the finish.  14 per cent alcohol, $16/bottle.  www.aurigawines.com

Sierra Foothills Harvest News: Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys/Calaveras County

Joan Kautz, Vice President, International Operations at Kautz Family Vineyards in Murphys/Calaveras County, CA (part of Ironstone Vineyards) sends along this information about their ongoing harvest activities:



Verdelho grapes,
Ironstone Vineyards harvest 

“Our Verdelho grapes were harvested on September 27. Brix at harvest was 25.2, fruit quality is very good with a nice acid balance and nice mature flavors in the grapes. This is the same field and specs as the Tempranillo. 



Tempranillo grapes,
Ironstone Vineyards harvest

We will soon harvest our Tempranillo, as these grapes are now at 22 brix. We’ve had good cooperation from the weather, which is currently features 90 degree days and mid 50's at night. This Tempranillo vineyard was planted in 2005 and in its third harvest.”

Sierra Foothills Harvest Update: Andis Wines (Amador County)

Mark McKenn, Winemaker and General Manager at Andis Wines in Plymouth, Amador County, Sierra Foothills, California, sends this harvest update:

 

"It has been very much a “hurry up and wait” harvest for us so far. 

 

Off to an early start picking our two Sauvignon Blanc fields on the 30^th and 31^st of August, those picks were quickly followed by Semillon, Chenin Blanc, and Rose (a blend of Zinfandel and Barbera). The crew worked hard to process all those tons while preparing for the eminent deluge of reds.  

 

Then we waited, and waited, and are still waiting for the reds to come along to the desired maturity.

 

Whether it is the above average crop loads or that small rainstorm we had or a combination of factors,  the reds have just been stubborn. That said, the vineyards look amazing, incredibly sound and healthy fruit, minimal raisins, and the canopies are holding up well.

 

All this waiting will be but a distant memory by the end of next week. We have Merlot, Barbera, Zinfandel, Primitivo, and probably Syrah all slated to come in to the winery next week. Time to dust off the punch down tools…… "

Hang Time at Rancho Olivo Vineyards: Listening to Grapes in the Sierra Foothills

Nello Olivo, the owner of Rancho Olivo Vineyards and Nello Olivo Wines in El Dorado County, Sierra Foothills, sends this interesting perspective on harvest and hangtime:

"The grape harvest is coming soon, and one of the most important decisions we make as winemakers involves hang time—how long to let the grapes hang on the vine.

The grapes look ripe. If I were a wine-grower interested in making the most money selling my grapes by weight, I might pick them soon. The longer fruit hangs, the more moisture it loses, and the lighter  in weight it gets.

But I don't care about weight. I care about giving the best flavor and highest qualities to my wine. The longer I let the grapes hang (without rain or irrigation), the more intense and full will be the flavor of the wine.

Knowing the right moment for harvesting is a tricky decision based partly on science, on the weather, on the style of wines I prefer to create,  and also based on experience and old-fashioned instinct.

The science part comes in testing the grapes for acidity (pH) and for sugar content. As long as the pH stays below 3.60 and the sugar content  under 25 brix, I'm likely to let the fruit hang. And I use all my senses as well to help make the crucial decision of when to pick. How the grapes look, the texture of the pulp, the dryness of the seed, skin color and tightness of the fruit cluster.  And of course, the big one: how the fruit tastes.

I rely on my trusted team, including Lance Johnson, vineyard operations manager, and Marco Cappelli, winemaker. We'll monitor the status of the grapes every day, sometimes more than once.

Hang time in the vineyard is like those last couple of weeks before a baby is born. It's a time full of anticipation, of paying attention to every little sign, and of being ready in every possible way.
Each varietal is different. Each section of the vineyard is different. Each year is different. You have to know your vineyard intimately, and you  have to be patient and listen to it "talk" to you.

All over California right now, harvesting teams are standing ready, waiting for the call to pick. When the grapes tell me it's time, I'll make the call."


~~~~~~
More information about Nello Olivo wines, from their website:

Nello Olivo wines are produced by Rancho Olivo Vineyards, owned and operated by Nello and Danica Olivo in Cameron Park, California.

Old-world Dream

The Olivos have chosen to grow old-world style grapes—particularly those common to regions of Italy, Nello's ancestral home—which flourish in the California Sierra Foothills terroir and climate.

"A lifelong dream of mine," says Nello, "has been to grow my own grapes and produce my own wine. That's exactly what my grandfather did who came from the old country. It's a passion in me. It's probably in my blood. When I'm doing that, I feel like a happy little kid!"

New-world Excellence

If Nello's wines succeed in expressing that joy, it's because of his exacting care over every aspect of wine production. Combining hand-tended tradition with the best of new-world care, his vineyard is recognized as one of the best managed in the region. And his grapes are acclaimed among the highest quality available. The proof is in the gold and double-gold medals won by wineries who use his grapes in their own wines.

Rancho Olivo Vineyards is a true boutique winery, producing less than 100 cases of each varietal annually. This makes Nello Olivo wines true sought-after treasures by those who have discovered its qualities.

Sierra Foothills/Ed Dorado County Harvest Report: Cedarville Vineyard (Fair Play)

Jonathan Lachs, who with Susan Marks is owner/winemaker of CedarvilleVineyard in Fair Play, El Dorado County, Sierra Foothills of California, sends these harvest notes:

Zinfandel clusters, Sept 2012,
Cedarville Vineyard,  El Dorado County

“Activity is picking up quickly here in our Cedarville Estate vineyard.  Throughout our vineyard, we’re experiencing even ripening with targeted pick dates closer to historical “averages” or as we often say, “normal”.  It’s been a few years since we’ve had normal pick dates, with 2009, 2010, and 2011 all later-to-much later than normal. 

We harvested Syrah grapes for Hank Beckmeyer and Caroline Hoel’s La Clarine Farm rosé on Saturday, September 8^th,  as well as some Viognier for one of their white blends.  They make wines with little intervention beyond a touch of sulfur before bottling (some folks call them “Natural Wines”), and they are terrific expressions of where they are grown.

At Cedarville, we now plan to pick our first Syrah grapes at the end of the week.  Our Syrah always seems to ripen first due to lower yields and its higher elevation on our property. 

Our highest elevation Zin is coming along, too, and we’re targeting September 20th pick date. 

One trend we’re experiencing this year in our Estate vineyard is grape physiological maturity at lower than usual sugar levels.  We usually associate this with cooler years, and means we may not need wait for higher sugar levels to achieve desired flavors, which means potentially lower alcohols in the subsequent wines.  Never a bad thing.  We’ll need to wait and see if it truly plays out this way."