Since my last newsletter, I’ve visited Europe twice. My first stop was Tuscany where I was impressed with the Italian wine industry. It is huge, dwarfing what we do in California. An impressive amount of these wines are being groomed for the American market. Despite those discouraging words, we had a great time in Tuscany. Most of the fun came from the 40 Wine Club members we traveled with. We all ate, drank, and played. Italy has history, at least several thousand years of it. At one time it was the known world. It’s very interesting to be able to see history up close, and that we did do. The churches, the buildings, historical sites, Christianity, and of course, the evolution of wine - it was all there. I look back on it as a trip back in time. Here in the new world, we are a month from harvest. The grape crop looks good. We had a scare with some smoke from a wildfire but we are fortunate that the prevailing winds took it south and east of us.

2022 Pinot Grigio: Same old story I always tell you. Pinot Grigio grown in the cool weather of Los Alamos makes a flavorful wine which, when grown in warmer districts, the variety does not produce. Pinot Grigio is still one of the most popular white wines.

2020 Sangiovese: I just witnessed the dominance of this variety that exists in Italy. It is everywhere and in every style, from Chianti to the Super Tuscan. Some changes have been made. In Italy now, a Super Tuscan doesn’t necessarily have to include Sangiovese, which is surprising since it was once thought that Sangiovese was essential to the Super Tuscan blend, typically combined with Bordeaux varietals. So now, Super Tuscan means anything red. Quite a change! Meanwhile, our Sangiovese and the Brunello clone that we grow makes a wine that can compete on any level with the Italians.

2022 Dolcetto Fresco: This is the fun one! The Beaujolais Nouveau of the Italian world, this is the first one we have ever made using the carbonic maceration method, and it’s not a bomb! If you’re looking for a change, here it is. Some think it’s fun, some think it’s cool, some don’t think much. It’s a conversation piece. We are serving it chilled in the Tasting Room.

I am looking forward to the Vineyard Tour in October. I hope you have a tour guide extraordinaire. I’ve been preparing for this for 60 years, so as long as I don’t forget anything… I look forward to seeing you all there!