For the 55th year, it’s time to start all over. Today the vines are dormant and we certainly could use some rain. I have been holding off irrigation hoping for rain.
For the next 90 days, we will be pruning the vines. Pruning is an art. When done properly, vines should last 60 years. Many vines today are removed when they get to be 30-40 years old. The goal in pruning is to create a canopy that both exposes and protects leaves from the sun and creates the capacity to get the grapes ripe. The temptation today is to get through it fast because the work is costly, but doing it too fast can cause issues. We are fortunate that many of our workers have pruned with us before and we work closely with them to make sure things are done properly. What we do in January is what we get in September.
2023 Viognier: This is the vintage following our big score of 98 points for the 2022 Viognier. This wine is comparable and comes from the same vineyard. This is a variety that is becoming more popular. We grow it primarily in our Los Alamos Vineyard. It likes some heat, but not too much. Los Alamos seems to be the perfect spot for it. Great as a cocktail with light hors d’oeuvres, grilled chicken, and fish.
2021 Pinot Noir, Estate: I was the first one to plant Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara County - this was before the movie! My first experience with it was with Beringer and Louis M. Martini. Pinot Noir is still the master of the region. We have more Pinot Noir vines than any other variety. We grow it only in Santa Maria and Los Alamos. For this one, we source 47% from our Goodchild and 53% from our Los Alamos Vineyard, a combination of clones, but primarily 667 and Pommard. It scored 91 points with Wine Enthusiast - super high quality for a reasonable price.
2020 Syrah: I blame Gary Eberle of Paso Robles fame for being one of the first to show interest in planting this variety around here. Syrah can be grown in any region. I prefer a warm climate, but not hot. This one comes from our Valley View Vineyard. Heidi Barret, maybe California’s best winemaker, bought grapes from this vineyard for six years. She made an outstanding Syrah but she found greener pastures and higher prices concentrating on Cabernet. This is a wine that ages very well for us and you should put a few bottles away.
I hope you’re on our trip to Wickenburg in late January. If not, we’ll try to have a good time without you! And don’t forget the Valentine Winemaker Dinner on February 14th at the Alisal in Solvang.