Wine Adventures

Posted 3/21/15
Introducing our 2013 Labels. We split with other wine makers, so not a huge quantity of anything, but we managed to get some good variety. (the Malbec 'elemental' is extra top off wine that was done entirely in glass)

Posted 8/11/14
They taste terrific! It's racking season, soon to be bottling season, soon to be time to decide on this year's wine. I had low expectations of the sangiovese, but after blending in some zinfandel from RRV, it's become an excellent dry red with similarities to a grenache from hot climates. The malbec is very rich and will certainly take some aging, but overall, pretty smooth even now. The zin is...well...zin. Fruity. We're looking forward to tasting all after a bit of bottle aging.

Posted 10/15/13
Well, we have done it. We have sangiovese, zinfandel and malbec. SG and malbec are in barrel and the zinfandel is fermenting. Perhaps in barrel by the weekend. It is more than is comfortable, but we are three and that makes it a bit easier. Updates as things progress.

Posted 9/7/13
If we can locate good grapes, we'll make some wine again this year!

Wines We Like

Updated 8/11/14
Favorite White over $10 would have to be Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - citrus and clean

Favorite White under $10 Trader Joe's Chilean Sauvignon Blanc for $3.49/bottle - an awesome value - dry and easy to drink

Favorite Dry Rosé is fun. (dry means 'not sweet') I like so many it's tough to pick a favorite. These wines don't fit into whites or reds in terms of traditional descriptions. In terms of premium wines, I'll have to choose the Hart's Desire Rosé of Grenache. Other things to try: Unti which is Grenache and Mouvedre and is delicious - very dry with amazing aromas. One of my favorites (could drink it everyday) is ultra-dry and is Cotes du Ventoux Ferme Julien - another great TJ's value.

Favorite Red over $20 is awfully hard. I adore red table wines and have much less fondness for most of the finer wines most people enjoy. Bill Frick makes some truly wonderful rhone style blends. Tasting there is also one of the best experiences in the county. I like C₂ and the Grenache (noir). frickwinery.com. I also enjoy a few from David Coffaro. I always like the ZP2C and Escuro. www.davidcoffaro.com

Favorite Red under $20 Well, other than what we make ourselves, which is really my favorite, this is a hard one. Something I've occasionally picked up that is fun -- Ferme Julien Rouge. Try it with fresh strawberries and see what you think...

Favorite Sparkling Champagne or otherwise is still Gloria Ferrer Sonoma County Brut, but a nice inexpensive choice is a spanish cava, M. Chevallier Carte Noire. This one should be well under $10/bottle.