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A horse drawn carriage ride through the vineyards at McDowell
I just started an online wine course through San Francisco Wine School. The nine-week course is a program for the California Wine Appellation Specialist. It covers eight California regions, the appellations in those areas and of course wines from those areas. Our first class focused on Mendocino. As I read the course content, I recalled our trip to Mendocino County wineries. During our one-week stay, we visited many of the different AVAs and a number of diverse wineries/vineyards. There are several memories.
Charlie Barra with his vines. This year marks his 69 harvest.
Kathy and I visited Mendocino in May of 2010. We remember fondly many of our visits to wineries and the amount of information we learned. The first thought is the history of the winegrowers in Mendocino. Some of the vineyards were a hundred years old. Many of the present-day owners, growers or winemakers are related. We were at McDowell running late for our next stop at Barra. We were informed that the Barra’s were family and they would call and tell them we were running late. We also enjoyed the tours of the vineyards. At McDowell we saw the vineyard in a horse-drawn carriage while Charlie Barra took us through his vineyards in a Mercedes-Benz. Talking to Charlie about vineyards was like talking to a friendly human encyclopedia. This year marks his 69th harvest. Charlie also has a twinkle in his eye. He waited patiently as a waitress at a local Ukiah restaurant explained the wine he selected for dinner. When she was done, he said, “I know. I made that wine.” Our waitress just said, “Oh!”
Another memory was the afternoon lecture we had with Paul Dolan on Biodynamics. Paul was not pushy with his ideas; he just laid out the facts and we saw and tasted the results. While there, we saw perhaps one of the most beautiful vineyards in the world. Another beautiful site was at Husch Vineyards where visitors will discover the tasting room in a small, cozy rustic building with prolific rose blossoms making a welcoming and romantic entrance. The entrance is a popular spot for couples to have their photo taken.
Diversity is key in a biodynamic vineyards. The different plants attract a diverse population of insects, making it difficult for any bad insects to get a foothold.
A misconception about California is that the weather is perfect for grape growing. We spent one evening at Handley Estate Vineyard located on Highway 128 in Anderson Valley. I was awakened early in the morning by the sprinkler system watering the vineyards to save them from freezing temperatures. Winegrowers in parts of the country will appreciate this. A unique winery/vineyard visit was Mariah Vineyards located in the only noncontiguous AVA in the country, Mendocino Ridge. Staring off in the distance we saw the Pacific Ocean. Not everything is perfect in California. While at Frey Vineyards in the Redwood Valley we sampled a smoke tainted 2008 Charbono, a result of the fires that plagued the Mendocino wineries in 2008.
Medocino’s weather is not always perfect for vineyards. An early morning water spray wards off freezing temperatures.
While at Parducci Wine Cellars, Golden Vineyards and McDowell we were introduced to Coro Mendocino a proprietary blend of Mendocino grapes controlled by an organization. Only the wineries that follow the rules of the blend and have their wine passed by blind tasters may call it Coro Mendocino. We were familiar with the concept since a similar idea is used by several wineries along Lake Erie in Pennsylvania and Ohio to produce a wine called Reflections of Lake Erie.
Another memorable winery visit was at Navarro Vineyards. We spent the afternoon with Sarah Cahn Bennett. We discovered her love for the organic vineyards and the baby doll sheep that follow her and take care of weed control.
Baby doll sheep mow the grass at Navarro Vineyards.
From a wine tourist point of view, Mendocino offers a unique educational experience. The county has a laid-back attitude and rich farming tradition. The tasting rooms we visited were friendly and varied as were the wines.
Cheers,
Terry
Give the Gift of Winemaking for Father’s Day
Many wine enthusiasts enjoy drinking wine but also would like to learn about how wine is made. While a winemaking book is helpful, actually making wine can be a terrific experience. Below are three East Coast wine facilities that offer the option of making a barrel of wine.
Maryland
This past weekend we visited Tin Lizzie Wineworks in Clarksville, Maryland where we have a barrel of
Tin Lizzie Wineworks in Clarksville, Maryland
wine aging in French oak. Dave Zuchero winemaker and winemaking enthusiast was scheduled to be at the facility on Sunday to introduce visitors to the idea of making their own wine.
For those living in Maryland or nearby Tin Lizzie Wineworks has been offering winemaking education for several years. In 2009 we made a barrel of Cabernet Sauvignon and the people we have shared the wine with have really enjoyed it.
By making your own wine at a winery like Tin Lizzie you have the opportunity to learn the intricate additions that may be added to the grape juice, have great winemaking stories to share and have wine bottled with a label that you have created yourself. What more can you ask for?
If you are interested in making a barrel of wine, consider getting a group of friends together to share the experience, the wine and the cost of a barrel. Dave also offers opportunities to make a quarter or a half-barrel.
For more about Tin Lizzie Wineworks, visit the Tin Lizzie website or call Dave at (301) 318-9954.
Read the Tin Lizzie Wineworks Wine Trail Traveler article.
Northern Virginia
For those living in Northern Virginia, consider a winemaking gift at Vint Hill Craft Winery in Vint Hill, VA.
Vint Hill Craft Winery in Vint Hill, Virginia
We have also made wine at Vint Hill Craft Winery when we made a Cabernet Sauvignon. Vint Hill Craft Winery also has a tasting room that is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The tasting room on the second floor overlooks the winemaking area.
Vint Hill Craft Winery offers four different winemaking options:
For more information about Vint Hill’s winemaking program visit their website or call (540) 351-0000.
Read the Vint Hill Craft Winery Wine Trail Traveler article:
New Jersey
In New Jersey, we discovered a winery that offers opportunities to make a barrel of wine.
Beneduce Vineyards in Pittstown, New Jersey
Beneduce Vineyards offers participants the opportunity to harvest their own grapes or have grapes from California. According to their website, “We tailor our Winemaking Club to your interests in winemaking – from a fun social gathering, to a team-building event for businesses, or even deep into the nerdy underworld of wine chemistry.” For those interested in making wine at Beneduce Vineyards, contact Mike at Mike@BeneduceVineyards.com or call (908) 996-DUCE.
Read the Beneduce Vineyards Wine Trail Traveler article.
A few wineries around the country offer learning about wine by making a barrel of wine. If you are not near Tin Lizzie, Vint Hill or Beneduce Vineyards, do an online search of the wineries in your region that offer the possibility of making a barrel of wine.
Father’s Day is almost here so if you have the means consider a gift for Dad that he will remember.
Cheers, Kathy