Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Thank you & we appreciate your support!

Thank you for the support you have all given us through this very stressful time!  We have really appreciated the support you have shown us.  From all the help at harvest to the offers to look after things while we are focused on William's surgery to the company (and distraction) you provide when you visit - thank you!

Being closed for almost a month is disruptive (we apologize to the musicians we had to cancel and the private events we had to reschedule) but plan to be back stronger and with creative new events and offerings.  Of course, we will celebrate when we are back and we still plan to pull in one more harvest so there is lots to look forward to.  Having so much support from everyone is giving a lot of strength - thank you!

Monday, August 15, 2011

Harvest time!

At the end of the day, viticulture is agriculture - we have the same set of issues - pests, weather and lots of uncontrollable factors.  We don't have to replant every year but we do have to maintain the vines and keep them healthy year after year. 

This time of the year holds it's own excitement - what are the sugar levels (we test daily)? will the rains impact the sugar levels? hey, we need volunteers to help us harvest - what if the weather is bad on the one day we have helpers?  what if no one shows?  what about the birds? bees? etc......  The vineyards look great right now - full canopy, beautiful clusters of grapes and all the potential of the next vintage hanging right there!  If you are photographer, now is a great time to be in the vineyards.  If you are a nature lover, now is a great time to be in the vineyards (bees, butterflies and birds galore).  If you are a wine lover, now is a great time to be in the vineyards - the mind races to what this will taste like in the bottle - builds anticipation.  If you like the process of wine making, now is the right time to be in the vineyards - every small vineyard we know of will say thank you when you show up to help harvest!  Our harvest for the Seyval is Sunday, August 21st - can't wait!