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486 days ago

I have been asked many times over the last few weeks about the affects the fires will have on the quality of grapes in Napa Valley. If a vineyard is in the proximity of burnt forest, grass and brush, I think that they will indeed be affected since the smell of the ashes will be present for an extended time through different stages of the vine and the berries. We have a vineyard where this happened in the southwest of Napa and I can guarantee that we will pick up some flavors, therefore, it will probably not meet our standard of quality. But as for the rest of the valley, since all of these fires were far away I think that the smoke was high enough in altitude and at a very early stage of the berries that I doubt the fact that it will have any affect. But for sure all winemakers around the valley will be carefully tasting every lot to ensure that it is not the case.

Our New Property

507 days ago

Every weekend my son, Arthur (4 years old), asks me to go on a trip to the winery. 50% of the time, I cave in and drive up to the winery because his excitement, comfort and amusement are so huge, how can I say no? To see him run through the front lawn, play with motor boats on our new pond, eat lunch with me on the new picnic grounds and all of this on a beautiful day overlooking Napa Valley mountains, I have to admit I think I want to be here as much as him. I am so excited to see this place headed in a direction that is not only esthetically pleasing but so welcoming and beautiful.

Michel Rolland Visit

549 days ago

In a day long tasting session with Michel Rolland, we tasted every single lot of the 2007 vintage. During this time I had a revelation. After tasting all of the Free Runs we tasted the Pressed wines, and for the first time I thought about the importance of putting Pressed wine into a blend. Here is how I would describe it. The Pressed wine is the frame of a painting or the base of a sculpture supporting the masterpiece, holding everything together. A wine can only be as long and thin as a Giacometti sculpture or as fat and round as a Botero art piece. But, the pedestal where the art piece stands has a great importance. To me, that is the purposed of a Pressed wine. Even a very small percentage added to a blend, holds the complexity and personality of a wine together.

So Long....

558 days ago

I officially announce that Alpha Omega has lost their six ducks. I know it is very sad, but it is all in their best interest, since they have called me and asked me to stay with their foster family where they feel much more comfortable in a huge pond with many of their other friends. So long duckies… Chelsea, I know you are sad, but I can be your little duck… quack quack

WELCOME SPRING

607 days ago

I want to tell you two very exciting things that happen during spring. The first is bud-break. For me bud break represents birth, life, youth, energy and beauty. At this time each vine starts growing and expressing itself through the shape and the color of its leaves and later on the fruit. Just like a human being, the vines communicate with you showing when they struggle, when they are healthy or when they are sick. The second thing that happens in spring is my little yeast cells start waking up. When spring arrives and the global environment becomes friendly enough for them to start working again, they finish fermenting all the sugars that they had left when they went into hibernation at winter. This has always has been quite an interesting subject for me because if realize that nature follows its own cycle and if you understand it, and measure it you will be able to maximize a potential that is much greater than mine. This is of course the potential of nature. This is my ...