08.23.10
Here's to an Indian Summer
If you've spent any time in SLO the last couple of months, you know that we haven't exactly had "beach" weather. This may be the longest, latest Harvest we've ever had. Don't despair: Some of our finest vintages have come from conditions like this, when the Indian summer of September and October arrives in full force to concentrate our fruit. We'll keep you posted!
- Fin
Posted by Fintan du Fresne on August 23, 2010.
Many, many thanks to all of our Chamisal friends (over 300!) who attended our 2nd Annual Lobster Fest on August 7. Our friend, Joseph Olesh, produced this fantastic video of the event. Click here to check out the video below (or go here to see on YouTube) and get a first-hand look at how fun cracking lobsters with good friends and a Chamisal wine can be! (Don't forget to "Like" this to share with your Facebook friends. )
If you took photos in our Lobster Fest photo booth, you can find them here. Use the password 3C3511B6. We're already taking reservations for next year's event. Email us at tastingroom@chamisalvineyards.com to save your spot now.
- Andrea and Brette
Posted by Brette Anne Womack on August 11, 2010
Spring has arrived and all the winter rain gave us beautiful shades of bright green on the surrounding hills, bright orange poppies and purple lupins all over the valley. We rang in the new season with our "Wake the Vines" winemaker dinner on March 7th, which was a great success! We had a fabulous time tasting library wines and indulging in a delicious meal. Mark your calendars for upcoming events, including the Roll Out the Barrels Weekend on April 29th, our winemaker dinner at Novo Restaurant on April 30th, and Passport Weekend on May 1st and 2nd. And no, it's not too early to start thinking about summer events as well. Chow down at our Farm Burgers at Chamisal event July 10th; it's fun for the whole family! Our 2nd annual Lobsterfest will be August 7th this year. We already have 100 guests on the list, so be sure to reserve your spot soon! Email tastingroom@chamisalvineyards.com with your request.
- Andrea and Brette
Posted by Andrea Chan on March 25, 2010.
After three years of drought, we are happy to have the rain that El Nino brings. So far we are at nearly 34 inches for the season, which is more than the previous two winters combined. We've never seen the hills so green, and this spring promises a bounty of wildflowers in the vineyard. Budbreak is upon us, so we are hoping that the rain abates soon and the frost holds off. Rain late in spring makes fungal diseases a real threat, and a frost at the wrong time can be devestating to young shoots. Of course, one of the reasons Chamisal makes such great wine is that we planted this vineyard in the magical Edna Valley, where the weather is close to perfect.
- Fin
Posted by Fintan du Fresne on March 19, 2010.
2.16.10
Transformation Nearly Complete
Now that our Tasting Room renovation is complete, we welcome everyone to spend some time on our new front patio. It's the perfect seating area to enjoy our wines! Relax among the rolling hills and vineyards and bring your own picnic if you like. Didn't bring your own? We're brainstorming ideas for a "foodie plate" that you'll be able to add to your tasting flight, featuring gourmet snacks to accompany our wines. Ideas welcome! We're also preparing a new VIP Tasting Room, where our club members can enjoy our Califa and Estate bottlings and a few select vintages from our sister wineries, Pine Ridge Vineyards in Napa Valley and Archery Summit in Willamette Valley, Oregon. This special room will open to club members March 13th.
- Andrea and Brette
Posted by Andrea Chan on February 16, 2010.
We hope you have enjoyed your summer as much as we have here at Chamisal. The Farm Burger and Lobsterfest events were lots of fun and are not to be missed next year! Upcoming events include the Harvest Celebration on November 6 through 8, and the Wine Club Holiday Party on December 18. Check our Events page for more details.
Many of you know that our tasting room has been under renovation for quite some time. We are thrilled with the changes; our Wine Club member room is finally near completion. The main tasting room has a gorgeous new paint job as well as a real air conditioner AND heater for the upcoming cold season! We're still making some finishing touches but hope that you'll stop by soon to see the new and improved Chamisal!
- Andrea and Brette
Posted by Andrea Chan on September 29, 2009.
09.28.09
Fall Club Shipments
After a long summer without any Classic Club shipments, we are pleased to release the fall wines to you! Harvest is upon us, and we can feel the magic of the vineyard in the air. As you can
imagine, this is the busiest time of year for the cellar crew, and we're plenty busy in the tasting room too. Don't worry, though -- we'll send updates on our 2009 harvest soon!
The fall shipment is comprised of some of our favorite wines. You'll see the latest release of our Rhone varietals, as well as the 2007 Califa Pinot Noir.
Fin believes the 2006 vintage of the Grenache is the best from our vineyard to date! It explodes with strawberries and white pepper, with layers of lavender and fresh mint. Thyme and sage blend with dried blueberries and our signature Chamisal spice. This exciting bottle will pair wonderfully with a big rack of lamb or pork tenderloin, and continue to develop even more elegance after a few years in the bottle.
The 2007 Estate Syrah does not disappoint the cool-climate Syrah lover. When we tasted this wine, the first thing Andrea said was, "dirty cowboy!" Anyone that graduated with a degree in Agriculture like we did will know that what she meant was hints of leather, pipe tobacco, earthy minerality and meaty notes! Don't get the wrong idea -- this is an elegant wine with vanilla and cinnamon on the nose, a wonderful mouthfeel on the mid-palate and a big finish. Firm tannins and high acidity will ensure this wine a long shelf life for up to 3 to 6 years.
Our 2007 Califa Pinot Noir is a powerhouse unlike any Pinot you've ever tasted! It showcases the best our Chamisal vineyard offers, with a complex nose of sweet berries and plums and a palate layered with big black fruit, chocolate and subtle oak spice. The rounded acidity and fine-grained tannins carry the seductive flavors through the lingering finish and add to the plush mouthfeel overall. Tightly focused, this is a hedonistic Pinot that wows the senses.
We hope you enjoy these beauties as much as we do! Not a club member? Why not join? If not, keep an eye on our store, as we'll release these wines to the public late fall.
- Andrea and Brette
Posted by Andrea Chan on September 28, 2009.
06.19.2009
Is Harvest Here Yet?
Half way through the year already! We’ve already got new French oak barrels arriving for the new harvest! It feels like we only just finished the last one.
Right now we have complete fruit set in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and are undergoing fruit set in Syrah and Grenache. Fruit set is when the flowers on the vine open and if successfully pollinated, create an immature berry. It is one of the most important processes in determining our crop load. It looks like a good crop load this year, which means that we’ll cut off clusters to improve the ripening of the remaining fruit and increase quality. We are also shoot thinning, shoot positioning and leaf pulling like maniacs right now. It’s one of our busiest times in the vineyard.
In the winery, we have Chardonnay finishing up with malolactic fermentation. Pinot Noir is finished with malolactic fermentation, so I’m in my initial stages of blending, trying to determine which lots and barrels are going to make Califa. We’ve got some great wines on the way from the 2008 vintage; the Chardonnays are very powerful with a lot of tropical fruit. The Pinots are classically varietal, with loads of red fruit and incredible balance.
Cheers until my next post -
Fin
Posted by Fintan du Fresne on June 19, 2009.
