Tag Archives: Harvest 2011
Stop the Presses…Please!
Ok, I know I commented on this in a blog a while ago, but I’ll re state it since it is important to know. The press will unmercifully declare the 2011 vintage in California a disaster. Yes, the weather has been less than optimal for growing wine grapes, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. We’ve had [...]
Once upon a time in a cellar in a hill….
Back in the 1880′s under the direction of Alfred Tubbs, the building known as Chateau Montelena was constructed. Facing almost due north and dug into the hillside, the Chateau was well suited to its mission as a barrel aging cellar with a naturally cool inside temperature (thanks to being partially underground). At the time of [...]
Good Ideas; Bad Decisions
Up here at Chateau Montelena, we like to think that we know a good idea when we see one, even if it sometimes takes us awhile to get on board. So, in what is proudly a blatant rip-off of the Schramsberg “Harvest Dress”, we present to you the “Harvest Hat!” A real gem that I found in [...]
Giants Are Done; Life Can Go On
As the avid sports fan, I’m in a quandry at this time of the year. Yes, I’m a Bay Area sports fan: 49ers, Raiders, Giants, A’s, Warriors (it is possible to like both sides of the Bay). This time of the year, I would never have to worry about the Giants going too deep – [...]
Harvest Has Begun
We’re just a few hours into Harvest 2011 and already things are shaping up very nicely. It’ll be extremely busy over the next few weeks, but we’re excited to see the white grapes coming in now… Learn more about the white wine harvest in Napa Valley by watching this video, produced by the Napa Valley [...]
3…2…1…
The launch codes have been given and the pad prepared, we are T-minus 21 hours to the start of our 40th crush! The new cellar is finished, the headlamps are cleaned and checked, the crews are rested and ready for tomorrow (early) morning when we will begin Harvest 2011. The first fruit across the scale [...]
The Waiting Game
Oh, the doldrums of Winter…I mean Summer. We’re experiencing another cool season this year, and our winemaking team is anxiously awaiting harvest. It’s hard to realize, when one goes outside in Napa, just how beautiful and warm it is outside and that here at the winery we’re still behind in ripening. Remember how late Summer [...]
Veraison
We have a new face on the blog! Lynn Pedone will be working in the vineyard, with Dave Vella and his crew, as she pursues her studies in Viticulture at Santa Rosa Junior College. A little background on Lynn: she’s a recent East Coast transplant, has lived all over the world growing up in a military family and has [...]
