Best Harvest Photo Ever? I'd Vote For It

What you can do with organic grapes. Need we say more?

A Blessing Indeed: Iconic Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Kicks Off First Organic Certified Harvest

 

Left to right: Father Stephen Carpenter, Mitch Williamson, Luis Contreras, Guillermo Perez,  Humberto Saenz, Adriana Cervantes, Mercedes Ochoa

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, hallowed ground in Napa as the site that birthed the Cab that won the Paris Tasting, has now certified its first 10 acres of officially organically grown grapes (certified in July) and celebrates its first certified organic harvest this year, thanks to the efforts of a relentless and talented team led by senior vineyard manager Guillermo Perez. His predecessor Kirk Grace (at SLV 2006-2023) hired Perez in 2020 and conversion activities started after that. Grace had already farmed (at large scale) certified organic and biodynamic vineyards at Robert Sinskey before joining SLV. Perez was a huge proponent of organics as well and part of the team who suggested SLV consider it. It was later enthusiastically embraced by senior management.

The FAY/SLV vineyard will be certified on November 15th, 2024.

The other estate vineyards (Calistoga and Wooden Valley) are on target to be certified organic and Regenerative Organic in May 2025. 

AND...IT'S HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AT SLV

The winery announced this week on Instagram that it is also celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.

"Join Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. This virtual wine tasting session will be co-hosted by winemaker Jorge Ramirez and renowned Napa Valley chef Victoria Acosta. The two will share stories of this legendary winery and Hispanic-inspired recipes that pair perfectly with wines from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars

The live virtual event will be hosted on Zoom on Thursday, September 19, at 6 p.m. Pacific Time.

The showcased wines:

 • AVETA Sauvignon Blanc

 • KARIA Chardonnay

 • ARTEMIS Cabernet Sauvignon

 • FAY Cabernet Sauvignon

The winery's post asked interested participants to DM them on Instagram.

"The Leftover Subject Was Organic Farming": Rodrigo Soto's Incongruous Path Led to Working with the Greats

The Biodynamic Gang: From left to right, Jacques Lardière (winemaker in Burgundy, Oregon), Soto (winemaker in California, Chile), the late Alan York (biodynamic consultant), and Pedro Parra (soil consultant)

Rodrigo Soto was an organic and biodynamic pioneer in the early days when the movement and its leaders in the U.S.–Paul Dolan, Mike Benziger and Alan York, among them–were in the thick of learning how to make better wines from better farming.

His journey into this subject began incongruously, as he relates on this fascinating podcast. 

“I was a below average student in terms of grades. And at the time, in order to graduate, you have to make a research work and a thesis.

And the thesis, the subject was assigned based on your grades. And as my grades were fairly poor, I get the leftover subject. And the leftover subject was about organic farming. 

And that's when I start and crossed my path with organic farming for the first time."

There are so many jewels in the interview–and a lot of fun storytelling and history, which I do not even wish to summarize. But here's one more little gem.

 “I remember years past being with Pedro Parra in a pit, and he was grabbing the roots in this white ash soils that were very drying. And he asked me, you need to feel these roots, feel them. You need to feel and think like a root to understand these soils.

So when you start talking with people that they have nothing to do with biodynamics, it's a very similar frequency, it's a very similar language.

My favorite definition of biodynamic farming is the best way of listening to what's going on in your farm, whether it's a vineyard or whatever, that ability to listen and see and feel what's happening out there.”

You can hear the rest of his journey as well as his present day adventures. This year, he left his position as estate director at Napa's prestigious Quintessa winery to start his new Far Mountain label with his wife, Mai Errazuriz.  

Here's the link to all the goodies: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wine-makers-on-radio-misfits/id1231778853?i=1000667369405

Sonoma's "Most Iconic" Vineyards–Are Pesticides Really Iconic?

Sonoma Magazine came out this month with a cover story on "Most Iconic Vineyards - Sonoma's Grand Cru sites and the wines to try from them." (There is no online link posted yet, sorry).

I was happy to see three certified sites–Bedrock, Monte Rosso and Rossi Ranch. Huzzah.

But only three? It's true some of the other sites are farmed organically but not certified (Hirsch, Las Cimas and others), but their numbers are few. 

Far more common are vineyards using chemicals known to persist in the vines–and in the wines, albeit in small quantities. And should these be considered iconic?

Under Dutton Ranch, the authors credit Steve Dutton with "meticulous farming." Should that specify the vineyard chemicals used? What about the others like Terra de Promissio? And Rochioli (pouring on the Roundup Powermax)?

Should farming with Alion herbicide, Bucaneer, Lifeline herbicide and Roundup be considered meticulous farming?

Just asking.

Are These the Craziest Sparkling Wines Ever? Amista Vineyards, Now with Certified Organic Vines, Brings Unconventional Bubbles to Life

What will the Rhone Rangers say to this?

Sparkling Grenache anyone? Sparkling Syrah? You would not expect to find those at a Dry Creek Valley winery, would you...but that is exactly what awaits at the latest winery in the region to get certified organic in the vines.

Winemaker Ashley Herzberg, Proprietor Vicky Farrow, Vineyard Manager Paco Mendoza, Hospitality Manager Jackie Cain, Estate Director Brian Shapiro

It all started in the 1990s when the late Mike Farrow, a chemist fell in love with wine, at first making it in his garage. But it didn't stop there. With his wife Vicky, he bought a Dry Creek Valley vineyard–full of Chardonnay grapes (surrounded by a sea of Zinfandel). The Farrows were not very knowledgeable (by their own admission) about the venture when they started out, but learned over time. 

They started to gravitate toward climate appropriate Rhone varieties and began grafting some vines over to Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah.

In 2011, they hired winemaker Ashley Herzberg, a fan of organics and mother of young children. (She also consults to Avaline, the celebrity branded importing organically grown wines from Europe and bottling them under the Avaline label.)

How did their sparkling Syrah start? Vicky says it was, like so many things at Amista, a happy accident:

"We’d been making Chardonnay and Syrah from our estate vineyards and Zinfandel and Cabernet with fruit from our Dry Creek neighbors since we launched Amista in 2004. We made our first Rosé of Syrah in 2005. In 2007, our winemaker asked if he could have some of the rosé juice to make a sparkling wine in his winemaking class using the traditional Methode Champenoise. We said, 'Sure, as long as we get to taste it!'

It was delicious, so in 2008 we decided to try making our own Sparkling Syrah. It was beautiful – a glittering raspberry color – and became an instant hit. I call it 'joy in a bottle.'"

When Rack and Riddle opened its doors in Healdsburg, up the road, in 2014, the stage was set for more. Herzberg credits Rack and Riddle's Penny Gadd-Coster for her mentorship and skill in making the traditional method wines. 

If you're curious, yes, they also make still wines, and the GSM is a popular hit.

And of course, what pairs with sparkling? Popcorn with lemon herbs sprinkled on top. (Free with your tasting). And what else? Caviar and local creme fraiche, bien sur. ($35 with your tasting). 

Whitefish caviar was delicious...will have to seek it out.

The child friendly (popcorn and vines) and dog friendly winery has a big covered tasting porch outside (with solar panels on top of it) looking out over a beautiful view of the mountains and forested hills. (There's plenty of indoor seating, too). And of course, the vines.

A perfect, unpressured place to have a lazy day...

It's relaxing, knowing that the vines are organic (no worries about kids running through them) and it's inspiring, too, to know the vines are tended by someone who is truly proud they are organic–Paco Mendoza, who was ecstatic when they got their CCOF sign.

Ashley and Vicky on The Good Stuff podcast

Vicky and Ashley were recently featured on Sonoma County's wine podcast here where you can hear more about the story of this friendly (Amista means "making friends" in Spanish) winery, where spending a relaxing time is easy.

Crazily enough, general manager Brian Shapiro, had a history of organics as a student in wine classes. Just a coincidence, but the ways of fate are mysterious and wonder-filled. 

Give yourself a relaxing afternoon off and visit...destress. Enjoy life. You've earned it.

(The winery is located just about a block south of the Dry Creek General store.)

I would also add these sparkling wines would make a great gift or something special to bring to a party. Probably no one has had sparkling Syrah before. 

Venice Film Fest to Honor Rachel Carson

Received this via email today from the Rachel Carson Homestead:

Just a quick note - more news coming soon!

RCH was invited to “participate” in the 2024 Venice Film Festival’s Environmental and Sustainability film segment…

This year’s program honors Rachel Carson on the 60th anniversary of her passing.

GREEN CROSS INTERNATIONAL (the Environmental parallel to Red Cross’ humanitarian aid, started by Mikhail Gorbachev and which the United States signed as an initial member in 1992… (and GREEN CROSS ITALIA present the GREEN DROP award for the best Environmental/Sustainability film.

We will post and email complete information this week.  

The award is granted on Sept. 6, but we just received notice of today’s program, which is live streaming (in Italian…) at

https://www.facebook.com/GreenDropAward/videos/1021916136294148    

If that doesn’t work, you can try

Facebook/Com/GreenDropAward  > Videos or Reels

(facebook may have a translation feature)

We hope to obtain a video with translation, and will provide more  information for the September 6 award presentation as soon as possible.

The Rachel Carson Homestead is honored to have been selected as an environmentally signification location because of its namesake. Prior locations have included “the cradle of humanity” Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, Antarctic sands, Senegal to bring attention to desertification, and others.

This helps remind us of Rachel Carson’s visionary “Nothing in Nature exists alone” and we must recognize that “CLIMATE” is Global.”

Thanks for your continued support!