Is it Winter or Summer or How to Confuse the Vineyard

What can I say- it is either 85F in January or now below freezing with snow flurries. The vines started plumping their buds with the warmth, now they don't know whether to sleep or grow! So far lots of water this year, let's hope that continues. Want to see the bizarre weather check it out - Weather at Tres Palmeras/Coral Mustang Wines.

Still trying to finish wines off in the cellar even at this late date. With the late grapes came molds and bacteria that tend to stifle fermentations- definitely a challenge. Overall, I wouldn't say a stellar vintage, but certainly not as bad as many anticipated. The weather conditions last year kept the grapes from gaining too much sugar, but did allow them to mature in flavor- not the usual scenario for California, more like what you would see in more northern climes. Very exciting to see where the wines are landing after a very anxiety driven harvest.

Still working out the details for the Wine Club- I am a partner in another wine venture called Nuestro Vino where I make Sparkling. So working on a few details that may include some of those wines that I make as well. I will be updating my website www.coralmustang.com soon!

FoodWine ListServ - New Cookbook - I have to put in a plug for a new cookbook that features recipes from an incredible group of people that have listed together for about 20 years. As a member my paella was nominated, then passed the taste test and made it into this book! To celebrate, the book was featured at a signing in Marin and several Foodstocks. What a great time!

Well, it's time to go back to the cellar where time seems to fly!
Cheers, the Mustang Winemaker

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Well the new year has started and thoughts of harvest for 2011 have already begun. Focus to the vineyard- pruning, discing, tying- assessing what happened last year to do what is needed to bring the vineyard to it's best potential this year. Last harvest fruit was not taken from the Tres Palmeras vineyard-a hard decision to make for me. But some years warrant that action and from what I saw this year for grapes overall, a few more vineyards might have been better off left behind as well. A tough year....

Assessing the wines and how processes worked to produce those wines is also happening so that any changes can be started now. Last harvest brought a lot of challenges- molds, less than mature grapes, sunburn- things that I see, just not in the magnitude that I had this last harvest. So being ready for these situations is always warranted- though I hope not to see this happen for at least another 20 years!

This year Coral Mustang Wines will begin a wine club- yea!!!! Stay tuned to see updates on the website as well as an upcoming e-newsletter. Update on the tasting room- open by appointment only for the winter- let me know if you are in the area and would like to taste. Or if up you are willing to go just a short 30 minutes North, you can visit the winery. Either way give me a shout or an email.

In a tribute to Tres Palmeras, I would like to re-share a clip from a previous harvest - I hope you enjoy it and on with the new year 2011! 

The Neverending Harvest and Sad News

Harvest started for me the second week in August and looks like it will be mid November before it ends. For some in the field it started even earlier and will end later. Harvest is a time of constant adrenaline, little sleep, and lots of pizza and burritos- I love it. The smells, the challenges, it is all an incredible rush for me.

Last week sadness, making me look at harvest in a little different light- making me wonder about the marvels of life, how special the world and all of its creatures are. My dog Kado left us after a battle with cancer. It has left a hole in my heart, slowed my pace. Coming home after a long day, his happy face is not there- even in his last days he would make his way to greet me no matter what the hour. He was a pure bred Basenji that we rescued from the Healdsburg shelter- what a treasure!

On life goes.........