Hello friends of Beltane!
Welcome to the Summer 2009 newsletter- we are writing to keep you up to date on all the happenings on the ranch and send you some new photos of the season. Hope to see you at the ranch soon!
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Harvest is just around the corner.......
We've got a beautiful crop in the vineyard this year and will be be picking our prized Sauvignon Blanc in the next 10 days. The Chardonnay (pictured at left) will be picked and crushed by mid September - it all depends on the weather. We are checking the Brix (sugar content) every other day and will be checking it daily as we approach harvest. We are continuing to sell some of our grapes to Cakebread Cellars in Napa, but we have exciting news coming up...so please stay tuned for our harvest announcement!
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 GRAND PRIZE at the Sonoma Fourth of July Parade!
It was the "Skinny-dip Illusion" that must have swayed the judges to name our float the Grand Prize winner. The Sonoma Plaza was packed cheering us on this Fourth of July morning! Check out more photos of the ranch's grand prize winning float on the news page of the Beltane website.
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 For lots more on Beltane - check out our new website - its not to be missed!
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 GARDENS AT BELTANE!
This summer our gardens and orchards are exploding with produce - heirloom tomatoes, melons, berries, peaches, nectarines, plums, apples, figs, summer squash, cucumbers, peppers, chilies, fingerling potatoes and more! Our organically farmed produce is served every morning in the B&B's seasonal breakfasts- and this time of year there is so much extra, its time to set up the road-side stand! Victor's goal of raising the county's largest pumpkin is going well so far, we have at least 8 different varieties in the running (to be weighed in October.)
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EVENTS AT BELTANE
We've hosted some extraordinary events this summer-Beautiful weddings, rehearsal dinners, a winemaker dinner, a photo shoot and a family birthday or two! In September we are hosting a picnic for the local fire department and their families. |
 40 EGGS A DAY!
In our last newsletter we announced the spring arrival of our peeping baby chicks. Well, the 47 heritage breed ladies are happily pecking around their pen and are now supplying the kitchen with as many as 40 fresh eggs every morning.
See how much they've grown!
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 HISTORY
Beltane's rich history was featured in a wonderful article by Lesley Thompson in the Berkeley Daily Planet. Beginning as part of the Rancho Los Guilicos land grant in 1837, through days as Mary Ellen Pleasant's lodge, to a dilapidated almost-lost cause in the depression to a turkey ranch, to today's bed and breakfast and working ranch. |
 BED & BREAKFAST
The bed and breakfast has been really busy all summer and we are looking forward to a busy harvest season coming up. The Santa Rosa Press Democrat also just named us #1 Luxury Stay Among the Vines. Thank you!
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