Beltane Ranch - overlooking Sonoma Valley
Happy Holidays from Beltane Ranch!
 Hello friends of Beltane!  
We are writing to keep you up to date on whats happening on the ranch this season and wish you a happy new year!  
 Holiday view from the porch at Beltane Beltane Ranch Entrance at Beltane during the holidays
 Wine Update           Barrel tasting blends of Beltane Wine
French oak barrelsThe Wine  Beltane private label Sauvignon Blanc is progressing beautifully. The wine is aging in 90% neutral and 10% new oak barrels. At a recent tasting with our winemaker Kevin Holt, we tasted a blend of the two and are thrilled with the developing intensity, balance and varietal characteristics.  We are planning a May 20th, 2010 release date for this limited production inaugural vintage.  Receive more info about the wine, especially as we approach the big day, by joining our wine club.
 Dennis Ziemienski's painting of Beltane at the Bed and Breakfast
The Label  We are very excited to announce artist Dennis Ziemienski is painting a view of the ranch for the label of our first estate grown wine.  Dennis's work of the hills behind Beltane hangs above the mantle in the Bed & Breakfast and he is known for many notable works including the
Kentucky Derby poster and Sonoma Valley's Salute to the Arts posters.

  Figs, Olives and Persimmons!
Figs at Beltane Ranch  Late fall gardens at Beltane yielded a wonderful crop of persimmons, pumpkins, arugula, winter squash and more. Fresh figs are the fall favorite and many of our guests leave the ranch with a fresh-picked carton.  Unfortunately our modest olive crop froze before they ripend enough to be pressed for oil. We cured several gallons of green-ripe olives for our holiday party, but we will have to wait until next year for fresh olive oil. For the winter we've got pomegranates, Meyer lemons, Swiss chard, green onions, and will have several varieties of broccoli soon.
Figs on the tree at Beltane Olives ripening Persimmons hanging at Beltane Pumpkins at Beltane
 Ladies of Beltane...Laying hens at Beltane
Beltane heritage breed chicks are all grown up! Our ladies are laying 40 eggs a day, often more than we can eat, so if you stop by, we might need to send you home with some!

Bob ready to answer your most difficult questions
NEW COLUMN: What about Bob?    
Many of you know Bob, our bottle-fed permanent resident steer/mascot who resides in the pastures of Beltane. He likes apples and cookies, he doesn't like cow dogs and he wishes he had horns. Bob will now be answering your much anticipated questions, starting this issue with a question from Hal of Glen Ellen:Train sign at Beltane Ranch
Question: Bob, on my last visit I noticed a photo of a "Beltane" train station, did Beltane really have its very own train station?
BOB: Hal, thanks for your interest, and we sure did! Beltane has been a popular vacation destination for San Francisco residents since the 1890's when the house was built. Until the 30's we did have our own train station on the Southern Pacific rail line. The original sign from the station currently hangs above the sliding doors on the barn.
 Email Bob your questions for the next issue!
COZY COTTAGE NIGHTS!
(33% off)
Come enjoy the fireplace and in-room breakfast in the Cottage at Enjoy the fire in the CottageBeltane for only $150/night Sundays-Thursdays until March 31st, 2010. Or choose the wood stove and view from room #1 for $150 as well. (Reg. $220 and $200 respectively.) Mention you are a friend of Beltane!
Call us at (707) 996-6501 for reservations.
Offer Expires: Sunday - Thursday nights through March 2010.
 Thank you and Happy Holidays! Fall at the Ranch by Mike SiegelBeltane Fall 2009 by Mike Siegel                                                                         
We hope to see you at the ranch soon!



The Beltane Ranch Family
 www.beltaneranch.com   
        
Thanks to Mike and Sandy Siegel for the beautiful photos at right!
Beltane Barrel Racks
More about Beltane?  Join our Wine Club!
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