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Fitzpatrick Winery & Lodge
Healthy Hearts, Wines and Chocolate Month
Greetings!
The media keeps coming forward with one sound bite
after another of research showing the beneficial
effects of wine and heart health. Ironically our
Federal Government prohibits us, the makers of wine,
from espousing that wine is a healthy beverage. You
know better and we'll leave it at that.
Nonetheless at Fitzpatrick's we can toot our horn
about our commitment to health through organic
farming. As a matter of fact we are nationally
certified by the USDA through the CCOF, California
Certified Organic Farmers, and annually inspected to
insure we meet the strict guidelines in both the
organic farming and processing our our wines. We
actually deliver you more goodness in each bottle of
wine by delivering you less - less chemicals by using
no herbicides, no synthetic fertilizers, no toxic
substances for disease and pest control and no
synthetic additives or GMOs in the winemaking
process. Health is the foundation of our entire
operation from the ground up: organic farming and
processing, 100% solar energy, tractor powered by
biofuel, recycling, etc. Your health, our health, our
workers' health and Mother Nature's health all factor
into our operations and planning. So go ahead and
enjoy Fitzpatrick wines as part of a healthy diet.
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What's all the fuss about pruning winegrapes?
If your destiny was that of a great wine, life would
begin with the caress and foreplay of cold steel. Of
all
the eligible buds hanging in place along each cane,
only a few are chosen. Had all the buds emerged and
elongated toward the heavens their Mother would be
inexhaustably drained of her resources and no child
would reach greatness or even mediocrity.
So the cut is made leaving two basal buds to carry
on the family's reputation for great wine. Now all
hope rides with the chosen.
The Holy Grail may never actually be found but its
quest is worth the journey. To seek balance is the
journey's path. Balance distributes the vine's vigor
amongst the vegetative, the fruit quantity and the
fruit ultimate quality. Too few buds chosen could
distribute a dose of vigor so powerful that vegetative
growth would be wild, while fruit quantity would be
down
and quality negatively affected by the vegetative
dominance.
When too many buds survive the pruner's cold steel,
the abundance of forthcoming fruit set will absorb the
bulk of available resources of nutrient, water and
solar energy in its attempt to reach maturity and
ripeness. The fruits' demand on the Mother plant's
resources will leave the actual vine growth retarded
and the overall canopy of leaves may not be
adequate to mature all the fruit set. Quality will take
a back seat to the demands of quantity and dilution
and mediocrity will prevail in the resultant wine.
However I, as the farmer and winemaker, with
knowledge of the way, the path, can start the
journey, with the precision of cold steel and the eye
of a father, sizing each of my vines with the perfect
balance of buds to vigor. The right amount of fruit
developing on each vine will also allow adequate
growth of each cane to develop enough canopy to
capture the sun's precious energy. When the plant is
balanced it's fruit matures to its greatest heights.
And ask any winemaker and they will tell you that
great wines are born in the vineyard. I can easily
screw up the finest grapes in the winery but I cannot
make greatness from mediocrity. Thus our
slogan, "Uncork the magic of the vineyard" gives
credit where credit is due.
So all the fuss about pruning is why this winemaker
starts each new year communing with and pruning
each
and every vine of over 10,000. With countless hours
and days over several months I set into motion the
journey in search of the Holy Grail of wine.
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Behold the new Zin - berry good, berry big, berry beautiful!
From the Land of Zin, we introduce the 2001 Robert
Cowan Vineyard Zinfandel. Aged over two years in
both Minnesota and French oak, this Zin is a classic.
The briary flavors of brambles (blackberries,
raspberries, etc.) dominates the palate, followed by
the spice parade of Zin's black pepper, the Minnesota
oak's clove and the French oak's vanilla. The overall
wine is rich and smooth albeit with ample
underpinnings of tannins and acidity. Pretty damn
good if I say so myself.
Please don't let the modest price belittle the wine.
I'm holding the line on price so you can embrace this
wine every week or day if you please. Close your
eyes, try this berry classic Zin and experience the
sensuous affair of a wine of near twice the price.
Our Price:
$17
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"Eire Ban", let's raise our glass to the "Irish Woman"
Let me introduce the New 2003 Eire Ban, translation
meaning "Irish Woman" or "Irish White". Take your
choice and enjoy a unique Sauvignon Blanc,
organically grown on our Estate from the Castle Block
on top of our hill. Pears, yes, warm pear and vanilla
flavors best describe this classy white wine.
Enjoy with a multitude of dishes from the classic
seafoods, many cheeses to creamy pastas and
soups. Try our Scallops Eire Ban recipe for a real
treat. We have actual recipe cards rediscovered from
yesteryear for your collection.
Now listen up! I'm going to go out on a limb and
introduce this wine at a can't refuse price. The wine
is $10 a bottle. But everyone is eligible to buy their
first case for 50% off, $60/case which works out to
only $5/bottle. I don't want you to procrastinate to
add this wine to your repitoire of weekly indulgences
so go ahead on buy a case now. This deal expires on
that day of the year of that odd month with only 28
days, February 28th.
Our Price:
$10/bottle but your first case is 50% OFF
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The King is Back!
With the coronation of the King's Red XI long behind
us (remember the Great Feast on Celtic new Year's
Eve?), this red wine fit for a King is ready to enjoy.
Bottled in 750's for $13 and Magnums for only $19
makes this royal blend a steal.
King's Red XI is made of 200 gallons '02 Cab, 150
gallons each of '02 Cinsault, Sangiovese and Roadside
Zin, plus 100 gallons of '02 Merlot and 30 gallons total
of Grenache and Syrah creating a completely new
flavor profile.
Our Price:
$13 /750ml and $19 /1.5 liter
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