The Petaluma Gap Wine Growers Alliance
Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance Newsletter
Issue: #8May 2013
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Random Wine Facts
Monthly Wine Walk
Member News
Discounts and Specials
Education Events
Vineyard Happenings

 

 

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Clary Ranch 
Upcoming Events

 

Monthly Wine Walk
Sunday, May 5
Petaluma Gap wine tasting at Downtown Theatre District Restaurants
 
Marin County Wine Celebration
May 11, 2013 at Escalle Winery in Larkspur, CA
 
Outstanding in the Field
May 25 & 26, 2013 at Devils Gulch Ranch

 

  

Random Wine Facts
Corks are harvested from the bark of the Cork Oak tree. The average life span of a Cork Oak tree is 150 to 200 years.

The first harvest of a Cork Oak tree occurs when the tree is about 25 years old. Each Cork Oak tree yields about 16 bark strippings.

The harvest date is painted on the bark of each tree, after each harvest. Laws protect these treasured trees, allowing them to be harvested only once every 9 years.

The Cork Oak trees of the Western Mediterranean area are considered to yield the best quality wine corks with Portugal being the largest producer. The world's largest Cork Oak tree is The Whistler Tree, located in the Alentejo region of Portugal.

This tree is over 212 years old and has been producing the world's best wine corks since 1820. The Whistler Tree is harvested every nine years and is currently producing enough cork for 100,000 wine bottles.

  

Monthly Wine Walk May 5th
  
Stewart Johnson, owner of Kendric Vineyards, pours his Pinot Noir for tasting at the April 7th Wine Walk

Our inaugural Wine Walk on Sunday April 7th was a great success! More than 60 attendees enjoyed tasting Petaluma Gap wines from Kendric Vineyards and Morris Ranch Vineyard. The participating Theatre District restaurants (Sugo Trattoria and La Dolce Vita Wine Bar) offered discounts on the featured wines by the glass and bottle.

 

This month, the Wine Walk is on Sunday May 5th from 3 to 6 pm with four restaurants participating: Sugo Trattoria, Rosso Pizzeria and Mozzarella Bar, La Dolce Vita Wine Bar, and Graffiti! Tastes of Petaluma Gap wines will be poured by Armagh Vineyard, Clary Ranch, Cline Cellars, and Keller Estate. Guests can purchase Wine Walk wrist bands for $10 at participating the Theatre District restaurants the day of the event. You must be 21 to participate!  An email update will go out prior to May 5th with final details.

Member News
  

McEvoy Ranch is looking forward to sharing a taste of their inaugural winery releases at the Marin County Wine Celebration on May 11th. They'll be pouring their 2010 McEvoy Ranch "Evening Standard" Estate Pinot Noir, which they plan to release in July along with a 2010 Proprietary Blend and a 2012 Ros of Pinot Noir.

Winery Discounts and Specials for PGWA Members
  

Following is a list of discounts or other specials currently being offered exclusively to our PGWA Members

  • Clary Ranch Wines -- 10% discount on wine purchases. Contact [email protected] for details.
  • Enriquez Estate -- Private Tasting for 4 with the Owner, and Wine Club Discount applied to purchases (by appointment only). Contact [email protected] for details.
  • Kendric Vineyards -- 10% discount on wine purchases in addition to applicable volume discounts. Enter promo code PGWA in the space provided when finalizing an order on the shopping cart page of the Kendric Vineyards website.
Education Events Return!
  
Our Education Committee is busy lining up a variety of educational events for our Members, with a goal of having several such events over the summer and fall. The first event scheduled is a tour at McEvoy Ranch on Wednesday, June 26th from 10 a.m. to noon, with wine tasting at the end of the tour. Space is limited to 30 people. There is no charge for PGWA Members. Members may bring one non-member guest for a charge of $10. This tour will fill up fast, so please RSVP to Teela Ridgeway via email at [email protected] or by telephone at 707-529-6248.
Vineyard Happenings

Armagh Frost Protection
April 16, 2013: Armagh Vineyard uses overhead microemitter sprinklers for frost protection
Last month we reported that bud break came about two weeks early in the Gap, which brings with it an increased risk of frost or freeze damage to the tender shoots. However, there was only one cold morning in April with temperatures in the danger zone, which caused some growers to initiate frost protection. Fortunately, the temperature dip was brief and not widespread so there was no damage. As we move into May, frost is less likely to occur. Growers are busy removing suckers (shoots that push out where they are not wanted), mowing between vine rows, checking irrigation systems, and a variety of other spring vineyard activities. Many shoots are already reaching out 12 inches or more, and some growers are beginning the process of positioning the shoots between the trellis wires. Tiny clusters are visible on the shoots, with unofficial reports suggesting that crop loads look excellent. Of course, there's a lot more growing season ahead. But things are shaping up nicely in the Gap!