Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance Newsletter

Issue: #21

June 2014

In This Issue

Upcoming Events

P-Gap in the News!

Wine Insomnia

Late Spring in the Vineyard

Quick Links

Upcoming Events

Petaluma Pairings 2014

Mark Your Calendar for the
Upcoming Exhibit & Events Celebrating The Viticulture History & Wines of Petaluma:

- Petaluma Viticulture History Exhibit, Petaluma Historical Library & Museum
Sept. 21, 2014 to Jan. 11, 2015

- Petaluma Winegrowers Gala, Keller Estate Winery

September 20, 2014

- Community Crush Celebration, Petaluma Historical Library & Museum

September 27, 2014

P-Gap in the News!

Petaluma Gap seeks its own wine appellation!

Enriquez Estate Wines: A passion for sharing fine wines

WINE INSOMNIA

- "What do you take to fight insomnia?
- "A good glass of wine."
- "Does it work?"
- "No, but it keeps me happy while I wait to fall asleep."

Late Spring in the Vineyard

"Fuzzy" clusters are actually blooming flowers

By Memorial Day, grapevines in the Petaluma Gap are either in bloom or have already set crop. Fuzzy clusters are actually blooming flowers, and when we see tiny clusters with BB size grapes we know the crop is "set." Workers in the field are now tucking shoots into wires and eliminating congestion in the canopy. The objective: to allow dappled sunlight to reach the grapes.

Vineyard "Aesthetic": Neat vs. Shaggy

As you drive by Gap vineyards you may notice they don't all look the same. Some are disced clean so not a weed or blade of grass remains; others are mowed, at varying heights, with tufts of grass poking up here and there -- the shaggy unkempt look. A neat clean look has been traditional in vineyard management -- no weeds to compete with the vines for nutrients or water. But other grapegrowers question this approach. A few weeds, or a mowed cover crop, do compete with the vines, but it encourages healthy soil and a vibrant ecosystem. Also, competition may prove to be a good thing. Less vigorous vines mean smaller clusters/berries, which result in a more intense wine! We could also give these weeds another name: "habitat for beneficial insects." Lacewings, parasitic wasps, lady bugs and praying mantises need a place to hang out and lay their eggs. So they like "scruffy" vineyards with a variety of weeds and flowering plants. A sustainable/organic philosophy calls for a new aesthetic. It may not look perfectly groomed, but when you pass a scrappy looking vineyard, consider what is going on: good bugs holding bad bugs in check (without pesticides), and lots of earthworms and microbes helping to enrich the soil!

Member News

Fogline Vineyards

Fogline Vineyards recently celebrated the Grand Opening of their tasting room and production facility at 875 River Road in Fulton. New releases include two Petaluma Gap wines:

2013 Sonoma Coast Ros� of Pinot Noir, Swan Block (Estate)
2012 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Fogline Neighbors

Contact Evan@foglinevineyards.com for information on tasting room hours.

Flocchini Wines

The Flocchinis are excited to announce that their 2011 Syrah won a double gold, best of Syrah at The Toast of the Coast Wine Competition and will be served at the San Diego Fair in June. You can find their Syrah on their website or at two local restaurants, Sugo Tratoria and The Washoe House. Their silver award winning Pinot Noir Ros� is being served at Pongo's restaurant and their Pinot Noir at Rosso Pizzeria & Mozzarella Bar.

McEvoy Ranch, Bailiwick, Brooks Note, Couloir, and Kendric

Come experience Marin's remarkable hand-crafted wines at the 10th Annual Marin County Wine Celebration, on Sunday, June 1, in charming downtown San Anselmo. Meet the vintners and growers who will be pouring their wines made from grapes grown exclusively in Marin County vineyards:

Bailiwick, Brooks Note, Burning Bench, Couloir, DeLoach, Dutton-Goldfield, Easkoot, Ernest Bloom, Kendric, McEvoy Ranch, Pacheco Ranch, Pey-Marin and Skywalker.

Wines will be available for purchase, so you can bring a little bit of Marin County home to your table.

10th Annual Marin County Wine Celebration

Sunday, June 1st, 2014, 2pm - 5pm

La Loggia Vinoteca + Caf�, 500 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo

415-234-8698

$40/pp in advance | $50/pp at door

Tickets available here: marinwinegrowerscelebration.bpt.me

Waxwing Wines

Waxwing Wines' 2013 "Spring Hill Vineyard" Sonoma Coast Ros� was highlighted in the San Francisco Chronicle Food and Wine section:
http://www.sfgate.com/wine/thirst/article/Is-pink-the-new-white-A-complicated-new-era-for-5501693.php

Couloir Wines | Straight Line Wine

Couloir Wines | Straight Line Wine is pleased to announce that all of their 2012 Pinot Noirs have received high praise from critics and are now available in their tasting room. Of note, The Prince of Pinot rates Couloir Wines Chileno Valley Vineyard, Marin County Pinot Noir, 90-94pts Exceptional - "Relatively light in color, but packs a wallop of well-spiced red fruits. A very generous wine that ranks among the best I have ever tasted from this small appellation. Love this!"

Also, Friday, June 27th is Base Camp Wine Club Member Appreciation Night at the tasting room (72 Main Street, Tiburon, CA). All wine club members are invited to enjoy a complimentary glass of their featured wine, sample local, artisan cheeses and snacks and meet the winemaker and other members.

Enriquez Estate

Enriquez Estate Wines is releasing their 2013 Tempranillo Ros� to the public the week of June 1st. Crafted from 100% Tempranillo, this dry ros� is available for purchase on the Enriquez website. Only 52 cases produced. A recent review of their sold-out 2012 ros� is available at this link. For scheduled tasting events, you can "like" them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/enriquezestatewines.

Guarachi Family Wines

Guarachi Family Wines announces the purchase of Meadowrock, a 62-acre vineyard in the prestigious Atlas Peak Appellation in Napa Valley. Meadowrock, Atlas Peak, is the second Guarachi Family Wines vineyard acquisition, following the estate purchase of Sun Chase vineyard in the Petaluma Gap in spring 2013. Click here for a complete press release.