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Upcoming Events
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PGWA Members BBQ
Sunday, August 24th
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Clary Ranch/Grand Vent Vineyard
See article at right for details!
Petaluma Pairings 2014
- 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
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P-Gap in the News!
| Two Petaluma Gap pinot noirs -- Keller Estate El Coro and LaFollette Sangiacomo Vineyard -- featured as among the best of the 2012 vintage.
Wineries Growing in Penngrove |
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WINE TRUTHS
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"Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing."
-- Ernest Hemingway
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The Birds are Back!
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Netting is one way of reducing crop loss from birds and other hungry critters
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No, it's not a remake of the Alfred Hitchcock thriller (which was filmed in Bodega Bay, by the way -- in the Petaluma Gap!). Veraison is underway in the vineyard! Grapes are taking on color and getting sweet, making them a delicious treat for all kinds of critters. Deer, raccoons, turkeys, foxes, and birds such as starlings, finches, linnets, robins, even woodpeckers -- all love to feast on ripening grapes. Especially vulnerable to birds are grapevines near big trees, power lines, adjacent to cattle or horse farms, or close to the bayside migratory "flyway." That pretty much describes most of the Petaluma Gap!
So, what to do? Many large vineyards decide simply to share their crop with our feathered friends, but a small vineyard could lose a significant part of its crop. The most effective (also the most expensive) deterrent is netting (over the top of the vines, or panels on both sides). Grapegrowers also try many other creative ways to discourage birds: broadcasting "distress" bird calls, shooting air cannons (for vineyards without neighbors!), patrolling on an ATV, even tying sparkly mylar "scare" tape or balloons painted with scary eyes on the vines. Falconers also offer their services to vineyards, flying trained raptors over the vines several times each day to frighten away small birds. A few growers are even experimenting with those large dancing "Gumby" figures you see at car dealerships! The goal: reducing crop loss and delivering "clean fruit" to the winery without bird pecks that can lead to rot and/or bacterial contamination.
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PGWA Annual "Members Only" BBQ!
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The chilled wine area at last year's BBQ was a popular first stop!
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The PGWA "Members Only" BBQ will be held at the barn at Clary Ranch/Grand Vent Vineyard on Sunday, August 24th from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. The barn is located at 3641 Middle Two Rock Road. An eVite was sent out to all members in early July with additional details regarding the event.
Members are asked to bring a pot luck dish and a bottle (or two) of Petaluma Gap wine to share. Food and wine will be in the barn and tables/chairs will be both inside and out this year. It is Petaluma, so dress appropriately (barn, sun, wind, fog -- typical Petaluma!). Families are welcome, but no pets please! Also, for everyone's safety, no smoking will be allowed.
The BBQ is limited to current PGWA members only (members may bring one guest). If you are not sure that your membership is current, please contact Linda Corbett, PGWA Membership Director, at linda.corbett@sbcglobal.net. Not a member yet? Check out the member benefits on our membership page and sign up via PayPal. New members signing up prior to August 18th will receive an eVite to the BBQ.
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Member News
Keller Estate
 Keller Estate is now offering a unique wine tasting experience in their private Cave Room from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm every other Saturday beginning August 2nd. Hosted by Estate Sommelier Marc Montoya, the August 2nd event will be a vertical tasting of three Chardonnays (2007-2009) and four Pinot Noirs (2006-2009). Experience the vintages, discover how wine can age beautifully, and learn some food and wine paring tips. The cost is $30 per person and seating is limited to 14 guests. The August 16th event will be a discovery of what makes Petaluma Gap wines so special, with a blind tasting of several library wines ($30 per person). The August 30th event will focus on food and wine pairings ($60 per person). For more information or to book space in these events, please call Keller Estate at 707-765-2117. Keller is also now offering Cheese and Charcuterie plates in the tasting room. Please check out THIS LINK for more information.
Sojourn Cellars
 Sojourn Cellars was featured on the Chicago TV morning show "You and Me This Morning" on Monday, July 28th. Sherrie Perkovich, Sojourn's Director of Marketing, discussed characteristics of their pinot noirs from three different wine regions, including of course the Petaluma Gap! Follow THIS LINK to watch a fun video of the show.
Sojourn also has an upcoming wine release where they will be releasing nine wines on September 9th. The early scores in for this release from the Pinot Report are between 92-95.
Sojourn will be pouring wines at the Family Winemakers San Mateo wine tasting event on August 17th as well as participating in the Wine Country Weekend events on Saturday (Taste of Sonoma) and Sunday (Harvest Auction) August 30-31. Click here for more info.
McEvoy Ranch
 McEvoy Ranch just added a new event to their summer wine series, Wine & Sculpture, on August 16th. Part wine and food pairing. Part art tour. Explore Nan McEvoy's monumental sculpture collection with tastings of their current releases. Cost: $65* Time: 1pm - 4pm
Stay tuned for announcements for more events in their wine series, including Wine & Unwind, a yoga and wellness event, on September 20th and an intimate dinner celebrating their 2011 Red Piano release on October 4th.
Mala Closure Systems
 Mala Closure Systems is sponsoring the afternoon tasting at the inaugural Wines and Vines Packaging Conference in downtown Napa on August 20th. The one-day meeting will offer winemakers, winery operations managers, wine marketers and other wine industry professionals an unprecedented opportunity to examine the latest improvements in packaging and discuss how to implement them.
Mala Closures will be sponsoring the Afternoon Closure Tasting from 1:45 PM-2:45 PM. The speaker for the event will be Doug Fletcher, Vice President of Winemaking for Chimney Rock and Rutherford Hill Wineries. Tasting of seven wines in screw cap trials, discussion of winemaking and closure choices will be among the events and topics. Come by and visit the Mala team as they show case their products and provide information on their closures, location and service.
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