Veraison in the Vineyard

Mid August is Veraison. The vines end their vegetative stage, and give their full attention towards the grapes. During this period, the berries stop expanding in size, begin developing sugar and flavor, and in the case of red grapes, they develop their color. It'll begin with Chardonnay and Merlot and end with Cabernet Sauvignon. So far we've been happy with how the vines have reacted to the year's conditions. We had an unexpectedly cool spring, which pushed flowering, and Veraison about two weeks behind where we were last year. What may result is a vintage higher in natural acidity, and a more developed ripeness. We won't know what the weather does to the crop until we begin harvesting the Chardonnay in a few weeks. Our biggest challenge this summer has been a pest called the grape leafhopper. Its a tiny insect that once established, can multiply by the thousands and before long can strip the chlorophyll from the canopy. The typical response would be to spray a pesticide such as dimethoate or provado, however we have a commitment to farming without the use of chemical pesticides. We performed a series of sprays consisting of Stylet oil, merely a diluted highly refined mineral oil, and pyrethum, a biological insecticide derived from the chrysanthemum flower. We are glad to say the leafhoppers are under control, and hopefully the vines, and our wines are healthier. For now, the bird netting is on and there's little to do in the vineyard except wait for the picking crews. I've included a picture of the vineyard truck, which doubles as my office. The 1979 Toyota truck will never give up on us.

Sam Stetser

Vineyard Manager

New Merchandise

We are now selling some merchandise at our tasting room on 15th & Pearl in Boulder. We are carrying some wine related items such as stoppers. The hand carved natural wood stoppers make great gifts, they are made right here on the front range. We also have some silicone stoppers that work wonderfully. We also sell our regular glasses as well as our new dessert wine glasses. Our newest items are gift boxes including samples of organic foods and other items such as candles, all in neatly decorated gift box. Boulder's Best Organics provides these, you can check out their website here. Come in and check out what other items we offer. Contact info can be found on our website.

Pearl Street Sidewalk Sale

This weekend only, you can get a bottle of Ensemble for $12.99! At the tasting room today and tomorrow we are discounting our red blend Ensemble by $4. The 2004 Ensemble consists of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 3% Syrah, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Its an easy drinking medium bodied red that makes the perfect match for tomato sauces and could even pair well with bbq. Come in and we'll pair it up with some chocolate for a decadent taste experience. Don't miss this hot deal.

Even Tawny loves it!

It sure is a hot one out there. Why don't you come in for some deliciously cold Touch of Red. If you've never had it, you are missing out. It is a sweet fruity wine (similar to sangria) that we serve chilled and it's just amazing with chocolate. We can also blend it with frozen strawberry lemonade to create the perfect wine slushie for a scorching summer day. Come to our tasting room on 15th and Pearl st. to cool off with some wine. We are open everyday: Sunday 1 pm - 7 pm; Monday thru Thursday 2 pm - 8 pm; Friday 1 pm - 10 pm; Saturday 1 pm - 8 pm.