This is the last load of grapes for 2009.  This Pinot came from Chula Vina and was a few bins of 777 and 115.  Tastes great and was really cold when it came in.  We picked it and processed it and I think we are ready for this storm that is coming in.  I’m doubtful that we will really get as much rain as they say—storms don’t tend to have much moisture left by the time they get here, but I certainly wouldn’t complain if it did rain!

Racking Riesling

This is a photos of me racking Riesling the other day.  I have never made Riesling before but have a few ideas I am applying.  Here, I am looking for grape solids—the cloudiness in this juice is tartrates.  It is sometimes difficult to tell the tartrates from the lees, so I use a more tactile method to figure out when to stop racking and thereby reserve as much good juice as possible.  I was able to get a very clear separation as the tank chilled cold relatively quickly and it turned out that the lees were very compact in the tank. A very good start indeed…

I have been meaning to update this blog for quite sometime, but haven’t had much time recently.  We have brought in Pinot Noir from Hilltop Ranch and Palisades Vineyards, both in Carmel Valley, and have brought in most of the Pinot Noir from Chula Vina.  We are waiting now for our first ever Riesling to get here—5 minutes ago it was on River Road near the Chualar Bridge.  Yes, Riesling.  We will make an off-dry wine from this and will see how it goes.  I have a few ideas to apply to this wine, so we will see.  Here is a photo taken just a few minutes ago and is my view from the forklift.  It wouldn’t be harvest if we didn’t do a few late night shifts.  Tonight is one of them.