….from the grasp of “bottling” and all the time, energy, deadlines and nerves it takes to prepare and get through it.  I had luck holding my right hand and work tugging on the other, which left me without a free hand with which to type.  But now, I’m back.  Whew!  No matter how much one plans and prepares for blending, finishing and bottling wine, there are always fires to put out — well, not literally, thank goodness  — but at the very least, there usually seems to be machines breaking down, mistakes, snafus, misjudgements, oversights.  The thing is, even with all of that stuff happening, everyone works together, the job gets done and everything works out well.  Go figure.  Here are some photos: 

 

Harvest Update

As I posted a few weeks ago, I will start a harvest diary-type of blog as soon as harvest starts.  It looks like a later start to harvest this year, so stay-tuned for that.

Cima Collina Folks

It is about high time I started highlighting all of the people around here who keep it all clean, make it run, and fix it when it breaks, and will do that soon, as well.  We are also looking forward the the arrival of our harvest intern — Tanya — from Paul Cluver Winery in South Africa.  Yes, South Africa.  So, we will have a little international spice coming to this little winery which should be good fun.

Yes, it has been awhile since I last posted, but this is the busiest time of the year in production at the winery.  I have been in the winery planning, racking, blending, tasting and analyzing last year’s wine, getting rid of old barrels and putting new barrels away – with the help of Doug and James.  I’ve also been getting bottling supplies together and making sure everything we need is at the winery in time for the bottling truck, which is scheduled to arrive at the end of the month.  Additionally, I’ve been out in the vineyard checking to see how the heat affected the crop, talking with the vineyard guys about how much fruit/leaves to take off, etc.  So, all of that leaves little time for posting, but, hopefully, it means we will have more great wine to follow-up our successful 2004 debut vintage…..

Great things to come!

 I will soon change this blog (temporarily) into a day-to-day production diary so that everyone can get an idea of what it is like being at Cima Collina from August through November.  Highlights to come: blending and bottling (oh, woes and successes!); a discussion of each of the vineyards as they are harvested and how we process the fruit; the folks in our harvest crew (including an intern from South Africa who will assist us this year); the challenges and tribulations of non-stop harvest work; and lots of photos of all the action.

 Events in which we will (and won’t) participate

This Saturday, August 12 is an event I enjoy:  the Winemaker’s Celebration in the Custom House Plaza in beautiful Monterey.  It is a great opportunity to taste what is being made in Monterey all in one stop, and also to meet the folks behind the wines. 

 We have chosen not to participate in two events this year:  the Family Winemakers of California tasting in San Francisco this month and the Pinot on the River event in October.  We had planned to go to both, but our current releases have become tightly allocated and we won’t have enough to pour (unfortunately).  If you were looking forward to seeing us at either event — we apologize.  Our door is always open, however, to folks interested in trying our wine.  Just give us a call or email us at  to make an appointment (831-384-7806), and we would be happy accomodate you.