I cannot believe that we are 30-40 days from harvest! The birds are circling, waiting for a few more degrees of sugar. We have been able to continue our work in the vineyard and winery through these most unusual times. It looks like we will see a very good quality grape crop this year. Growing conditions have been optimal. The size of the crop is somewhere between average and slightly below average. We are seeing a few unusual things in the vineyard. Some varieties have tighter clusters and some have smaller bunches and vary in berry size. That said, I have never seen two years that are alike. It looks like Pinot Grigio will be one of the first grapes harvested this year. It is an early variety and is picked at lower sugar levels, usually at 21-22° Brix. The winery has been busy with some final bottlings before harvest. We could use a little more room in the winery because we still have a few bulk wines to sell. 

 

2018 Moscato di Santa Barbara: This is our version of Moscato di Asti. It is one of the most popular wines in the Toccata Tasting Room and should appeal to everybody, including those who say that they dislike sweet wines. We pick the grapes at lower sugar levels to keep the sugar down and we stop the fermentation at around 7% alcohol for a floral, fruity, lightly sweet wine without the heaviness you would find in a Late Harvest. Serve this one as cold as you can get it. It is refreshing and would be great around the pool on a hot day or after a long work day.

 

2017 Sangiovese: Another popular wine in the Tasting Room, we make this one with 100% Sangiovese so that you can really experience this variety. Sangiovese makes a great blending wine and you will experience that in the next wine featured this month, the Riserva. Our Sangiovese comes from what some people think is the best clone of the variety, the Brunello clone. Its characteristics are a little bit different because there is a mixture of berry sizes in the bunches. By putting together large and small berries, you are able to increase maturity and get a greater concentration from the skins, adding something extra to the wine. True 100% Sangiovese does not have a deep purple color. When you look into the light, Sangiovese should have a hint of a salmon red hue. This Sangiovese, on its own, could be a cocktail wine. Serve with anything Italian. 

 

2017 Riserva: Over the years, Riserva has been the highest scoring wine in the Toccata brand, always in the 90’s. This style of marrying Bordeaux varieties to the Tuscan Sangiovese makes one of the greatest blends in the industry, the Super Tuscan, first recognized and made famous by the Antinori family in Italy. In the Riserva, we use a higher percentage of the Bordeaux grapes. In your last club release, you received our Classico which is the same style but with more Sangiovese and less of the Bordeaux influence. Riserva is a big wine, best with a great dinner. 

 

If I need pickers, I will call you! Guaranteed fresh air. Enjoy your summer.