Sometime summertime, the great excuse to feel the warmth, both from the weather and from friends. We celebrated our 10th anniversary of the Wine Club Summer BBQ with the nicest people you could ever be with...except Andy and Anjie! Everything was perfect. A special thanks needs to go to Jill, Lynne, Dan, and Anjie and Andy. This was a do-it-yourself project and it was a delight for everybody.
Our grapevines are on the fast track. We’re about four weeks ahead of schedule so we’re starting shoot removal, hedging, leaf removal, and spraying for mildew control. Irrigation is on our minds this year. We will make it but we do have a water crisis and we really need rains this coming winter. Supplies are low and wells are producing less.
Our crop looks slightly above average in size. The vines look really good all things considered. By the next newsletter, we will be harvesting.
2011 Chenin Blanc: The forgotten grape! What was once California’s #1 white wine has been pushed back to only a small part of the business. I always talk about our Vouvray style with a small amount of residual sugar to balance the acid and character of the fruit. For those who love Chenin Blanc, this is the one. Years ago Robert Parker said we had the best Chenin Blanc grapes in America. Of course, they were in Foxen’s bottle! Our 2011 is full of soft grapefruit with a touch of honey. Our 34 year old vines continue to provide us the best fruit.
2009 Cabernet Franc: There is a Whole Foods store in San Diego that’s doing a great job, thanks to their manager who calls this his favorite wine. Cabernet Franc is growing in popularity and is one of the six varieties of Bordeaux. It is more distinct in nose and flavor. Our Valley View Vineyard is the place to grow it.
I mentioned the six varieties of Bordeaux because most people think of five. But there is another variety called Carménère, which ended up in Chile. On Monday, I plant 700 vines of Carménère. It will become the 26th variety grown by Lucas & Lewellen! We are California Bordeaux in a Santa Ynez AVA.
I’m sitting here with Anjie waiting for the 4th of July parade to start! And this morning, I heard a great sermon on freedom. How blessed we are to be who we are.
