Jul 8, 2018 | Sonoma, Vineyard, Wine
Hydeout Sonoma has many wonderful clients. Our New York-based clients, owners of the Sovare label, came into town to taste their 2017 vintage. Sovare is an estate hillside vineyard near Sonoma Mountain comprising equal percentages of Cabernet, Sangiovese, and Zinfandel.
Hydeout Sonoma took over management of the vineyard in 2015. At that time the vineyard was not in good shape. After a lot of dedicated attention, this is the vineyard as of July 2018:
And here is a pictorial essay of Sovare’s visit to the Arcana Winery custom crush facility where Hydeout Sonoma makes the Sovare wine:
Using a wine thief, I am pulling equal sample volumes from these barrel and blending into wine glasses ‘on the fly.’
Almost ready with equal parts from several different barrels:
The moment of truth, tasting the 2017 vintage.
Discussion follows, how much more time in the barrel, in what way is the 2017different from 2016, what wood to use in 2018, and so on.
And more discussion…
And more discussion…
Having settled on the key next steps fro 2017 and 2018, now we need to decide where to go for lunch! We ended up at El Dorado Kitchen on the square for some al fresco dining.
This is the first Sovare vintage, from 2016:
Jun 10, 2018 | Sonoma, Vineyard, Wine
Farming Sonoma vineyards organically is expensive and time consuming. And it makes the wine more expensive too. Why?
One of the biggest risks to vineyards around the globe is mold and mildew. Mildew spores over-winter in dormant cane buds and under bark. For season-long control, the vineyards must be sprayed. But with what?
Traditional farming deploys an array of chemicals to knock down mold and mildew. Examples include Tebuconazole, Triflumixole, and Quinoxyfen. To be effective, during the growing season chemicals like these will be sprayed on every inch of every grapevine roughly every 21 days.
Organic choices are more limited, and less effective, and sometimes more expensive too. And they must be applied every 10-14 days. Over the course of an entire growing season, that means 3-5 more trips through the vineyard with the driver, tractor, and sprayer, and nearly twice the total chemical cost. If you owned vineyards and you’re livelihood depended on growing and selling perfect grapes, which path would you choose?
At Hydeout Sonoma, we are sustainable always, and organic whenever possible. And our clients happily (or grudgingly) pay the extra costs – knowing their kids and pets can safely play in the vineyard and (the adults) can safely drink the wine.
In May, most grapes will look like this…
Those same grapes grapes will look like this by late summer…
but left untreated, by Fall those grapes will look like this, ruined…
Mold and mildew must prevented early and all season (until the grapes start to color up or turn red, called verasion). Once you have it, no amount of irrigation or spraying will get you out of mildew trouble.
An uninformed person might drive past one of our organic spray programs and get pretty nervous hearing all the noise and seeing the chemical fog. This is what fully organic spraying can look like from a distance…
organic spray by tractor
And up close…
organic spray by tractor close up
This week, we are spraying a combination of 3 organic products, all approved by OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute).
OMRI is a non-profit that supports organic integrity by developing clear information and guidance about materials, so that producers know which products are appropriate for organic operations.
https://www.omri.org
- Sulfur 80: it’s just like what it sounds, basically naturally occurring sulfur in mineral form all crushed up, and then pulverized so that it will go into dispersable suspension with water,
- Sonata: is a bio-fungicide with live bacteria spores that induce plants’ natural defenses to resist disease development and anti-fungal compounds that have contact fungicidal activity.
- Syl-coat: is a nonionic surfactant which has been specifically designed to enhance the efficacy of pesticides. It is particularly effective when used with water-soluble mildewcides.
Along with managing organic pesticides, vineyard irrigation management is an equal challenge. Here is one sample image of how I manage our client’s vineyard irrigation from my cell phone.
See more Hydeout Sonoma blog entries at: https://www.hydeoutsonoma.com/welcome-to-the-hydeout-sonoma-blog/
Apr 3, 2018 | Sonoma, Vineyard, Wine
Join me for a quick visit to the Sonoma International Film (and food and wine) Festival, as seen through the eyes of Hydeout Sonoma:
Our houseguests during the festival were the director and stars of the documentary film, Grand Cru. Focussed on the trials and tribulations of farming and winemaking in Burgundy, famed winemaker Pascal Marchand is followed by the camera during the 2016 vintage as he works through hail, frost, mildew, low yields, and bureaucratic logjams in one of the most difficult vintages in Burgundy’s history.
http://www.marchand-tawse.com/en
Pascal’s wife, Amandine Marchand, manages the brand’s front office.
Following the film, Grand Cru, director David Eng (left) and Pascal participated in a lively Q&A.
https://www.grandcrufilm.com
Pascal, and his business partner, Moray Tawse, bottle wines, including many Grand Cru’s, under the Domaine Tawse and Marchand-Tawse.
Famed local historian, radio and newspaper personality, art collector, and all around local Sonoma booster Kathleen Hill MC’d the Q&A session.
http://kathleenthompsonhill.com
After the screening of Grand Cru, as is the tradition in Sonoma, the film crew, festival staff, and VIP’s headed over to a tasting room for some wine and cheese, this time to “Abbot’s Passage,” a new project by sixth-generation vintner Katie Bundchu (of Gundlach Bundchu)
http://www.abbotspassage.com
Abbot’s Passage 2014 “The Crossing”, is a delicious blend of Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cab Sauv., from fruit on Arrowhead Mountain, across the street from Hydeout Sonoma
That night, about 100 film festival guests enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime meal served up by some of the best chefs in the culinary world
https://devourfest.com
Joining me at our table was the always effervescent and unstoppable Rosemary McNeely, a woman of power in her own right, and also the wife of equally unstoppable film festival Executive Director Kevin McNeely
This was the dish served by Michelin-starred chef Dominique Crenn, of Atelier Crenn in SF. The photo does not do the dish justice. It was a truly mind-bending walk through a literal and figurative forest of flavors in every bite.
Dominque missed the chef photo op. Shown here are Michael Howell (Founder of the Devour Food Film Festival), John Toulze (Girl and the Fig), Evan Funke (Felix), John McReynolds (Stone Edge Farm), and Lia Rinaldo (Managing Director of Devour)
Dancing went on all night with a Frank (Sinatra) and Eva (Gardner) themed celebration
Jody Purdom (SIFF Development Director) and Cynthia Wornick (SIFF Board member) posed for a photo op in the big tent.
The wine documentary, “Andre”, the amazing life story of famed enologist Andre Tchelistcheff, thrilled local wine industry folks; many in the audience knew Andre personally and were often moved to tears.
http://themaestrofilm.com
Following the documentary film, “Jacques Pepin, the Art of Craft,” film sponsors Lori and Steve Bush (shown here) hosted us at Adastra Winery, with exquisite food from next door – from the Bush’s very popular Sonoma restaurant, OSO
http://ososonoma.com
Following the film, “Beyond the River,” film sponsors Gail and John Diserens hosted a fun party at Rancho Maria Winery, the newest tasting room on the Sonoma Square. Seen here is Sebastian Juarez, the owner-manager.
http://www.ranchomaria.com
Beth Schnitzer, co-founder of Spritz Marketing (the lead marketing agency for the Sonoma Film Festival), is always ready with a big smile and another fun idea!
http://spritzsf.com
See you in 2019 for another great Sonoma International Film Festival!
Next blog post: A winery on the equator? Yes! A pictorial tour by motorcycle of Colombia’s “Marques de Villa de Leyva.”
Mar 18, 2018 | Sonoma, Vineyard, Wine
Meet the winners of the Hydeout Sonoma blogpost contest. These 3 eagle-eyed readers spotted my-newt joke in the previous blog post….
For their efforts, they each received a bottle of 2016 “Dysfunctional Family” wine ( a new ‘second label’ project we introduced this vintage), a photo-op, and the incredible fame that comes with this post!
Lori Melancon, Lola Farms, Sonoma
Lori leads all gardening activities at Lola farm, and manages their organic certification program, and makes a truly farm-to-table lunch, less than 300 feet from the farm to the table; if you are lucky enough to be there at lunchtime. Lori, and husband Chris, also run a “Hog Share” program – It’s simple. You purchase a whole or portion of a live hog, called a share, and Lola Sonoma Farms handles the rest – from raising and harvesting the animal to coordinating with the butcher and ensuring you have a great experience throughout the process. Click on this link to visit, learn, shop…
http://www.lolasonoma.com
Sharon Knight, Tech Exec
Sharon’s new position at Hawthorne Effect brings her patient experience focus to the world of clinical trials where 10% – 50% of patients are lost to attrition and trials are riddled with missing data, weakening the assessment of drug and device efficacy and safety. Sharon’s linkedin page is:
Sharon Knight’s LinkedIn page
Sharon is headed to what she, and husband John Hornbaker, hope will be a life changing experience in Germany, in Uberlingen, above Lake Constance – which the Germans call Bodensee, a clinic for therapeutic fasting, integrative medicine and inspiration:
https://www.buchinger-wilhelmi.com/
Ken Stokes, Executive
Ken is busy with too many exciting things to count. Highlights include being the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Olin College Of Engineering outside Boston, Mass., serves on the Advisory Board of the Sonoma Valley Fund (which is part of the Community Foundation Sonoma County), and is a board member of the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. When it comes to giving back, Ken is the very definition.
http://www.olin.edu
http://www.sonomacf.org
http://www.svma.org
Upcoming blog post: We visit a winery at the equator, by motorcycle…
Jan 20, 2018 | Sonoma, Wine
In my final post on the 2017 Sonoma Firestorm, (Part 3) come along as we hike through Arrowhead Mountain, the southernmost flank of the Mayacamas Mountains that splits Napa and Sonoma Counties.
The hike started at the base of Arrowhead mountain and climbed up to +/-750 feet elevation near the Sonoma/Napa County line, just above local wineries Gundlach Bundschu, Scribe, and Nicholson Ranch. Along the way, we discovered proof of nature’s power as plants and animals of all varieties are making a comeback.
Above is the ‘normal’ view, pre-October 2017 firestorm, looking south into San Pablo Bay.
And this would be the typical view of native oaks, shrubs, grasses and deer trails.
And this is what we found on January 16th, 2018, at about 700 feet of elevation, also looking south to San Pablo Bay.
And close up view of burned oak and manzanita.
We were lead by the Sonoma Ecology Center ‘Restoration Program Manager’ Mark Newhouser
And Sonoma Ecology Center “Biologist and Research Program Director” Caitlin Cornwall
And Bilingual Educator and ‘master of gate locks’ Alana Fichman
It’s alive! This little fella was crossing the road. It is a California Newt (Taricha Torosa). Glands in the skin release a neurotoxin hundreds of times more potent than cyanide (by volume) which in the case of a newt is minute (mynewt, get it?) Free bottle of red wine to the first reader to alert me that you read this joke, reply to this post please…
Pieces of rock chunked away by the roaring heat of the firestorm.
…with bits exploded off the surface of the Rhyolitic outcroppings.
Now let’s explore the plants enjoying a recovery.
This is Chemise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) first burned in the fire, and then cut by firefighters along the roadway, now making a fast recovery.
And this is what Chemise should look like in a few short months.
Here is a young Madrone pushing new growth before the burned leaves have even fallen away, very unusual for January.
Same for this live oak, rapidly pushing new growth high up on the tree. This is why everyone is cautioned not to be too quick about cutting down seemingly dead trees. Many of our native species are built to absorb some fire and push new growth.
This is Fremont Lily (Zigadenus fremontii) making a fast comeback.
And what it will look like come April!
This is ‘bear grass’ (Xerophyllum tenax) coming back in a location that must have burned very hot given the absolute torching of the manzanita and rocks.
We should find it in this gorgeous flowering stage in just a few short months.
That fried manzanita from a different view.
And what to expect after recovery.
And last, the absolute dreaded and very invasive Broom – Scotch, Portuguese, and French (V. Cytisus), they quickly crowd out the natives, live only 7 to 8 years, and then present a huge hazard, burning very fast and hot.
And despite its ability to spread quickly drowning out all the natives, it is pretty on roadsides and hills, and are therefore presumed by some to be OK.
Want to learn more:
Link to Sonoma Ecology Center
Link to the next SEC hike
Link to topo map of Arrowhead Mountain, Sonoma
Link to Sonoma County Recovery web site
The author, Ken Wornick, of Hydeout Sonoma Consulting
Link to Hydeout Sonoma
Dec 24, 2017 | Sonoma, Vineyard, Wine
Congratulations to these three Hydeout Consulting clients – each of whom released their innaugural vintage this week. Each has a unique story to tell…
SOVARE 2016 Sonoma Valley red blend – This client spared no expense in the farming and winemaking to produce a unique ultra-premium inky red. It is a field blend of equal parts Sangiovese, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon from their rugged hillside vineyard on the flanks of Sonoma Mountain, just south of Kenwood. Aged in 50% new French oak and 50% one-year old American oak, it is a deep, dark, and spicy wine with evident body, offers superb balance between tannins and acidity, and will age to perfection over time. The name ‘Sovare’ deconstructed means ‘Sonoma Valley Red.’ This wine will be available only in the Bay Area and New York.
Little Gidding 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon – 100% estate Cabernet, an incredible hillside vineyard also flanking Sonoma Mountain, just 2 very special acres wrapping around a steep hillside with exposures to the east, south, and west, the wine was aged in 100% new French oak, and is a direct hit for what Sonoma Cabernet can be – austere, bright, cherry red, with smooth elegant tannins right out of the gate. Available only through Little Gidding in Sonoma.
Dysfunctional Family Winery 2016 red blend – purposefully irreverent, and intended to make light of all the ‘perfect families’ so often featured in the wine press, this client has a contrarium approach and loves wines that are bravely blended from multiple varieties and sources from widely varying sites around Sonoma Valley. This wine is 35% Syrah (from the valley floor), 25% Cabernet (Sonoma Mountain), 20% Merlot (Carneros), and 20% Zin (Kenwood).
For more info, see these links:
click here for more Hydeout Sonoma blog entries
Sonoma Mountain make singular wines
or here for world’s oldest man drinks a glass of red wine every day!
Sonoma Magazine’s top wine of 2017
Happy holidays to all our wonderful subscribers. See you in 2018!
