“Strange year!” That’s the (apt) summary that winemaker and grower Steve Matthiasson gave me when I asked him how things were looking in Napa as they approached harvest of what has been one of the craziest growing seasons in recent memory. There’s been much speculation in the wine press as to the impact that the…
Category: California wine
“Deep” Freeze = “Deep” Discounts? Thoughts on N. Cal’s Strange Summer Days
It’s not really a deep freeze, of course – it’s simply been a wet and (very) mild Summer in Northern California. Just about anything with leaves that produces fruit was weeks behind schedule in terms of ripening. If you scan the ‘global interwebs’ on the topic, it might strike you that the sky is about…
Turn Turn Turn: A Time For A Right Banker In Napa Valley?
To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn) There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn) And a time to every purpose, under Heaven – The Byrds Let’s play a little game of word association. I say “Carneros” and you say… ___________. Budding wine geeks and geekettes out there would likely answer “Pinot Noir” or “Chardonnay” or “Sparklers” or…
Crouching Price, Hidden Ridge: When Lowering a Wine’s Price Can Work
Hidden Ridge Vineyard is technically in Sonoma County, though it’s a stone’s throw from Pride Mountain Winery and is pretty close to Napa, as the crow flies. But in order to actually get to Hidden Ridge’s insanely, almost Mosel-esque steep vineyards in any reasonable amount of time, you’d need to travel as the crow flies. …