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Highlights from our May 2008 Vineyard Tour
1978 was a great year for the premium grapes of California's North Coast. It started with a tad of frost and ended with a modest-sized harvest of outstanding quality. I still have some Heitz's Martha's Vineyard in the basement. 2008 has given California another Spring freeze. On top of the freeze there was cool weather after bud-break.
Photo: Looking through rows to the crest of our Alexander Valley Syrah vineyard.
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Last week the temperature changed, we endured 105° F plus temperatures for our Vineyard Tour and WineMaker Magazine's wine conference. The grapes are surviving, bloom has begun, the market for premium and non-premium grapes is tightening, and the prices for everything are rising. It will be a couple of weeks before the full effects of this Spring may be realized. Many vineyards will have reduced yields, and the harvest may be delayed a bit.
Brehm Vineyards 2008 Vineyard Tours were wonderful for Paul, Faye and I. We did not loose a bus off a perilous mountain cliff, and we had a wonderful time meeting face to face with our customers. I will be asking Paul to set up a site where photos can be exchanged. There were up to 40 cameras clicking on many occasions. Clients enjoyed walking the vineyards, talking to the growers, giving wine to the growers, and escaping into a cool cave. I'll attempt to relay the conditions of each vineyard on our web site. It would be interesting to see and read what our client's impressions are. I'm sure it was nice to shake the hand of the grower, and touch the leaf of the plant from which one has been making wine.
Below are some photos from our tour. To see all the photos from our May 14th and 15th Vineyard Tour, Please Click Here.
Photo: Mark Dommen discussing Willey's Windsor Zinfandel.
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Photo: Tony Georgi discussing the Alexander Valley Syrah.
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Photo: Steve Sangiacomo at Sanciacomo Family Vineyard's Montini Ranch discussing the Carneros Merlot.
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Photo: Peter and Faye Brehm.
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Photo: Peter Brehm and Francis Mahoney.
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Photo: (From Left ) Justin Laird, Peter Brehm and John Caldwell at the Chardonnay Golf Club luncheon.
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Photo: (From Left ) Tim Patterson and John Caldwell entering the Caldwell Winery Caves.
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