Grapes Available from Shaker Ridge

2011 Grape Production and Pricing:

Single Varietal:

                                   * See "Grower Update" page for current total tons still available and likely harvest time.

Mixed Port Varietals:

Prices quoted above include picking by Shaker Ridge; however, pickup is generally the responsibility of the client. Suitable containers must also be provided for transport. The minimum order is 250 lbs.

*“Buy the Quinta”:  For a fixed price of $1750, receive the entire 2011 production of our approximately half-acre vineyard of Portugese varietal grapes planted in 2005, which are grown in proportions suitable for a traditional port-style blend or an exquisite dry red blend. The estimated production, which Shaker Ridge will manage, is as follows:

• 1400 lb touriga nacional
• 450 lb tempranillo
• 400 lb tinto cao
• 150 lb souzao
• 100 lb tinta amarella

Included in the price are up to 4 separate harvests to capture the varietals at their respective peaks of ripeness.  However, if the client would prefer fewer harvests for logistical reasons, this will be accommodated.  As we are focused on quality, we will try not to significantly exceed our yield estimates through appropriate viticultural practices (e.g. shoot thinning, fruit dropping).  If total production in the "Quinta" (2005 vineyard) exceeds ours estimates, the surplus is yours to keep.  Alternatively, the fixed price will be adjusted proportionately downward only if total yield is less than 90% of the 2500-lb target. 

** 10% Shares in the Quinta:  If the Quinta has not been sold by July 1, we will make available 10% shares in the total production of the Quinta (10 shares total).  This scale may be especially suitable for home winemakers interested in making a port-style wine.  In this instance, a single optimal harvest date will be selected by Shaker Ridge, based mainly on the ripeness of the touriga nacional.  This will mean that early-ripening grapes (eg, tempranillo) will be somewhat overripe and late-ripening grapes (eg, souzao) will be somewhat underripe, but allows for a single convenient pickup date for all clients on a weekend day (likely in the latter half of September) which will be announced by early September.   Though all grapes will all be picked on the same day, the varietals will be kept separate, and each "share" will entitle the holder to 10% of the total harvest of each of the 5 varietals in the Quinta.

Services & Payment
Shaker Ridge will work with you to optimize the time of harvest to meet your specific goals. Please let us know what style of wine you are targeting, and we can communicate as necessary via phone or e-mail as harvest time approaches.  We plan to provide weekly updates of grape chemistry (i.e., sugars, total acid, and pH) in a table on the "Grower Update" page so that you can better plan your optimal harvest time.
 

Full payment is expected at the time of pickup of the grapes unless other arrangements have been made in advance. While we do our best to conservatively estimate our yield, farming is subject to the vagaries of nature, and harvests cannot be guaranteed with 100% certainty. Shaker Ridge will do its very best to provide our grapes in the quantities reserved, and we will inform you as soon as possible in the event of a shortfall. Moreover, we will help you, if desired, make alternate arrangements for Foothills grapes of the same varietal through our contacts.

For home winemakers who may not have the facilities, we will crush and de-stem orders of up to 500 lbs of grapes upon request. Due to the significant amount of time required to thoroughly clean our crusher-destemmer following use, we do charge a $50 fee for this service.