Grape Chemistry as of 9/15/11

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Varietal

Date

Sugar (Brix)

pH

Total Acidity (%)

Primitivo

       9-9-11*    

22.7

3.24

1.02

 

9-15-11

24.4

3.39

1.01

 

 

 

 

 

Barbera

9-15-11

23.2

3.04

1.53

 

 

 

 

 

Touriga Nacional (Quinta)

9-15-11

20.9

3.14

0.88

 *The values for 9-9-11 are the mean of two independent samples from the whole primitivo field.

Comments:  The primitivo showed nice progress in ripening in terms of brix and pH.  The relative lack of movement on TA may be related (we speculate) to the fact that we waited an extra day plus to analyze the 9-9-11 sample for TA, waiting for a reagent.  Potentially the acid level was not completely stable in the sample, resulting in a lower value than might have been obtained in a fresh sample.  In any event, we are very confident in the most recent TAs, all conducted on fresh juice samples.  The data suggest optimal harvest in 1-2 weeks, again depending on personal preferences and logistical considerations for individual clients.

The first barbera reading showed an expected high level of acid (and low pH), though not the most extreme we have seen for a first sample of the season.  More hang time is clearly needed, and the reasonable brix reading at this juncture gives us plenty of runway.  A mid-October harvest is still in reach.

The first touriga nacional sample (Quinta) showed lower brix than we expected, but the lowest TA of three varietals sampled.  We are targeting a Saturday harvest to accomodate all the Quinta shareholders, and though it’s too early to set this date based on the one data point, we would currently suggest no earlier than October 8, more likely October 15, and probably no later than October 22.

Vineyard Diary

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An unbroken string of 90+ degree days extending for several weeks back into August finally came to an end yesterday, though we received no measurable rain out of thunderstorms which appeared to rage just to our east.  We managed to avoid a single triple-digit day this summer, which is remarkable for our area.  The break in the weather came just in time, as heat and dessicating winds we’re just starting to make the barbera vines look thirsty, and now we should be able to keep the vines adequately irrigated with our normal irrigation rotation.

The first primitivo chemistry samples were taken on Friday, and suggest about 2 weeks to harvest.  We’ve noted some areas heavy with “seconds”–bunches that often form off of side branches of the main shoots–so we are removing those to focus the vines’ last couple weeks of sugar accumulation on the main clusters.  Otherwise, it will be all about keeping the birds off the fruit, which is tasting good now (both to us and them) and monitoring the ripening.

The “new touriga” field proved to be heavy on fruit once veraison kicked into gear, but catching this mid-veraison allowed us to selectively remove the less advanced clusters, and we dropped about 1/3 of the crop in all.  This vineyard will be mostly or completely covered with bird netting given its proximity to trees and the need for adequate hang time.  We now think that a mid-October harvest is likely for this field.

The barbera is coming along very nicely, and is at a point now where the green “seconds”–which don’t get harvested–stand out clearly from the main clusters.  Unless a vine is particularly light on main crop and thus in need of a sink for some of its sugar production, we plan remove these easily recognized smaller clusters, which can be heavy on barbera with our vertical cordon “trellising”.  Our first chemistry sample for the barbera will be taken this Thursday, and we suspect that it will already show sugars in the mid-20’s brix, and the only question will be how high the TA (and how low the pH) is.  Particularly with the break in the heat that is forecast, we’re optimistic that we’ll get plenty of hang time for the barbera, and still expect harvest in mid-October.  If there is risk to this prediction, we would expect it to be earlier and not later.

The Quinta (Portugese varietal vineyard) appears to be in great shape as we head down the homestrech, with the souzao now well into veraison.  The tempranillo would be pickable now if harvested on its own, but we are (as per plan) waiting for full ripening of the touriga nacional–the backbone of the Quinta’s five varietals–to drive the timing of harvest for the balance.  We did just a little fruit dropping and hedging of shoots to fine-tune crop load and sun exposure, respectively, and time is on our side with the grapes fully protected form birds by overhead netting.  We’ll take our first chemistry on the touriga this Thursday, though we anticipate it will probably take at least a  second reading next week before we’ll be able to confidently pick a harvest date and announce this for our Quinta shareholders.  Of note–if this were Portugal–our weather pattern this year would have all the classic features of a vintage port year, and as we aspire to have wines made from the Quinta rivaling the quality of a single quinta vintage port, this is good!

 

Grape Chemistry as of 9/9/11 (updated)

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Varietal

Date

Sugar (Brix)

pH

Total Acidity (%)

Primitivo

9-9-11 (#1)*

22.0

3.23

1.02

 

9-9-11 (#2)*

23.4

3.25

1.02

 

      9-9-11 (mean)

22.7

3.24

1.02

 *Given field heterogeneity, two independent samples–each from the whole field– were collected and processed. 

Comments:  The two samples–despite coming from the same “population” of vines–show some differences, especially in the brix values, thus providing some measure of the potential sampling error in our approximately ~10 lb samples of grapes.  There is heterogeneity in ripening between vines and between clusters, so some sampling error is inevitable, and one should keep this in mind. Nevertheless, the overall picture is of a primitivo vineyard well on its way ripeness, though not quite there.  This is evident in all the values above, as well as on juice color and juice taste.  The juice is a little lighter than we like to see in fully ripe primitivo. The juice is delicious to drink, which in our experience marks a point a little before the ripeness is ideal for primitivo (at the latter time it tastes a little overly sweet).  We would estimate about 2 weeks to harvest, depending on the weather and depending on the tastes of individual clients.  Some might like it a little earlier, and some might like it a little later, but a September harvest still looks very likely.

Vineyard Gallery as of 9/8/11

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Looking east down a barbera row on 9/8/11.  Main fruit clusters are almost fully colored; seconds remain green.

 

Looking west down a primitivo row on 9/8/11.  Veraison essentially complete in main fruit clusters; some leaf senescence toward base of shoots.

Looking west at “new” touriga nacional (2009) on 9/8/11.  Veraison almost complete on main fruit clusters.

Touriga nacional row in “The Quinta”.  Nothing left but the waiting…

 

Current Grape Availability as of 9/9/11

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Varietal

Amount Still Available for Sale

Expected Optimal Harvest Time

Price ($)/lb

(<1000 lb/ > 1000 lb)

Barbera

2.8 tons

Mid October

0.75/0.625

Primitivo*

Sold Out

Late September

0.75/0.65

Touriga**

Sold Out

Mid October

0.75/0.65

Mixed Port Grapes

       Sold Out-       IPO Complete

Early October

NA***

* Accepting wait list applicants for primitivo.  No deposit, no obligation, and we’ll inform you (depending on order on wait list–first come, first served) if there is primitivo available for sale after all current orders have been filled.

**2009 grafted.

***Fixed price of $200 per share.

Port Grape “Shares”  for Sale

Available for sale for the first time are shares in the 2011 production of our “port” vineyard consisting of (in expected order of decreasing proportion) touriga nacional, tempranillo, tinto cao, souzao, and tinta amarella.  A share ($200) entitles the holder to 10% of the 2011 production of each varietal from our 2005-planted estate “port” vineyard that we call The Quinta.  The grapes are, in fact, suitable for both dry and dessert style wines.  This is a unique opportunity for persons working on a home winemaking scale to easily access, in one-stop fashion, the blend of relatively obscure varietal grapes that would go into a Portuguese port-style wine.  Such wines are notable for their complexity and ability to age well.

Current Grape Availability as of 9-6-11

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Varietal

Amount Still Available for Sale

Expected Optimal Harvest Time

Price ($)/lb

(<1000 lb/ > 1000 lb)

Barbera

3.3 tons

Mid October

0.75/0.625

Primitivo*

Sold Out

Late September

0.75/0.65

Touriga**

Sold Out

Early October

0.75/0.65

Mixed Port Grapes

1 share

Early October

NA***

* Accepting wait list applicants for primitivo.  No deposit, no obligation, and we’ll inform you (based on order on wait list–first come, first served) if there is primitivo available for sale once all current orders have been filled.

**2009 grafted.

***Fixed price of $200 per share.

Port Grape “Shares”  for Sale

Available for sale for the first time are shares in the 2011 production of our “port” vineyard consisting of (in expected order of decreasing proportion) touriga nacional, tempranillo, tinto cao, souzao, and tinta amarella.  A share ($200) entitles the holder to 10% of the 2011 production of each varietal from our 2005-planted estate “port” vineyard that we call The Quinta.  The grapes are, in fact, suitable for both dry and dessert style wines.  This is a unique opportunity for persons working on a home winemaking scale to easily access, in one-stop fashion, the blend of relatively obscure varietal grapes that would go into a Portuguese port-style wine.  Such wines are notable for their complexity and ability to age well.

Q&A on Quinta Shares

Q: How much grapes do I get for a share?

A:  Welcome to farming; we cannot guarentee a specific amount!  The estimated total production (given viticultural practices and multiple years of experience) is 2500 lbs.  Thus, the target is 250 lb/share.  If we come up as much as 10% short (eg as little as 2250 lbs), no adjustment will be made to the share price.  If we come up greater than 10% short, the share price will be pro-rated downward.  If we exceed our production targets, shareholders keep the gain at no additional cost.  For example, if total production is 2800 lbs, a share would entitle the holder to receive 280 lbs of grapes for the same fixed share price.

Q: What mix of grapes will I receive for a share?

A:  The vineyard has been planted to yield proportions of grapes suitable for a high-quality port.  Nevertheless, the proportions will vary from year-to-year depending on varietal-specific yield.  For example, in 2011, we are likely to have relatively more touriga nacional than tempranillo or tinto cao due to some early season frost (Most would not regard this as a problem!).  So, the answer is that one share will entitle the shareholder to receive 10% of the production of each varietal, whatever that is.  For example,  If we get 1500 lbs of touriga nacional, 400 lbs of tempranillo, 300 lbs of tinto cao, 150 lbs of souzao, and 100 lbs of tinta amarella, a single share will entitle the holder to receive (separate but on the same day) 150 lbs of touriga nacional, 40 lbs of tempranillo, 30 lbs of tinto cao, 15 lbs of souzao, and 10 lbs of tinta amarella.

Q: How will this work logistically?

A: On a designated weekend harvest day that Shaker Ridge will announce with as much lead time as possible, likely in early October, the entire Quinta will be harvested in the morning, and the total yield of each varietal determined on our certified scale.  This number, divided by ten (there are 10 shares total), will determine the amount of each grape to be distributed for a share.  Shareholders will be invited, beginning mid-day, to pick up their grapes.

 

Q: Does Shaker Ridge have any track record with these grapes?

A: Yes, and we think a pretty good one.  The vineyard was planted in 2005, and we have been making wine with the grapes since 2007.  Our first attempt at a serious port-style wine (our 2008 “Dorado”) was entered in regional home wine competitions for the first time this year.  It earned a gold medal, Best of Show, at the 2011 El Dorado County Fair, a double gold at the 2011 Orange County Fair, and a silver at the 2011 Amador County Fair.  Our dry red blend made from the same grapes, same vintage was entered only at the El Dorado County Fair and earned a gold medal.  A homemade touriga nacional varietal wine made from the 2009 vintage also earned a gold medal at the El Dorado County Fair.  A commercial touriga wine made from the 2009 vintage (by Obscurity Cellars of Fair Play) earned a gold medal at the California State Fair, and silver medals at both the El Dorado and Amador County fairs.  We think that our viticultural practices have only improved with experience since these vintages…

Current Grape Availability as of 9-3-11

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Varietal

Amount Still Available for Sale

Expected Optimal Harvest Time

Price ($)/lb

(<1000 lb/ > 1000 lb)

Barbera

3.3 tons

Mid October

0.75/0.625

Primitivo

0.5 tons

Late September

0.75/0.65

Touriga*

Sold Out

Early October

0.75/0.65

Mixed Port Grapes

1 share

Early October

NA**

* 2009 grafted.

**Fixed price of $200 per share.

Port Grape “Shares”  for Sale

Available for sale for the first time are shares in the 2011 production of our “port” vineyard consisting of (in expected order of decreasing proportion) touriga nacional, tempranillo, tinto cao, souzao, and tinta amarella.  A share ($200) entitles the holder to 10% of the 2011 production of each varietal from our 2005-planted estate “port” vineyard that we call The Quinta.  The grapes are, in fact, suitable for both dry and dessert style wines.  This is a unique opportunity for persons working on a home winemaking scale to easily access, in one-stop fashion, the blend of relatively obscure varietal grapes that would go into a Portuguese port-style wine.  Such wines are notable for their complexity and ability to age well.

Q&A on Quinta Shares

Q: How much grapes do I get for a share?

A:  Welcome to farming; we cannot guarentee a specific amount!  The estimated total production (given viticultural practices and multiple years of experience) is 2500 lbs.  Thus, the target is 250 lb/share.  If we come up as much as 10% short (eg as little as 2250 lbs), no adjustment will be made to the share price.  If we come up greater than 10% short, the share price will be pro-rated downward.  If we exceed our production targets, shareholders keep the gain at no additional cost.  For example, if total production is 2800 lbs, a share would entitle the holder to receive 280 lbs of grapes for the same fixed share price.

Q: What mix of grapes will I receive for a share?

A:  The vineyard has been planted to yield proportions of grapes suitable for a high-quality port.  Nevertheless, the proportions will vary from year-to-year depending on varietal-specific yield.  For example, in 2011, we are likely to have relatively more touriga nacional than tempranillo or tinto cao due to some early season frost (Most would not regard this as a problem!).  So, the answer is that one share will entitle the shareholder to receive 10% of the production of each varietal, whatever that is.  For example,  If we get 1500 lbs of touriga nacional, 400 lbs of tempranillo, 300 lbs of tinto cao, 150 lbs of souzao, and 100 lbs of tinta amarella, a single share will entitle the holder to receive (separate but on the same day) 150 lbs of touriga nacional, 40 lbs of tempranillo, 30 lbs of tinto cao, 15 lbs of souzao, and 10 lbs of tinta amarella.

Q: How will this work logistically?

A: On a designated weekend harvest day that Shaker Ridge will announce with as much lead time as possible, likely in early October, the entire Quinta will be harvested in the morning, and the total yield of each varietal determined on our certified scale.  This number, divided by ten (there are 10 shares total), will determine the amount of each grape to be distributed for a share.  Shareholders will be invited, beginning mid-day, to pick up their grapes.

Q: Does Shaker Ridge have any track record with these grapes?

A: Yes, and we think a pretty good one.  The vineyard was planted in 2005, and we have been making wine with the grapes since 2007.  Our first attempt at a serious port-style wine (our 2008 “Dorado”) was entered in regional home wine competitions for the first time this year.  It earned a gold medal, Best of Show, at the 2011 El Dorado County Fair, a double gold at the 2011 Orange County Fair, and a silver at the 2011 Amador County Fair.  Our dry red blend made from the same grapes, same vintage was entered only at the El Dorado County Fair and earned a gold medal.  A homemade touriga nacional varietal wine made from the 2009 vintage also earned a gold medal at the El Dorado County Fair.  A commercial touriga wine made from the 2009 vintage (by Obscurity Cellars of Fair Play) earned a gold medal at the California State Fair, and silver medals at both the El Dorado and Amador County fairs.  We think that our viticultural practices have only improved with experience since these vintages…

Vineyard Diary

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The last several weeks have continued the previously mentioned pattern of hot days and cool nights, but without any triple-digit temperature readings.  The lack of super-hot days is highly unusual for a Foothills summer, though a welcome development for both the vines and the humans that tend them.  But make no mistake about it:  it’s still been plenty hot and dry in the afternoons!   We still think we’re on track for a ripening schedule similar to last year, with primitivo in late September, touriga in early October, and barbera in mid-October.  But, like always, we’ll let the grape chemistry and grape flavors guide us as we get closer. 

The primitivo fruit is particularly heterogenous in its ripening this year, both within a cluster and between vines.  The former is typical of a zinfandel family grape, but seems particularly pronounced this year, both in terms of berry size and berry color.  Presumably this has to do with an extended bloom period.  So we will wait at least until we get uniform color in the fruit before we bother taking chemistries, and we’ll need to be particularly attentive to sampling practices to get a representative read.  Fruit load is generally light to average, with the more vigorous plants carrying more fruit than the less vigorous ones, the primitivo seeming to self-adjust well.  We have already netted about 1/4 of this vineyard in the section closest to trees and most likely to be attacked by birds.  Indeed, we were too late for a few row-end plants that were already cleaned out.

The barbera vines, as noted in the vineyard gallery, have never looked better at this point in the season in our experience.  Veraison is in progress but behind that of the primitivo, as usual.  The vines are dark green and healthy, so seem well-positioned to ripen the fruit in this late season.  Crop load would have been uniformly light, but we’ve achieved what we think will be close-to-target yields by retaining part of most of our kicker canes, adding back some fruit load.  We’ll be watching the vines, and the grape clusters should tell us by their color if a given vine is overburdened, in which case fruit can be dropped from that vine.  However, this is likely to be a rare occurence this season.

The “new” (2009) touriga nacional has an average fruit load and has just started veraison.  We had seen some water stress earlier in this field, so it’s been getting extra irrigation for a few weeks, and appears okay now.    This field has trees adjacent to two sides and so is the next candidate for bird netting, though we have a little time before this needs to be deployed.  Again, we’ll be watching veraison to see if any individual vines seem to have too much fruit, but we think shoot thinning removed most of the excess.

The “quinta” vineyard of Portugese varietals is looking very good at this point and is completely enclosed in bird netting.  As usual, the rolling out of the overhead netting was an iterative process wherein we let the birds tell us if there were holes, and there were.  So we kept fixing holes and gaps, and we haven’t seen any unwanted avian visitors inside the net for 4 days now.  This is important, because the tempranillo is fully turned color now and would be decimated in short order if the birds could find a way in.   The touriga nacional and the other Portugese varietals except the souzao have started veraison at this point.  This vineyard appears to be on cruise control, and we’ll started monitoring the touriga nacional chemistry in early to mid September to hone in on a harvest date.  We look forward to a visit from some of our quinta “shareholders” on September 3rd. 

Just a final note that two 10% shares of the Quinta, a ton plus of primitivo, and 3 tons plus of barbera remain available for sale.

Vineyard Gallery as of 8-23-11

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Barbera vineyard looking from north on 8-22-11.  We don’t think we’ve ever seen the barbera vines looking this good so late in the season.  Though not visible from this distant shot, veraison is in progress.

Primitivo vineyard looking from west on 8-23-11.  Generally healthy vines and veraison well underway.

A grape-laden primitivo vine on 8-23-11.  This one is on the back hilltop which runs ahead of the rest of the primitivo vineyard in ripening, but illustrating that dark grapes really are on their way!

 

Looking down a row of the Portugese varietal vineyard (the Quinta) on 8-23-11.  This vineyard is completely netted with overhead netting at this point to protect from birds.

Current Grape Availability as of 8-11-11

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Varietal

Amount Still Available for Sale

Expected Optimal Harvest Time

Price ($)/lb

(<1000 lb/ > 1000 lb)

Barbera

3.5 tons

Mid October

0.75/0.625

Primitivo

1.3 tons

Late September

0.75/0.65

Touriga*

Sold Out

Early October

0.75/0.65

Mixed Port Grapes

2 shares

Early October

NA**

* 2009 grafted.

**Fixed price of $200 per share.

Port Grape “Shares”  for Sale

Available for sale for the first time are shares in the 2011 production of our “port” vineyard consisting of (in expected order of decreasing proportion) touriga nacional, tempranillo, tinto cao, souzao, and tinta amarella.  A share ($200) entitles the holder to 10% of the 2011 production of each varietal from our 2005-planted estate “port” vineyard that we call The Quinta.  The grapes are, in fact, suitable for both dry and dessert style wines.  This is a unique opportunity for persons working on a home winemaking scale to easily access, in one-stop fashion, the blend of relatively obscure varietal grapes that would go into a Portuguese port-style wine.  Such wines are notable for their complexity and ability to age well.

Q&A on Quinta Shares

Q: How much grapes do I get for a share?

A:  Welcome to farming; we cannot guarentee a specific amount!  The estimated total production (given viticultural practices and multiple years of experience) is 2500 lbs.  Thus, the target is 250 lb/share.  If we come up as much as 10% short (eg as little as 2250 lbs), no adjustment will be made to the share price.  If we come up greater than 10% short, the share price will be pro-rated downward.  If we exceed our production targets, shareholders keep the gain at no additional cost.  For example, if total production is 2800 lbs, a share would entitle the holder to receive 280 lbs of grapes for the same fixed share price.

Q: What mix of grapes will I receive for a share?

A:  The vineyard has been planted to yield proportions of grapes suitable for a high-quality port.  Nevertheless, the proportions will vary from year-to-year depending on varietal-specific yield.  For example, in 2011, we are likely to have relatively more touriga nacional than tempranillo or tinto cao due to some early season frost (Most would not regard this as a problem!).  So, the answer is that one share will entitle the shareholder to receive 10% of the production of each varietal, whatever that is.  For example,  If we get 1500 lbs of touriga nacional, 400 lbs of tempranillo, 300 lbs of tinto cao, 150 lbs of souzao, and 100 lbs of tinta amarella, a single share will entitle the holder to receive (separate but on the same day) 150 lbs of touriga nacional, 40 lbs of tempranillo, 30 lbs of tinto cao, 15 lbs of souzao, and 10 lbs of tinta amarella.

Q: How will this work logistically?

A: On a designated weekend harvest day that Shaker Ridge will announce with as much lead time as possible, likely in early October, the entire Quinta will be harvested in the morning, and the total yield of each varietal determined on our certified scale.  This number, divided by ten (there are 10 shares total), will determine the amount of each grape to be distributed for a share.  Shareholders will be invited, beginning mid-day, to pick up their grapes.

Q: Does Shaker Ridge have any track record with these grapes?

A: Yes, and we think a pretty good one.  The vineyard was planted in 2005, and we have been making wine with the grapes since 2007.  Our first attempt at a serious port-style wine (our 2008 “Dorado”) was entered in regional home wine competitions for the first time this year.  It earned a gold medal, Best of Show, at the 2011 El Dorado County Fair, a double gold at the 2011 Orange County Fair, and a silver at the 2011 Amador County Fair.  Our dry red blend made from the same grapes, same vintage was entered only at the El Dorado County Fair and earned a gold medal.  A homemade touriga nacional varietal wine made from the 2009 vintage also earned a gold medal at the El Dorado County Fair.  A commercial touriga wine made from the 2009 vintage (by Obscurity Cellars of Fair Play) earned a gold medal at the California State Fair, and silver medals at both the El Dorado and Amador County fairs.  We think that our viticultural practices have only improved with experience since these vintages…