2009 Syrah

Rancho de Voladores Vineyard

Paso Robles, CA

Harvest Date: October 10, 2009

1.695 lbs. of fruit processed, yielding 169.5 gallons of must

Brix: 24.2, pH: 4.1, TA: 4.5

Innoculated with 200g of FX 10 on 10/12/09

Punched down 2 times/day

Pressed on 10/27/09

Finished gallons: 135.6

Barrel Aging: in French Oak + 1 Neutral Oak

Estimated Alcohol: 14.%

2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

Smoot’s Oak Shadow Vineyard

Paso Robles, CA

Harvest Date: October 24, 2009

1.4425 tons harvested, yielding 288.5 gallons of must

Brix, 22.6, pH: 3.74, TA: 6.6

Innoculated with Vintage Red Yeast on 10/26/09

Pressed: 11/5/09

Finished Gallons: 224.5

Barrel Aging: 1 French Oak + 1 American Oak + 1 Neutral Oak

Estimated Alcohol: 13.3%

2009 Zinfandel

Templeton Hills Vineyard

Templeton, CA

Harvest Date: October 31, 2009

.827 tons of fruit processed, yielding 165.4 gallons of must

Brix: 29.2, pH: 3.96, TA: 11.5

Added 10% water to bring sugar down to 26.5 brix

Acid added to bring down pH to 3.75

Pressed: 11/16/09

Finished Gallons: 114

Barrel Aging: 1 American Oak (59 gal.) + 20 gal. French Oak

Estimated Alcohol: 15.5%

Goal to have acid below 3.8 to help preserve the wine.  If pH is above 3.8 spoilage bacteria can grow.

Do you have trouble deciding what wine to pour on Thanksgiving?  When considering all of the different types of foods and people that may be dining with you, this is sometimes a difficult decision.  But never fear, there are some general rules you can follow so that the bird you are carving ends up being the only turkey served on Thursday.

The difficulty choosing the “perfect” wine for Thanksgiving stems from the fact that you’re not only trying to match the wine to the turkey.  There are all of the other sweet and savory dishes to take into consideration, as well as the taste preferences of your guests. Do you pull out that expensive, Grand Cru you’ve been saving for a special occasion when some of your guests prefer White Zin, or do you simply pour some inexpensive palatable wines?  I do both.

While I know that some of the people at the table may not especially appreciate fine wine, I certainly like to have a glass of it with my dinner.  So I usually open a few inexpensive but good wines to get things started and then save the nice Chardonnay or Pinot to compliment the dinner I have prepared.  I have generally found that even those in my family who aren’t avid wine drinkers, generally enjoy the nicer wines and who knows, maybe I’m helping them refine their wine palate.

Other than Chardonnay or Pinot Noirs that are the general recommendations, here are a few other suggestions that are both easy on your wallet and your tongue and should pair nicely with your Thanksgiving dinner:

Rose – virtually any Rose will work nicely.  By the way, we happen to be producing a lot of these in the Paso Robles area these days.  From Cabernet to Zinfandel, many local winemakers are crafting some very nice, dry Rose wines from our region.

Whites – Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon (or Fume) Blanc, Riesling, Pouilly-Fume and Sancerre, Champagnes and sparkling wines.

Reds – Chianti Classico, Rioja Crianza, Merlot, light-bodied Rhone style wines and Beaujolais-Villages.

In Paso Robles, one of my favorite Chardonnays comes from Cinquain Cellars.  A small, boutique winery in the NE part of the Paso Robles AVA.  As to Pinot Noirs — though we aren’t known for them in Paso — there are a few wineries producing some nice ones.  Check out Jack Creek Cellars 2007 Pinot Noir.  (I prefer the 2007 Estate over the Reserve.) Jack Creek also produces a nice Chardonnay.   Roger Nicolas from RN Estates also produces a very nice Pinot Noir, as does Bob Nicolaysen of Nicolaysen Family Vineyards.

If you visit Paso Robles (or live here), stop by these wineries and check out these wines.  Cinquain Cellars and RN Estates are both by appointment only but definitely worth the effort.

So don’t be a turkey on Thanksgiving!  Serve some decent, mid-priced, ight-to-medium bodied wines and EVERYONE will be happy.  (If that’s possible at a family gathering!)

Until next time…Swirl, sniff, sip, and enjoy.

Good food, good wine, and great friends is the toast of the season.

This is the time to pause and  reflect on all of the many things in our lives we are thankful for.  It’s also the time when we put forth that extra effort to give back to our friends, our family, and our community.

In our first year, First Crush has a lot to be thankful for:  a successful first year, the wonderful relationships we’ve built with customers and our winemaking community, and all of the fun we had doing it.  But we are especially thankful for the opportunities we had in 2009 to help raise thousands of dollars for charitable causes by donating our harvest winemaking experience packages to charitable auctions.

In April, we donated a harvest weekend package to the Central Coast Vineyard Team’s Earth Day Food & Wine silent auction, which helped raise funds to support sustainable agriculture research, and its youth outreach programs.  In May, First Crush participated in the first annual Wine Fest weekend silent auction event by donating one of our all-inclusive harvest weekend winemaking packages.  In August, members of our First Crush team journeyed south to the Orange County wine classic, where our auction package helped raise funds for students participating in Enology and Culinary Arts programs.

First Crush also helped raised money in parts of the U.S.  In October, we were thrilled to learn from one of our Zinfandel Harvest Weekend winemakers, Pat Pappas, that our package we donated to the Regions Hospital Foundation in St. Paul, Minnesota helped raise $4,4000 for their state of the art pediatric trauma center from a premium lot, live auction item.

Along with an exclusive weekend winemaking package for two, First Crush asked our harvest winemaker dinner hosts to donate bottles of wine for the 1,000+ bottle wine auction. The featured wineries included Sharp’s Hill, Mithcella , Pomar Junction and Silver Stone wineries.  LaBellasera Hotel & Suites added three nights’ lodging and the SunAir donated roundtrip airfare.  Pappas, who’s on the hospital board said that she, the hospital, and the winners were all thrilled with the donation.

The Regions Pediatric Trauma Center is the first of its kind in the northern Midwest that has received the “Level I” designation. The Trauma Center is capable of offering immediate, specialized care to injured children 24-hours a day.

First Crush is honored to have been a part of these fantastic events, and grateful to have had the opportunity to do our part to help raise money for these wonderful organizations.  We are fortunate to be located in a community that actively supports and offers help to those in need, and  look forward to continuing to help do our part throughout the holiday season, and into the new year.

Making good wine is an art, but it’s also a science.  In days past, the only way a growers or winemaker could tell the difference between a chenin blanc and pinot blanc was simply by studying its shoots, canes, buds, flowers, clusters, seeds and grapes.  The science of vine identification and description is known as ampelography.   Of course, now vines can be identified by DNA.

Today, there are more than 24,000 names for varieties and wine grapes.  Of these, ampelographers believe there are approximately 5,000 of truly different varieties.  Many varieties have numerous names, depending on where they are grown.  Did you know that Malbec — the soft, juicy low-acid grape that most of us know as one of the varietals used in a classic Bordeaux blend — is its common name in Argentina.  However, in southern France, Malbec is known as “cot” and auxerrois.  And to further confuse things, Auxerrois is a fairly common white wine grape from Alsace France where it is blended into pinot blanc.

Of the 5,000 grape varieties, only about 150 varieties are planted in significant amounts, and of these 150 grape varietals, only nine are considered classic.  What makes a wine classic, and which ones are actually considered classic? Check back here in the Barrel Room later this week to find out!

The world of Paso winemaking is an exciting and dramatic one, and now it finally has its own reality show! Check out The Winemakers, a six episode series broadcasting nationwide on PBS (for a complete schedule and local airtimes, click here).

Like any reality television series, the show features a group of men and women selected to compete against one another in various challenges created by wine critics, sommeliers, and of course, other winemakers, all in hopes of being chosen as the top winemaker in the bunch.  The winner, along with receiving the title of “The Winemaker”, will then receive financing so that they can start their own wine label.

Best of all, this show is set entirely against the backdrop of Paso Robles wine country.  This year marks the first season that the show has been aired, but casting has already bene completed for season 2.  Everybody be sure to tune in, and let us know what you think of Paso’s national reality-series debut!

I have yet to manage to catch an episode (sadly, my house is barren of those handy DVR devices), but I’ll be sure to let everyone know when I do!

First Crush completed its inaugural 2009 harvest with huge success.  Everyone had a wonderful time, and vowed to return in 2010 with even more friends and family members to share the “First Crush” experience.

“Thank you so much for the personal attention and care that you and your team have enthusiastically provided to us throughout our stay! This needs to be an annual event for us.  Thanks!”  – Tom and Kim, Zinfandel Weekend Winemakers

Participants in our First Crush harvest weekends traveled from around the U.S. to Paso Robles to come together for their winemaking weekends; some from as close as Atascadero, and some traveling from as far as Minnesota.  The new friendships and sense of camaraderie that developed was something all of our guests shared at all three weekend harvest events; however, each winemaking weekend featured its own unique high-points.

Many who attended our Syrah winemaking weekend cited the berry-stomp competition as being their favorite part of the weekend (in spite of the good-natured rule breaking, also  known as “cheating”) that was abundant from each of the teams.

“We’ve had a tremendous day.  Your attention to detail has been obvious throughout the First Crush experience.  [We're] so glad we were able to share it with you, your friends, and your family.  Keep us posted for future events.  Thanks so much for your effort!” – Judi and Rob, Syrah Weekend Winemakers

For many who participated in our Cabernet Sauvignon harvest weekend, the Welcome Reception hosted at the historic Paso Robles Inn was one of the most memorable moments of the weekend.  The reception featured wines of some of Paso’s top wineries, including L’Aventure and Cass Winery, as well as the delicious food pairings prepared by the Inn’s own Chef Kelly Wangard.

“Eileen and I had a wonderful time.  The First Crush experience exceeded our expectations.  The weather was perfect, and we loved picking the grapes and the stomping.  The meals were all great, and we met many wonderful people.  Thanks so much for putting this program together.” – Greg and Eileen, Cabernet Sauvignon Weekend Winemakers

Of course, our “Zin-ful” Halloween winemaker dinner, hosted at Pomar Junction Vineyard and Winery was a part of the Zinfandel winemaking weekend’s experience that guests won’t soon forget.  From everyone’s fun and freaky costumes, to the food (prepared by Piazza Bistro’s Chef Ruben Sandoval), to the delicious Pomar Junction wines, everyone had a such a great time, it was almost “scary!”

“Great weekend! Had a blast and met really terrific people.  Of course the wine experience is memorable.  We’ll be back, and we’ll tell our friends.  Thank you!” – Betty and Joan, Zinfandel Weekend Winemakers

First Crush would like to thank everyone who attended, and also those who worked so hard to make our premiere harvest season such a wonderful success.

If you are one of the many who are interested in making your own wine, learning about wine, or just enjoying a fabulous wine country experience, don’t worry, First Crush has some great things in store for the new year.  We are busy planning our many other educational winemaking events, including our 2010 harvest weekends, and will be releasing that information soon.

Until then…cheers, and we hope to see you again at the next First Crush experience!

Yes, it really is that time of year again.  Even though it seems like our First Crush harvests only ended a few days ago, we’re already nearly halfway through November — which means everyone is gearing up for the holiday season.

The Christmas decorations have already gone up in downtown Paso Robles in preparation for the many events happening throughout November and December.  It all begins today, November 12, with the city’s Paderwreski Festival.  This annual celebration pays homage to one of Paso’s most famous former residents, Ignacy Jan Paderwreski.  This famous Polish pianist and composer came to Paso in 1914 to take advantage of the area’s hotsprings (the same thing that attracted Jesse James to the area).  After purchasing his first parcel of land on the Central Coast, Paderwreski couldn’t resist getting his valuable piano-hands dirty, and planted Zinfandel vines (in fact, many credit him with being the first to bring the varietal to the area).

Starting Thursday there will be concerts at Cass Winery and the Paso Robles Inn.  The event culminates on Saturday, November 14, with the Elegant Evening Downtown.  From 5-8PM participating downtown restaurants and vendors will provide free appetizers and entertainment to anyone willing to dress their best as they take a stroll around the picturesque downtown Paso Robles park and enjoy the beautiful autumn evening.

The holiday cheer continues on November 27, with the Downtown Holiday tree-lighting ceremony, followed by the annual downtown Christmas Light Parade on December 5.

Also, all over Paso, wineries and tasting rooms are sharing the joy of the season by playing host to holiday open house events, with discounted tastings, fundraisers, and more.

So grab some hot cider (or maybe a glass of Paso wine, if you prefer), throw on a scarf, and share the excitement of the holiday season with the rest of us here in Paso!

Someone inquired during our Syrah harvest weekend about organic wine. A discussion regarding organic versus sustainable versus biodynamic ensured. I found this article interesting and thought it might help shed some light on the subject.  Hope you find it helpful.

Wild yeast, natural wine — latimes.com

Posted using ShareThis

Even though the weekend of our third (and final) harvest winemaking experience is almost here, Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, don’t be afraid! There’s still time to register!

All kidding and Halloween-related puns aside, our Zinfandel Harvest Winemaking Experience is certain to be a weekend you won’t soon forget.  The weekend will begin with the welcome reception at Pear Valley Vineyard and Winery’s spectacular tasting room.  There, we will taste their 2006 Zinfandel, which will be paired with three different food selections, each one carefully chosen to demonstrate how different foods can bring out the subtle nuances of flavor in a single wine.  Afterward, guests will be able to taste from a selection of six different wines from Pear Valley’s extensive catalog of premium wines.

Boo! Don’t be afraid, don’t turn back now, because on Saturday, October 31, it’s harvest time! All of our fearless weekend winemakers will venture out into a beautiful Paso Robles vineyard to pick and harvest the Zinfandel berries that will later (after much double-doubling, toil, and troubling by First Crush Winemaker, Dan Kleck) become their own, custom-styled cases of wine.  For those of us who don’t feast on the blood or flesh of mortals, a delicious champagne breakfast, featuring Tobin James Cellars‘ Dream Weaver, and gourmet lunch will be served amongst the beautiful vines of our chosen vineyard location.

After harvest, the fun will continue with our bewitching winemaker dinner, hosted at Pomar Junction Vineyard and Winery.  A delicious menu of treats will be prepared by Jim Subject of Paso Robles’ renowned Cahoots Catering, paired with the delicious wines of Pomar Junction.  However, if it’s tricks you’re craving this Hallows Eve, the festivities will continue with our “Zin-ful” Gilded Age Halloween Party! Costumes are encouraged, but not required, so don’t be afraid to wear your best 1920s-inspired ensemble!

This Friday is our final registration deadline for those who wish to attend our final Winemaking Weekend of this year’s harvest.  After that, you won’t have the opportunity to participate in the FULL First Crush harvest-winemaking experience again until 2010.  So hurry, and register for this thrilling weekend of fun, food, and winemaking today!

For our third and final Harvest Weekend Experience this year, we have a few remaining spaces so we are offering a last-minute online registration discount!

Register “online” for our Zinfandel Harvest Winemaking Experience by Friday, October 23, 2009 through our online registration store and take 20% off of any of the remaining harvest winemaking packages.  Our All Inclusive packages (with accommodations) are no longer available, however, several local hotels are offering discounts to First Crush guests.

Please call (877) 82-CRUSH for more information.

Terms and Conditions:

DISCOUNT TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Offer valid for 2009 Zinfandel winemaking experience only. The offer cannot be combined with any other discount or promotional offer. Valid for registrations received between October 21 and October 23, 2009.  Discount not valid for registrations made prior to October 21, 2009.