it is just grapejuice

There is sweet corn growing on the right side of the image.  In the lower left the bottem half of a picking bin and the vines straight away are Sauvignon Blanc.

What is Mycoderma?

A class of bacteria that converts ethyl alcohol into acetic acid and ethyl acetate.  It spoils wine with a vinegary flavor and odor.  Wine affected by mycoderma is sometimes referred to as pique. 

We are experiencing full flavored, ripe grapes at very low brix this year :-) 

Picking Alisos Syrah for rose on Sunday.  And, looking like early next week for McGinley syrah for k.furtado wines.  It is all good.  The madness is just getting started. 

This barrel of chardonnay was bequeathed to me by Jeff Wilkes for reasons that I still don’t quite understand.  thanks Jeff.

 J. Wilkes wines are not available in Colorado yet!  In the mean time, check out his website http://www.jwilkes.com/ and pick up some of his hand crafted Pinot Noir or his excellent Pinot Blanc. 

A slow day in Santa Ynez.  We picked about 1/4 ton of Viognier today for Chateau Pacific.  Thankfully, the rain held off until afternoon.  It is coming down slow and steady; at least it is cool enough so there is no chance of rot occurring.  Warm weather is headed in our direction for most of next week. 

Here is a snap of Jay and his Dad, Norm, sorting out a pump.  Looks like the press is finished and they are pumping the juice to either a tank or barrel for fermentation. 

Thanks for the pictures, Jay!

Harvest is in full swing at Canon Wind.  Drop an email to Jay  j.e.christianson@gmail.com and go down to Palisade and check them out.   Did you know that Robert Pepi is the wine maker for Canyon Wind?

You can see the sun shining and healthy vines on the right hand side.  Front right is a pump set up with hoses.  There was 2007 Estate Chardonnay in the press.   Did you know that much of the technology in wine making is based on the dairy industry?

Colorado wine country, particularly the Grand Valley, has a terrior very similar to Bordeaux in terms of climate and soil.