The summer growing season is now in full swing, with daytime temperatures reaching the 80’s and 90’s; then dropping thirty degrees overnight. This is the pattern that produces world class grapes – one’s that sweeten to maturity while keeping a fresh acidity. Only in Sonoma County (OK, and a few other places as well). It looks like this year is shaping up to be another early and big crop. Most growers are reporting big grape clusters and many of them.
The production staff will take a break from Thursday on this week to celebrate July 4th. In the meantime they are bottling a number of wines for our custom crush clients. Our 2013 Russian River Chardonnay and Pinot Noir will go into the bottle later this month.
Our summer entertainment calendar is full. Last weekend we entertained two groups. With our neighboring wineries we hosted Grill 116, a food and wine pairing where we smoked brisket of beef (check out this month’s recipe in Mike’s Kitchen). On Sunday we enjoyed the music of the fine local band Blue Moon and finished off the brisket. This month it’s Lazy Man (The Steve Pile Band) on July 13th; and The David Luning Band on July 27th. Our concert series – A Little Street Music – has established itself as a mainstay in the West County summer entertainment scene.
This month’s big news on the employee front is the wedding of our Tasting Room manager, Kaitlyn Healy. On July 26 she will wed local all around good guy Patrick Callagy. Do not expect her at the Tasting Room that day!
With summer in full swing there is no reason not to enjoy visiting the fine wineries of the Russian River Valley. The river, the redwoods, the wine…the good life. See you here.
Cheers,
Mike Tierney
President, Taft Street Winery