Harvest is in sight. Black grapes are finishing veraison, bottling is starting to slow down, and the presses and crush equipment are being cleaned and ready for the months ahead. Growers see a slightly lighter than usual crop, although predicting the future has never been a safe bet. The intense forest fires in nearby Lake County have not impacted Sonoma County much, as the prevailing winds have been from the west.
In my rush to complete last month’s State of the Street, I left out some very important news – the results of the 2015 Orange County Wine Competition. We did very well indeed. Our 2012 Alexander Valley Merlot ran off with the CHAIRMAN’S AWARD and GOLD MEDAL; our 2014 Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc garnished a GOLD MEDAL; our 2013 Russian River Valley Chardonnay, 2013 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, and our 2014 Russian River Valley Rose of Pinot Noir all took SILVER MEDALS; and our 2014 Russian River Valley Pinot Gris won a BRONZE MEDAL. Quite a nice collection!
A Little Street Music continues its successful series, with perhaps our strongest lineup ever. McKenna Faith rocked the West County world July 26th; and with the wildly popular Pulsators due August 9th, Taft Street is becoming a focal (vocal?) point in Sonoma County. Don’t miss the action.
So here we are at the height of the season; with live music everywhere, outdoor dining around every corner, and world class wine as plentiful as sunshine. Join us here at the winery. Bring a picnic, play a little bocce – you’ll be glad you did.
Cheers,
Mike Tierney
President, Taft Street Winery