No, this is not an April Fool’s joke. It was 31 years ago today, April Fool’s Day 1982, when Taft Street Winery officially became bonded winery #5547. A lot has gone under the bridge in the ensuing years, and we are still having great fun doing what we love. Friends and neighbors will help celebrate […]
31 Years Old and Still Kickin’ Read More »
The first major storms of the season are upon us, and we expect 8-10 inches of rain to fall over the next couple of days. The vines are quickly losing their leaves and the hills are turning green.- winter is on its way. In the cellar the new wines are completing their fermentation, and indications
Season’s Greetings Read More »
What a difference a year – or two – makes! After two years of “challenging” harvest – wet springs, followed by fruit shattering heat waves, followed by early rains – this year’s harvest is headed for the record books as about as ideal as possible. Production across the board is way above the last two
Vintage 2012 – One for the Books Read More »
Pretty much everyone in the wine business here in California is smiling these days. The weather has been perfect, the harvest is both big and beautiful, and wineries are able to build back inventories after a couple of lean harvests. Most of our grapes are already fermenting, though we still have several hundred tons of
It Doesn’t Get Much Better Read More »
The time is now! The Taft Street harvest for 2012 begins Wednesday, September 5th, when our first grapes arrive. This year the honors go to Russian River Valley Pinot Gris and Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. In another week we’ll be in full swing. So far everything looks good, including the weather report! Winemaker Evelyn
As the fine weather continues, growers and winemakers alike are anxiously awaiting the weeks ahead. In the vineyards, veraison – the period when grapes soften and change color from green to red or yellow – has begun, indicating an early September start of this much anticipated harvest. We just enjoyed our third concert with The
The days are warming up, the vineyards are in bloom, and the feel of summer is everywhere. Growers are cautiously optimistic, and there is even talk of a good crop. Our new twist on capping machine has arrived and is ready to start next week. It will be a busy summer in the bottling room.
Bring on the Summer Read More »
The skies are blue, the weather is warm and the vines are in that important stage of flowering. Warm weather appears to be in store for the next week or so, and growers are cautiously optimistic about this first critical aspect of the growing season. In the cellar, Evelyn is waiting for our new screw
Who wudda thunk? Thirty years ago, on April 1,1982 six intrepid travelers left the confines of the garage on Taft Street in Oakland, and journeyed north to the soon to be famous Russian River Valley. Here we began making wines from local vineyards, and immediately discovered the suitability of Chardonnay to local soils. Sauvignon Blanc
Happy 30th Birthday Taft Street! Read More »
The vineyards are ablaze with mustard and wild flowers, the vineyards have been pruned and mowed, and warm days alternate with periods of much needed rain. It’s springtime in Sonoma. The big news in the wine industry is the sharp change in the bulk market. With two lighter than normal harvests in a row and
