September 2008

Harvest has begun! We picked 3996 pounds of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Chardonnay on September 20. There was more fruit than expected. Ron crushed that night with Judy until 6 a.m. September 27... 8386 pounds of Viognier.

Friends don't let friends sit at home when there are grapes to be harvested! Nicole and Brittany	Hannah at work!

On the verge of picking Roussanne, I came across a great article about this Rhone variety by Patrick Comiskey: "...the single white Rhone variety that has winemakers losing sleep, the one that lures them with its promise and its complexity, just as surely as Ulysses was lured to the rock by the Sirens, is Roussanne... the vine is designed to give winemakers a lifetime of mystery... " Click here to read the article.

Here's the shot of the day, a beautiful butterfly on the grapes.

Thanks to everyone who visited us on August 30 and September 1 for the release of the 2006 red wines. Thanks to the Cincinnati Enquirer Weekend Picks we saw many new faces!

On September  6 we had two special guests... I love it when dogs visit the winery and vineyard. Here is a beagle puppy, Monsieur Louis Cointreau Lafayette aka Louie, and a fabulous Bouvier. Also see our blog about these two wonderful dogs. Click here.

The winery is now closed for harvest. Next opening dates will be November 22, November 29 (Annual Barrel Tasting) and December 6 and 13, then closed until Memorial Day 2009.

2006 Releases, all medal winners at the American Wine Society International Competition
$14.95	$12.95	$11.95

Those of you lucky enough to have our older wines in your cellar might appreciate this August 2008 review of the 2004 white Revelation:

From Jim Stutzman, Virginia:
"I was dazzled the other day. A bottle of your 2004 Revelation had wandered off to the wine cellar netherlands. When I found it, I chilled it down a bit for lunch, and when I tried it - WOW! - Very impressive."
 

The bud break this spring looks like the best yet! Gretchen, Meg and Judy on Memorial Day. Click the picture to enlarge it.

Kinkead Ridge 2004 Cabernet Franc rated one of the Top 100 Exciting Wine Finds, international list compiled by Tom Stevenson, British editor of the New Sothebys Wine Encyclopedia and publisher of the paperback Wine Report 2008. "Succulent, intensely flavored fruit, ripe, supple tannins, and a truckload of flavors--from cherries, cassis, chocolate, and cream, to vanilla and coconut."--Sandra Silfven, Atlantic Northeast editor of the 2008 Wine Report "This shows what promise there is in Ohio." --Tom Stevenson

Unfortunately, due to the Direct Shipping legislation passed in Ohio, we will no longer ship direct to consumers. The law states a consumer may only receive 24 cases of wine per year. The state is collecting data from wineries and shipping companies with regard to who received wine. We would have no way of knowing if we shipped the 25th case illegally. Click here to read what the press says about this legislation.  For alternatives to shipping, click here.

We are often asked about food and wine pairings. This is a great site to browse, Natalie MacLean's Food Matcher.

"Why  go for those long distance relationships when you can find love in your own back yard." 

 

   Words on Wine: 
 

Famous quotes throughout history about wine. Click here.

Funny drinking quotes:

"Sometimes when I reflect back on all the wine I drink I feel shame. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the vineyards and all of their hopes and dreams If I didn't drink this wine, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, "It is better that I drink this wine and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver."
~ Jack Handy