NEWS FROM HOMEWOOD
WINTER 2010
Greetings from the staff and friends here at Homewood Winery.
APRIL IN CARNEROS: During the April in Carneros weekend, April 17th and 18th, we will host an open house event. We will feature new releases of our wines and some favorites from our wine library, along with large format bottles. Steve and Susan Stone, of Yucatan Sunset Catering will prepare complimentary appetizers. There will also be some local artisans to peruse. We will have the "Redder the Better" lounge open as a chocolate, port and cigar bar.
April in Carneros means new releases as well as current favorites at Homewood Winery. We will feature a three year vertical of Zinfandel and Flying Wizzbangers and a two year vertical of Petite Sirah. Our wines will be accompanied by complimentary appetizers from Steve and Susan Stone of Yucatan Sunset Catering. Special sales for the weekend. Buses by appointment only.
HARVEST NOTES: As you are all local you are all aware of this year’s early rains. We were about 75% picked before the rain October 13th. The chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot, petite sirah and zinfandel all came in wonderfully ripe. I waited until the 25th to harvest the cabernet sauvignon and some syrah and they are busy fermenting and getting nicely aromatic. The only thing still out is the cabernet franc and perhaps a little merlot, and both are looking good. By contrast, some of the neighbors say they lost grapes after the rain due to mildew and botrytis, so much as nature cut production last year with late spring frosts it is again cutting production from early fall rains.
Some years we are winemakers and some years we are caretakers of good grapes. As Yogi Berra might say, “this is one of those years”.
MORE NOTES: The cabernet franc came in November 5th. I did a field selection to remove any mildewed clusters, and it looks good. This turned out to be the last good day of harvest, with 1/3 inch of rain the following day and then three nights of frost.
WINE SPECIALS: We have a number of wines on at a special price of $70.00 for a half case and $120.00 a case. You can mix them as you wish.
We are also offering a Valentines Day Special of one 750ml bottle each of the merlot port and merlot tawny port for $40.00.
NEW RELEASES ETC.: This Fall we have four new releases, all red. Two are from vineyards you should recognize, the 2007 McHugh Vineyard pinot noir and the 2007 John Albini Vineyard cabernet franc. We also have a 2007 Paso Robles syrah and, a first for me, a 2005 merlot tawny port.
There are a few big bottle format 3 liters, including the 1995 and 1996 Alexander Valley cabernets. Proceeds from the sale of the 3 liters will be donated to Friends In Sonoma Helping.
