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Optical Grape Sorter to the Rescue
So what do you think this mechanical monster is and does?2010 was a difficult year for most grape growers in the Napa Valley. It was unseasonably cool through most of the growing season and the grapes...
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Snow in the Napa Valley
We don't see a lot of snow here in Napa Valley. So when I was traveling down the Yountville Crossroads last Saturday morning, I stopped to take a picture of the snow on Mt. Veeder. I wasn't going to...
View ArticleThe Cork Board: 2008 Buckeye, Howell Mountain Cab Release Day
On Saturday, April 9th, we released our 2008 Buckeye Vineyard, Howell Mountain Cab. It was very well attended and I've been meaning to write a short post on the event. But my procrastination has paid...
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Big Steaks & Big Cabs
Every year we donate an auction item to the Taste of Howell Mountain fundraiser.This is what the promotional ad for the event looked like for last year:And, as the last lines notes: All proceeds...
View ArticleRutherford Passport Weekend - May 7th & 8th
May 7th & 8th is the Rutherford Passport weekend, and we are participating. Rutherford Appellation WineriesThe Rutherford Passport Weekend is the premier consumer event sponsored by wineries...
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Mother's Day
My goal was to finish this deck by Mother's DayAnd, I made it - Here's remembering you, Mom! From the deck you can see open fields with mounds on each side.Those mounds are really stacks of vines that...
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Celebrity Winery Visitors: J.J. Putz & Mr. Incredible
One of the cooler things about being involved with a winery is that occasionally, you get to meet celebrities. Yesterday we got to meet 2 celebrities: J.J. Putz & Mr. Incredible. For those of you...
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Bottling Day at Piña Napa Valley
June 9th was bottling day at Piña Napa Valley. Since we're not big enough to justify having our own bottling line, the bottling line comes to us.Macario on the forklift.Inside the trailer, things are...
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The Setting Moon over the Mayacamas Mountains
Moon over MayacamasPhoto courtesy of Joe BauerI was on my way to work at 5:44 this morning when my cell phone rang. I noted that the incoming call was from my good buddy, Joe Bauer. Since Joe is not...
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Winery Dog Yogi, Part 4 – Yogi's window on the world at the beach
Yogi makes another friend!In an earlier post, I mentioned that Yogi was included in an Orvis video with his head sticking out the hole that the little girl is looking through in the top picture.Our...
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What did we do to deserve dogs?
Hawkeye lays by the casket during the funeral of his owner, Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson, on August 19. For those of you that haven't read the article and seen the above picture, here is the...
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Dropping fruit on the ground... Intentionally!
There is an activity underway around the valley that I find mildly disturbing. Workers are cutting grape clusters off the vines and dropping them on the ground, intentionally. It happens every year...
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Wine Club Event - July 23rd, 2011
I think we delivered on those invitation promises. We made a few changes to the event this year. The biggest change was in the food department. We had it catered. More on that below.Once again, Davie...
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Armed forces visitors
I gave a short tasting/tour at the winery last week for a group of 6 people. It was planned weeks in advance. It's not something I do often. I prefer that our visitors get a chance to taste with people...
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Napa Valley Night Harvesting - While you were sleeping...
If you happen to travel the Napa Valley during darkness these days, you can't help but notice all the bright spots around the valley. Those are nightime harvesting operations in progress. The two...
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Pick grapes, Fight fires, Pick grapes...
The rain will arrive today. At Pina Vineyard Management, the troops have been working hard and putting in long hours to get the grapes harvested before the rains come. It has been a very difficult...
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Daniel Brennan - Our 2011 Winery Intern... ???
Our 2011 winery intern (???) is Daniel Brennan. Considering his background and life experiences, you may see why I hesitate to refer to him as an intern. He traveled more before getting out of high...
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Announcing the arrival of Sergio Mario Monticelli
Sergio Mario MonticelliBorn 3/1 @ 2:11 am8 lbs 10 ozWe're doing great!Anna
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Announcing Alina Ceja Montoya
On Saturday, April 7th, Our Assistant Winemaker, Macario Montoya, had this to report: Alina Ceja Montoya was born at 9:31am today. She weighs 7 pounds 11 ounces and is 19.75 inches tall. Mommy and...
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Sierra Reed - Our 2012 Winery Intern
Every year before harvest, we bring on a winery intern to help us through the crush. They tend to be young, smart & energetic. Sierra Reed is no exception. And, as I do every year, I ask our intern...
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The Continuing Adventures of Sierra Reed
I apologize for this delayed post. At my urging, Sierra wrote the following on Wednesday, Sept 12th:A few months ago I was in Australia fresh out of harvest and a 2 month trip through south east Asia...
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Pablo Sanz - Our 2013 Winery Intern
I apologize. Lots of water under the bridge since my last post, but I'm hoping to have more time to dedicate to this blog in the future. Now, on to other topics.As has become the tradition, every year...
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Winery Dog Yogi, Part 5 – Long Live Yogi!
I love this picture: Yogi making dust at the Wolff Vineyard It's been over 2 years since I've written about Yogi. Since our visitors to the winery enjoy seeing him more than me, I thought it was time...
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Punching down the cap
Once our red wine grapes are run through crusher/stemmer, the resulting "Must" is pumped into a fermenting vessel. We have several stainless steel tank fermenters for this purpose, but some of the...
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2013 Growing Season
We've got this sharp young kid that has been working with us at Piña Vineyard Management for about a year and a half. Justin is a youngster half my age, married with a 2& ½ year old daughter. He...
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