Hints of fruit to come
- By kenms
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- 19 Apr, 2010
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We are busy with Spring preparations here. After one of those rare days when the marine air is pushed well off-shore, today the fog is back and the sun is just beginning to peek through. The vine canes have 3 or 4 leaves and vaunt the thimbles of tiny chartreuse pearls that will, if all […]
With the recent strong rains the grass is growing tall again in the vineyard. It is a shame we can’t graze the sheep any more in the vineyard, but some have demonstrated a liking for grape leaves.
We are preparing for our first spray, likely toward the end of this week. Our vines have tested low in zinc the last number of years, and zinc is important for fruit set. We need to get the zinc on before the vine blooms, but we also need enough leaf area upon which to deposit the zinc. Zinc tends to bind to the soil, so it is best to apply to the leaves, rather than to the soil.
Ancient Oak Cellars, and Jon McDaniel with Second City Soil, gathered 60+ of the top sommeliers from around the country to taste four wines that Ancient Oak had sent to each -- and to enter into a discussion of the wines, farming and winemaking philosophies, and a wide-range of other related topics. We had a blast!
Re-live your experience, or take it in for the first time. Then be in touch to continue the discussions. Cheers!
A video introduction to the neighborhoods of the Russian River Valley.
watch a video of winemaker Greg La Follete talking about the importance of family-farmed wines and native yeast fermentation.
An occasional series in which we learn about wine professionals -- Somms, Wine Directors, Winemakers -- and whether they are really of another species, or whether we should view them as friends who know more about wine than we do, and can help us choose and learn more about wine!
We visited Novavine nursery, in Sonoma Valley, recently to see the progress of our newly-grafted grapevines, and to learn more about the process.
As you may know, Siebert Ranch -- the house, barns, and vineyards where owners Melissa and Ken Moholt-Siebert live -- was destroyed in the 2017 wildfires. We are on the long path to recovery and rebuilding. You can support us by buying our wine!
Melissa will be pouring Ancient Oak Cellars' wines at the Pomona College Alumni Vintner Tasting
A look at how oaks reproduce -- and a list of other interesting facts about oaks.
Our family's special Easter decoration, found inside the ruins of our barn following the 2017 wildfires, serves as a symbol of hope.
We continue to follow the long road to recovery following the Tubbs Fire, which destroyed the Siebert Ranch PInot Noir vineyard. In this installment, we explore the process of grafting the new vines that will make up the new vineyard.
