A crazy, beautiful week in the vineyard and cellar – by Greg La Follette
- By mjms47
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- 13 Sep, 2014
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What an incredible week this has been: starting out last Sunday with a pick at the Berger Ranch, picking the Merlot, watching the moon set into the mist up above Sonoma Mountain – walking along with Lucy talking about art and music and artistic direction, and ending early this morning with the pressing off of the […]
And in between, so many things happening. It seems like a lifetime
since we started last Sunday. Just so much has gone on – so much has happened – but so many wonderful things. I’m so happy to be working with Melissa and Ken. And my wife. And all of our kids. This is the life, this is what we want to do with our lives.
We are living it right now.
I couldn’t be any happier right now. It’s been a very compressed vintage – everything’s coming in all at once. But I think we’re managing very well and we’re staying ahead of the curve. Really respecting the land and listening to what’s going on, and making the right decisions because we are listening to what the land has to say to us.
The Kent Ritchie Chardonnay also came in last week. We only got about a ton and a third, but beautiful fruit. There’s actually a little bit of maple syrup aspect to it. And some sweetness and richness. Texturally it’s a very interesting. The Kent Ritchie Chardonnay never really reveals itself very early. But I think this one is going to be very expressive because 2014 has been an early year, and we’ve been able to really work with Kent on picking up some very special areas that I’ve worked with before, and actually help to plant.
Lots more to come in the next several crazy, beuatiful weeks. Stay tuned.
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.
