Date Change

The crush date has changed from October 22 to October 29. Lanza grapes are just starting to come in now. Even though it seems late in the winemaking season, this is a really good sign for a great vintage year and a great crush experience for a few reasons.

Frank is just as passionate about the grapes and the quality of the grapes as I am about winemaking. In our conversation this morning, he said the grapes are better this year than they have been in the last 10 years. “They’ve had good hang time”. The year didn’t start out too hot like last year and this fall the evenings were cool. In the past week or so, temperature went up to 90 and gave the grapes that last boost they needed to get the sugar up. He mentioned the Primitivo specifically which makes me glad I chose to make 2 barrels.

Getting to speak with Frank more often about the grapes and carrying that information into the winery is giving me new insight into my wines. The color in last years vintage is much lighter than colors in past years. This is something I look at and briefly ponder each time I dip a thief into the barrel for tasting. The grapes have great color this year and good skin thickness so this years wine will be those big bold red’s (said using my hands) that I love so much! Don’t get me wrong .. last years grapes made great wine, we just didn’t get the depth of color that we have in the past.

The late October, early November winemaking weeks are perfect weather-wise. No yellow jackets!! The past couple of years we have crushed and pressed with the air thick with yellow jackets. It’s hard to believe that only one person got stung last year. I remember one year when I think we all got stung at least once. My sting was because I laid my hand on my leg where a bee was harvesting his last bit of food for the year. It was a territorial sting — I thought my leg was my territory.

This year we will be kicking off crush on a crisp Autumn morning when the leaves are all changing color. With a better understanding and appreciation of the quality of our grapes we will still be starting the day, as always, with a shot of grappa! I love this time of year!!