Hey ya'll,
Well, I apologize for my recent weeks of silence. In any event lots of things have transpired since my last email. The vineyard is in full swing. Jim and the guys have been doing a great job of managing the canopy. One thing is "for true"... the yields will be quite small this year. One of the benefits of having a large vineyard is that we have lots of vines which yield fruit. On a typical year we sell fruit to other local growers. On a year such as this we either don't sell or reduce the quantity that we do sell.
This year we will only be selling a small amount of fruit, so we will be able to meet our needs in the winery. Quality is a question and concern of many people I speak with this year. To be quite frank mother nature has been....hmm...how can I say this...a bit challenging is a nice way to describe her behavior. However, as of late we have been quite sunny and warm. Sure, we have been getting rain, but this has been occurring at night maximizing sun during the day.
Because the yields are so small the vine will have less fruit to ripen. So, even though it has been a cooler year historically speaking the yields in the vineyard are quite low. I am hopeful that this will balance out in the long run. We have a lot of hang time left and I am hopeful that we will see this year turn around.
The winery has been busy churning out bottles of the 2007 reds. These babies are going to be nice. Spoiler alert...these wines are AwEsOmE! The combination of sexxy new packaging and great wine will be sure to have people talking about Martha Clara. I am quite excited to have these wines hit the market. These will be the first red wines that I have created fully as a head winemaker! These are the nicest wines that I have been involved with in all of my years in the industry. I know there has been much abuzz about the 2007 and 2008 whites, well the 2007 reds will follow that trend when they are released! I cannot wait!
That's the news for now... Talk with ya'll later!
Cheers,
- Juan.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Turn on the Switch!!!
Morning Ya'll,
Well, I would like talk about the weather but quite frankly there really is nothing I can do about it! In the industry vineyard manager's often talk about Long Island and its seasonal transitions as being quite abrutpt. It is often typical for one to describe the change from Winter to Summer as if someone has turned on a light switch. Well, if anybody out there knows somebody...that knows somebody...please have that person in charge of the switch, turn the damn thing on! I wonder if there is anybody out there that truly enjoys this weather?
The primary question I get now is how will this affect the grapes? Well, the truth is we really don't know? I am optimistic that it will be minimal because we are taking many necessary precautions to combat the excessive moisture. Canopy management is always crucial in any year, but it is especially crucial on years such as this. We have been removing shoots to minimize crowding and also removing sterile shoots. (Sterile shoots are those that do not bear clusters.) Leaf removal from the fruit zone is going to be a crucial part of good canopy management. So, this vintage is not over yet and I am still very hopeful that things will turn around!
Finally, the U.S. Open finished this week and it was a memorable Open for many reasons. Many spectators were able to watch World Class golf as well as enjoy World Class wines in the clubhouse. We were pouring an assortment of wines in the clubhouse and the feedback was great! We are on "Par" with the best wines in the world! (pun intended)
We filmed another episode of the JuanMaker. Check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDYdVVF6RyQ. We have gotten a bit better with some of the editing, but keep in mind this is still being done on virtually no budget! So, I hope that these continue to make people laugh a little as well as make people scratch their heads, mainly wondering, "What is he thinking?" Yes, some may say I am a little crazy, but remember it takes one to know one!
- Juan.
Well, I would like talk about the weather but quite frankly there really is nothing I can do about it! In the industry vineyard manager's often talk about Long Island and its seasonal transitions as being quite abrutpt. It is often typical for one to describe the change from Winter to Summer as if someone has turned on a light switch. Well, if anybody out there knows somebody...that knows somebody...please have that person in charge of the switch, turn the damn thing on! I wonder if there is anybody out there that truly enjoys this weather?
The primary question I get now is how will this affect the grapes? Well, the truth is we really don't know? I am optimistic that it will be minimal because we are taking many necessary precautions to combat the excessive moisture. Canopy management is always crucial in any year, but it is especially crucial on years such as this. We have been removing shoots to minimize crowding and also removing sterile shoots. (Sterile shoots are those that do not bear clusters.) Leaf removal from the fruit zone is going to be a crucial part of good canopy management. So, this vintage is not over yet and I am still very hopeful that things will turn around!
Finally, the U.S. Open finished this week and it was a memorable Open for many reasons. Many spectators were able to watch World Class golf as well as enjoy World Class wines in the clubhouse. We were pouring an assortment of wines in the clubhouse and the feedback was great! We are on "Par" with the best wines in the world! (pun intended)
We filmed another episode of the JuanMaker. Check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDYdVVF6RyQ. We have gotten a bit better with some of the editing, but keep in mind this is still being done on virtually no budget! So, I hope that these continue to make people laugh a little as well as make people scratch their heads, mainly wondering, "What is he thinking?" Yes, some may say I am a little crazy, but remember it takes one to know one!
- Juan.
Monday, June 22, 2009
No "I" in Martha Clara.
Good afternoon ya'll,
Well, we had a great write up in the NY Times on Sunday and I wanted to share with ya'll! Please seehttp://events.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/nyregion/21vinesli.html for more information on this great article.
While, I am referenced in this article I just want to let everyone know that this is something that we have all earned. Wine is not made by one man or woman alone. It takes lots of hard work by many people and this is not limited to the winery and/or the vineyard. It requires the assistance of everyone and this is something we all earned. So, congratulations to all of us!
Cheers and Thanks,
- Juan.
Well, we had a great write up in the NY Times on Sunday and I wanted to share with ya'll! Please seehttp://events.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/nyregion/21vinesli.html for more information on this great article.
While, I am referenced in this article I just want to let everyone know that this is something that we have all earned. Wine is not made by one man or woman alone. It takes lots of hard work by many people and this is not limited to the winery and/or the vineyard. It requires the assistance of everyone and this is something we all earned. So, congratulations to all of us!
Cheers and Thanks,
- Juan.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Pun Intended.
Morning Ya'll,
Well, the weather continues to be rainy with intermittent rays of sunshine. The forecast looks like things should start clearing up next week. I have been getting many questions in regards to the vineyard and how this is affecting us. While this weather is not ideal we are not at the end of Harvest yet and we still have an entire summer ahead of us and hopefully a beautiful Fall. So needless to say I have not yet had any doubts that we can still have a great year!
The weather does cause us to change strategies. In many respects vineyard management is like a game of chess. The reality of this business is when we win it is because Mother Nature let's us. We cannot out-wit mother nature, but we have to adjust our strategy based on her moves.
Our strategy in the vineyard has changed a bit. Every year we remove leaves from the fruit zone (the area in which all of the grapes grow) to allow for sun exposure. We will begin this process a bit earlier than usual to help counteract the overcast conditions we have had. I guess you can say that this is a combination of being reactive and proactive. We do this to encourage drying in the soon to be flowering clusters. More drying equals better fruit set and less disease pressures for us.
On the event side of things the US Open at Bethpage Black is in full-swing (pun intended). We are very pleased to be pouring at the NYS Hospitality tent. Unfortunately, the rain has put a bit of a damper (pun intended) on tournament play but play will resume today. It is a great honor for us to be pouring at this tournament of great competitor's.
We will be the host of several great events this weekend including a Gala for the Peconic Bay Medical Center, Casino Night for East End Art's Council, Summer Time Grillin', and a Sports Memorabilia Show to name a few! So, please let people know about all of the great things that we have going on farm.
That's the news for now, talk with ya'll soon!
Cheers,
Juan.
Well, the weather continues to be rainy with intermittent rays of sunshine. The forecast looks like things should start clearing up next week. I have been getting many questions in regards to the vineyard and how this is affecting us. While this weather is not ideal we are not at the end of Harvest yet and we still have an entire summer ahead of us and hopefully a beautiful Fall. So needless to say I have not yet had any doubts that we can still have a great year!
The weather does cause us to change strategies. In many respects vineyard management is like a game of chess. The reality of this business is when we win it is because Mother Nature let's us. We cannot out-wit mother nature, but we have to adjust our strategy based on her moves.
Our strategy in the vineyard has changed a bit. Every year we remove leaves from the fruit zone (the area in which all of the grapes grow) to allow for sun exposure. We will begin this process a bit earlier than usual to help counteract the overcast conditions we have had. I guess you can say that this is a combination of being reactive and proactive. We do this to encourage drying in the soon to be flowering clusters. More drying equals better fruit set and less disease pressures for us.
On the event side of things the US Open at Bethpage Black is in full-swing (pun intended). We are very pleased to be pouring at the NYS Hospitality tent. Unfortunately, the rain has put a bit of a damper (pun intended) on tournament play but play will resume today. It is a great honor for us to be pouring at this tournament of great competitor's.
We will be the host of several great events this weekend including a Gala for the Peconic Bay Medical Center, Casino Night for East End Art's Council, Summer Time Grillin', and a Sports Memorabilia Show to name a few! So, please let people know about all of the great things that we have going on farm.
That's the news for now, talk with ya'll soon!
Cheers,
Juan.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Let's Do the Twist
Morning ya'll,
Well, I believe everyone would agree in wanting this rain to get out of here! The weekend looks like it will be beautiful. I am looking forward to seeing the sun. The upcoming week will be warming up, but it looks like the chance of rain will still exist. It is still early in the growing season but all vineyard manager's and winemaker's want sun!
The guys in the vineyard continue to remove suckers and put the first wire up on the trellis. We put wire on the trellising to provide support for the vines and to minimize damage to the vine as various equipment travels down the vine rows. In addition to support and minimizing damage the trellis allows the canopy to grow vertically maximizing the amount of sun each vine will capture. The more sun exposure we have the greater amount of sugars and flavors are developed. The vine does turn Sunlight into Wine. An industry book has been written titled this and it is truly amazing what occurs in a grapevine.
At the winery we are pulling the 2007 reds out of barrel and prepping for bottle. We have some new label designs for the reds and look forward to getting these on the bottle. The labels promise to keep us on the cutting edge of packaging. The new packaging is simply stated and elegant. We hope that all will like it!
I was quoted in the local paper regarding screw caps this past week. There is a growing interest and understanding of screw caps in the industry as well as by the consumer. It is unfortunate that many consumers were taught that "cheap" wines went under screw caps because this is no longer true. There are the hold outs in the wine industry that may never convert, but there are always those people out there. However, when it comes to consistency of wine quality for the consumer no comparison exists. Many studies have been conducted involving the bottling of a particular wine under screw cap and cork. The results time and time again are conclusive that screw caps help preserve freshness in a wine not to mention eliminate cork taint. Hopefully more people will be doing the twist!
In any event I look forward to seeing some of you tonight. As always feel free to send in your questions! Talk with ya'll soon.
Well, I believe everyone would agree in wanting this rain to get out of here! The weekend looks like it will be beautiful. I am looking forward to seeing the sun. The upcoming week will be warming up, but it looks like the chance of rain will still exist. It is still early in the growing season but all vineyard manager's and winemaker's want sun!
The guys in the vineyard continue to remove suckers and put the first wire up on the trellis. We put wire on the trellising to provide support for the vines and to minimize damage to the vine as various equipment travels down the vine rows. In addition to support and minimizing damage the trellis allows the canopy to grow vertically maximizing the amount of sun each vine will capture. The more sun exposure we have the greater amount of sugars and flavors are developed. The vine does turn Sunlight into Wine. An industry book has been written titled this and it is truly amazing what occurs in a grapevine.
At the winery we are pulling the 2007 reds out of barrel and prepping for bottle. We have some new label designs for the reds and look forward to getting these on the bottle. The labels promise to keep us on the cutting edge of packaging. The new packaging is simply stated and elegant. We hope that all will like it!
I was quoted in the local paper regarding screw caps this past week. There is a growing interest and understanding of screw caps in the industry as well as by the consumer. It is unfortunate that many consumers were taught that "cheap" wines went under screw caps because this is no longer true. There are the hold outs in the wine industry that may never convert, but there are always those people out there. However, when it comes to consistency of wine quality for the consumer no comparison exists. Many studies have been conducted involving the bottling of a particular wine under screw cap and cork. The results time and time again are conclusive that screw caps help preserve freshness in a wine not to mention eliminate cork taint. Hopefully more people will be doing the twist!
In any event I look forward to seeing some of you tonight. As always feel free to send in your questions! Talk with ya'll soon.
Friday, May 15, 2009
BAM!
Morning Ya'll,
It has been another busy week both on the farm and off! There have been lots of events going on different parts of the Island. Many of us have been traveling to show off the great wines that we have to offer. I attended Brooklyn Uncorked this week at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). This event showcases Long Islandwines to the folks in Brooklyn. Long Island continues to peak interest for many Brooklyn-ites. There is a great sense of awareness in regards to the importance of LOCAL wines, not to mention the importance of tattoos and piercings!
The 2008 Riesling and Gewurztraminer were huge hits. People were really enjoying the intense flavors and aromas of these wines. The 2008 Sauvignon Blanc has also been grabbing peoples attention. This is not out yet in the tasting room, but will makes its appearance soon.
Once again our new screw caps did not receive a single negative comment. In fact I had several positive comments regarding our conversion. Additionally, I had multiple positive comments regarding our labels. Our labels are eye catching and are loved by many!
Another webisode of the JuanMaker was filmed this week and is available for viewing at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnIlld4lU6o . Please check it out! I have been receiving lots of positive comments from people in the industry. Please let people in the tasting room know to check us out on youtube.com as well as friending us on Facebook and MySpace!
Lastly, the vineyard has slowed down in pace a little bit as the temperatures have cooled. It is very early in the season so this does not have any serious season long consequences. Granted we would prefer more heat and more sun, but it is so early in the season. Growth looks good in the vineyard and it seems that we have had a pretty good bud break. The winter was a cold one and it appears that we were relatively unscathed by Old Man Winter. The crew continues to peck away at various things.
In any event if you have questions...ask them, otherwise I shall talk with ya'll soon!
It has been another busy week both on the farm and off! There have been lots of events going on different parts of the Island. Many of us have been traveling to show off the great wines that we have to offer. I attended Brooklyn Uncorked this week at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). This event showcases Long Islandwines to the folks in Brooklyn. Long Island continues to peak interest for many Brooklyn-ites. There is a great sense of awareness in regards to the importance of LOCAL wines, not to mention the importance of tattoos and piercings!
The 2008 Riesling and Gewurztraminer were huge hits. People were really enjoying the intense flavors and aromas of these wines. The 2008 Sauvignon Blanc has also been grabbing peoples attention. This is not out yet in the tasting room, but will makes its appearance soon.
Once again our new screw caps did not receive a single negative comment. In fact I had several positive comments regarding our conversion. Additionally, I had multiple positive comments regarding our labels. Our labels are eye catching and are loved by many!
Another webisode of the JuanMaker was filmed this week and is available for viewing at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnIlld4lU6o . Please check it out! I have been receiving lots of positive comments from people in the industry. Please let people in the tasting room know to check us out on youtube.com as well as friending us on Facebook and MySpace!
Lastly, the vineyard has slowed down in pace a little bit as the temperatures have cooled. It is very early in the season so this does not have any serious season long consequences. Granted we would prefer more heat and more sun, but it is so early in the season. Growth looks good in the vineyard and it seems that we have had a pretty good bud break. The winter was a cold one and it appears that we were relatively unscathed by Old Man Winter. The crew continues to peck away at various things.
In any event if you have questions...ask them, otherwise I shall talk with ya'll soon!
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Tide Has Turned
Morning Ya'll,
Well, this week has just rocketed by! Between bud break in the vineyard, tasting's/events in Manhattan, new labels for approval, meeting with miscellaneous sales people, etc. it has been busy! Things are moving along well in the vineyard. Bud break has happened earlier than it has ever happened before and just like I said last week the full dandelion bloom coincided with bud break. Dandelions are the nemesis to many, but the vineyard does look beautiful when the dandelions are in flower!
I attended a trade tasting in Manhattan on Monday and it went very well. The tasting was largely attended by trade and wine writers. The reception to the wines was very favorable and the only comment that I heard about our screw caps were positive ones. It is great to see the trade and wine writers embracing screw caps. They are well aware of the benefits that these have for wine. The folks that I encountered on Tuesday night at a tasting whom were largely Manhattan twenty and thirty-something's also embraced the screw caps. It is wonderful to see that the tide has largely turned.
This weekend I will be attending a gathering of wine bloggers at another winery on Saturday. It will be interesting to meet many of these people that are blazing the way of the wine world. While the old stand-by's in print media continue to chug along, it is the medium of the web that is reaching the most people. We are making large attempts to get ourselves more viewable on the web. Please let our customers in the tasting room know that they may follow us on MySpace, Facebook andTwitter.
During the course of the past week I received many comments on the JuanMaker. It is was interesting to see the response. We again are paving the way in a new quirky format of tasting notes via the web. I really want to deconstruct what has been the tradition of the tasting notes and merge them with the odd-vertising has been all around us in the past couple of years. It seems to have struck a chord with many and I look forward to creating more of these. So, keep on passing the word about the JuanMaker (tell them to got to youtube.com and type in juanmaker as one word)!
Well, this week has just rocketed by! Between bud break in the vineyard, tasting's/events in Manhattan, new labels for approval, meeting with miscellaneous sales people, etc. it has been busy! Things are moving along well in the vineyard. Bud break has happened earlier than it has ever happened before and just like I said last week the full dandelion bloom coincided with bud break. Dandelions are the nemesis to many, but the vineyard does look beautiful when the dandelions are in flower!
I attended a trade tasting in Manhattan on Monday and it went very well. The tasting was largely attended by trade and wine writers. The reception to the wines was very favorable and the only comment that I heard about our screw caps were positive ones. It is great to see the trade and wine writers embracing screw caps. They are well aware of the benefits that these have for wine. The folks that I encountered on Tuesday night at a tasting whom were largely Manhattan twenty and thirty-something's also embraced the screw caps. It is wonderful to see that the tide has largely turned.
This weekend I will be attending a gathering of wine bloggers at another winery on Saturday. It will be interesting to meet many of these people that are blazing the way of the wine world. While the old stand-by's in print media continue to chug along, it is the medium of the web that is reaching the most people. We are making large attempts to get ourselves more viewable on the web. Please let our customers in the tasting room know that they may follow us on MySpace, Facebook andTwitter.
During the course of the past week I received many comments on the JuanMaker. It is was interesting to see the response. We again are paving the way in a new quirky format of tasting notes via the web. I really want to deconstruct what has been the tradition of the tasting notes and merge them with the odd-vertising has been all around us in the past couple of years. It seems to have struck a chord with many and I look forward to creating more of these. So, keep on passing the word about the JuanMaker (tell them to got to youtube.com and type in juanmaker as one word)!
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