MCV FARM NEWS - 5.21.10 - I'm a Little Tea Cup...

Morning Ya’ll,

     Well, things continue to chug along in the vineyard. Jim and the guys continue to monitor the vineyard as growth continues.  We are all very much looking forward to warmer weather.  The next step in the vineyard will be to get the wires up as the tender shoots continue to grow.  The new growth is tender much like a thin stalk of asparagus.  If we were not to secure this growth with wires it could fall victim to winds.  The wires also ensure that growth occurs in a vertical manner.  Our method of trellising is called VSP - Vertical Shoot Positioning.  In the vineyard you can see what will form a cluster of grapes in the near future.  It is an exciting time of year in the vineyard!

    Robin and I spent some time tasting and discussing the 2009 vintage wines.  We are getting ready to “rack” the wines from barrel.  A “racking” of the wines will help clarify the wines.  Our red wines are bottled unfiltered and aging in barrel is the way that we allow nature to filter our wines naturally.  We typically rack the wines every 3-4 months.

     In the tasting room the 2009 Riesling and Gewurztraminer have been received with rave reviews.  It is exciting to have our third vintage of white wines in release.  It is wonderful to the see the great consistency in the wines.  We have some really nice wines waiting for release in the 2009 Vintage.  The 2008 Sauv. Blanc and Pinot Grigio are almost out, but we need to sell out of these before we can release the 2009’s.  There has been some sneak peak tasting of the 2009 Sauv. Blanc and someone said it was “drop your draws” good!  Wine Club Friends will be receiving the 2009 Sauv Blanc prior to its release in the tasting room.  However, let’s not forget the 2008 Sauv. Blanc won best Sauv. Blanc in NYS last year!

     Next Friday is our first Wine and Wigs Dance Party.  Wigs are not required, but are certainly welcomed!  The JuanMaker has several wigs (Why am I not surprised…) and needs your help to decide which one to wear.  Check out

www.youtube.com/juanmaker

to see his latest video and maybe you can help him out? ( I really think he is beyond help personally.)

     The Twittersphere has been blowing up as Robin and the Penguin are in a heated battle to get more followers on Twitter.  Robin our Assistant Winemaker can be followed on twitter @robinepp and the Penguin can be followed @MCVPenguin.  I personally am pro-Team @robinepp because it seems that fame has gone to the Penguins head.  However, the bird or person to get fewer followers will have to sing “I’m a Little Tea Cup” for a youtube.com video.  Alright, ya’ll so if you could help the JuanMaker decide what wig to wear and follow Robin or the Penguin on Twitter and pass on the word!  Catch ya’ll later!

    - Juan.

Juan Eduardo Micieli-Martinez
Winemaker - Martha Clara Vineyards
6025 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901
Email: phermentation1@aim.com
www.marthaclaravineyards.com

CHECK OUT THE JuanMaker on Youtube.com!

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL WINERY!

FRIEND ME ON FACEBOOK!

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: @phermentation1 and #marthaclara

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MCV FARM NEWS - 4.30.10 - Contingency Plan.

Morning Ya’ll,

     May is Rose’ month and we will be offering a pink flight at the vineyard. We will offer the Brut rose’, Bernie Rose’, and re-offer the Syrah Rose’.  The Syrah rose’ was offered two wine club shipments ago and we have some of this still available.  So, we will re-offer it for the flight.  However, any purchase of this rose’ is ONLY available to wine club members.  Current members and new members may purchase as long as it lasts!!!  We will also offer a sneak peak of the Five-o Rose’ and when the Syrah Rose’ runs out we will offer the Five-O in its place.  I spoke about the Five-O Rose’ last week so if you missed that email then give it a read as a refresher.

     I am looking forward to bottling the Five-O Rose’, but that darned volcano has caused havoc in the shipping industry.  My screw cap shipment has been delayed as a result of the volcano.  It really just shows how small the world is!  Everything is connected…

    In the vineyard Jim and the guys are drawing nearer to completing tying.  The cooler weather has been an ally in helping complete the job comfortably.  Early April was a bit scary for all vineyard managers as the early warmth meant an early bud break.  Early bud breaks in theory are great because this could lead to earlier ripening and harvesting, but other issues can arise with an early bud break.

     The most scary scenario is a Spring frost.  When the tender new bud growth comes out it is highly susceptible to frost.  Grape vines in general even with mature growth are highly susceptible to frost.  An early spring frost could cause severe damage to new bud growth.  However, Mother Nature has a contingency plan for these types of events.  The first buds that emerge are called primary buds.  If the primary buds receive damage mother nature has secondary and even tertiary (these come out after the secondary’s) buds ready to go.

     While it is just amazing that grape vines have evolved to handle many of the elements that exist in nature, the secondary buds are never as fruitful as the primary.  What this means is that the “secondary’s” will never produce the amount of fruit that the “primary’s” could.  So, a frost would automatically decrease the potential amount of fruit that the vineyard could yield.

     However, at this point in the year and looking at the extended forecast one would believe that the potential of frost damage is minimal at this time.  One would hope…  So, keep your fingers crossed and let’s get this Spring ball rolling and bring on Summer!!! WoRdD.

      Cheers Ya’ll,

             - Juan.

Juan Eduardo Micieli-Martinez
Winemaker - Martha Clara Vineyards
6025 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901
Email: phermentation1@aim.com
www.marthaclaravineyards.com

CHECK OUT THE JuanMaker on Youtube.com!

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL WINERY!

FRIEND ME ON FACEBOOK!

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!

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MCV FARM NEWS - 4.23.10 - NoLa Knows Local.

Hey ya’ll,

     Well, I am pleased to be reporting from the home of Local, New Orleans, La. While Local has been really gaining steam in other parts of the country it has always been the way of life in New Orleans.  From local fish, crawfish, pastries, coffee, breads, sausage, music, and veggies to name a few things NoLa Knows Local.  It is great to be part of such a dynamic city which offers so much incredible cuisine and music.  From your local Po Boy (Poor Boy) shop to your high end cuisine you will find heaps of local products on menu’s.   Local is the norm, not the exception.

     Gumbo one of the more well known cuisines from the city is a great inspiration to my wine making.  The Five-0 series of wines is a wine gumbo.  There is never more than 50% of any one variety (Hence the name Five-0) and it is a true gumbo of the wine world.  I often will describe our Five-0 wines as gumbo’s.  I am pleased to announce that in addition to our White and red wine gumbo we will be releasing our pink or rose’ wine gumbo.

     The Five-O rose’ is a blend of ALL of our red grape varieties.  It is an intriguing blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Pinot Noir.  All of these were field blended (meaning harvested together) except the Pinot Noir.  These were crushed, soaked, pressed, and fermented together.  The blending occurred in the vineyard.  It was fermented in an oak tank and stayed on the lees for 4-months.  It will be a dryer style of rose’ that will pair well with many types of cuisine.  It will continue the line of dynamite gumbo’s that we offer at the vineyard.

     While enjoying many of the wonderful cuisines I have been introducing myself to some of the wine buyers in the area.  I am hopeful that in the near future Martha Clara wines will be served in New Orleans.  It would be a great honor to have Martha Clara wines served along with the incredible cuisine that NoLa has to offer!

     Although I am away there has been much going on at the vineyard as Michelle and Robin have been taking the show on the road showing the MCV wines around with great reception.  Also, this weekend Jim starts the much anticipated Vines to Wines program.  This should be a great opportunity to learn about the art and science involved in wine growing.

     I am very much looking forward to returning to the vineyard, but in the meantime I am off to hear the great music of New Orleans at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival as well as taste many of the wonderful delicacies that the Fest has to offer.  I will be updating Twitter and Facebook frequently, so keep a look out!

     Cheers Ya’ll,

      - Juan.

Juan Eduardo Micieli-Martinez
Winemaker - Martha Clara Vineyards
6025 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901
Email: phermentation1@aim.com
www.marthaclaravineyards.com

CHECK OUT THE JuanMaker on Youtube.com!

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL WINERY!

FRIEND ME ON FACEBOOK!

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!

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MCV FARM NEWS - 4.17.10 - Somebody's Getting Married...

Hey Ya'll,

      Well, it was a pretty busy week here on the farm... Jim and the vineyard crew continue to tie in the vineyard.  The recent weather has been in our favor.  The rapid growth has slowed down, but their is still plenty of tying to be done in the vineyard.

     I would like to welcome Robin Epperson to the team here at Martha Clara.  Robin will be serving as Assistant Winemaker.  She is a locally raised winemaker that has traveled and worked extensively both here in the U.S. and abroad.  She brings a wealth of knowledge and talents to Martha Clara and we are pleased to have her join us. 

      Michelle and I were in NYC this week and we are pleased to announce that the Rattle n Hum Bar will have eight Martha Clara wines by the glass.  We also have a promising 2-4 wines on at another prominent Manhattan location.        

      Michelle and Robin attended the J. Kings food show at Hofstra University along with our distributor Boening Bros.  Many great contacts were made and hopefully we will see more Martha Clara wines at local restaurants.  Another great promotion that we are participating in is the Great Local Restaurants of Long Island.  Definitely check out this dynamite promotion at  www.greatlocalrestaurantsofny.com. 

     At the winery we were bottling, bottling, bottling.  We bottled the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Grigio.  It was a big week of bottling, but it is nice to have these wines in bottle and in the warehouse.
     Lastly, I would like to congratulate (our Graphic Designer and the man behind the camera of the JuanMaker) Matt and his lovely wife-to-be as they prepare to get married.  Congrat's!  In any event cheers ya'll and remember to drink local!!!  Word.

       - Juan.

Juan Eduardo Micieli-Martinez
Winemaker - Martha Clara Vineyards
6025 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901
Email: phermentation1@aim.com
www.marthaclaravineyards.com

CHECK OUT THE JuanMaker on Youtube.com!

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL WINERY!

FRIEND ME ON FACEBOOK!

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!

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MCV FARM NEWS - 4.9.10 - "Its Spring Again..."

Hey Ya'll,

       Well, Spring has certainly sprung with the recent warm weather.  Every where you look there are budding trees and beautiful flowers.  It has been an interesting year thus far and we are only in April.  The vineyard has been pretty intense trying to stay ahead of the budding vines.  Jim and his crew have been diligently tying down canes.

      We are seeing definite bud swell in the vineyard.  This is pretty much 3-weeks ahead of schedule.  I am frequently being asked how this will affect the vines.  Well, being that we are about 3-weeks ahead of schedule there is still a risk of frost.  However, several factors are in our favor.  Primarily it has been very warm and the heat has been increasing the earths temperature making it more difficult for a frost to occur.  Another important factor is the lengthening days.  The days are getting longer so the chances of dropping down to frigid temperatures decreases as the percentage of daylight increases.  Another major factor is that all so important maritime climate.  The bodies of water surrounding us moderate our temperatures and buffer us from temperature extremes.  If we have no frost, well it could be an amazing vintage.  Whites in August and Reds in September?

      None the less we have many months ahead of us to make judgements on the vintage and I am sure there will be many...  The Farmer's Almanac called for a snowy winter and that was pretty much right on.  The Almanac suggested we would see a warmer than usual Spring and at this rate that seems pretty much right on as well.  The projections for the Summer are a warm dry summer.  Stay tuned for more news...

    Lastly, we would like to welcome Granola our newest tortoise on the farm.  Check out our Facebook page for some photos. Talk with ya'll soon!

    Cheers,

        - Juan. 

Juan Eduardo Micieli-Martinez
Winemaker - Martha Clara Vineyards
6025 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901
Email: phermentation1@aim.com
www.marthaclaravineyards.com

CHECK OUT THE JuanMaker on Youtube.com!

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL WINERY!

FRIEND ME ON FACEBOOK!

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!

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MCV FARM NEWS - 4.2.10 - "Sun is Shining, Weather is Sweet..."

Morning Ya’ll,

     Happy April!!! The weather has been interesting to say the least… I think most folks here on the East End would agree that we have not seen anything like this in the recent past. Some people have asked how this will affect the vineyard. Well, because we are not yet in the growing season this will have no effect. The concern in the vineyard right now is bud break. The weather that we will see over the next several days will certainly initiate bud swelling which precedes bud break.

     The “buds” (and no I am not talking about beer) are the parts of the grape vine that will be the source of new growth. These buds will emerge from the canes that were grown the previous year. It is very important that we complete both pruning and tying prior to bud growth getting too long. Many vineyard managers are nervously watching the increasing temperatures. Jim has taken on some extra hands on the farm to assure we get things completed.  It will none the less be close, but this winter posed a challenging work environment.

     I am awaiting some final packaging, but look to start bottling next week. The 2009 Riesling and Gewurtz will be going into bottle with the 2009 Sauv. Blanc and Pinot Grigio following shortly behind. It is an interesting time of year in which we are still working on last years wines, but eagerly awaiting the beginning of the 2010 season.

      Lastly, Michelle and I spent some time in Brooklyn meeting with accounts. It is great to see how well Martha Clara Wines are being received. There are some really great wine shops in Brooklyn along with great restaurants. It is great to see and be part of a renaissance of neighborhoods and witness an increased demand for local wines. While talking with a wine buyer from a bottle shop in Brooklyn we were told that the presence of local wines in their store was fueled by demand. That is consumers coming into the shop and asking for local wine. The local thing is happening and it is awesome! Talk with ya’ll soon and enjoy the weather!

     Cheers,

           - Juan.

Juan Eduardo Micieli-Martinez
Winemaker - Martha Clara Vineyards
6025 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901
Email: phermentation1@aim.com
www.marthaclaravineyards.com

CHECK OUT THE JuanMaker on Youtube.com!

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL WINERY!

FRIEND ME ON FACEBOOK!

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!

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MCV FARM NEWS - 3.26.10 - Born to Be Wild!!!

Morning Ya'll,

      It was a busy week around here at the vineyard and this will continue right through the weekend.  Last weekend's Wine Club event was a great success.  I had a sneak preview of the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling.  These were warmly welcomed by the folks that attended the event.  Larry Kolar of LK Catering provided some delicious noshes for people to taste and Victor from Arthur Murray Dance Studios of Southampton and Patchogue led a group dance lesson.  Merengue was the flavor of the evening along with a bit of Hustle led by James of Arthur Murray in Merrick.  The event was a lot of fun and I look forward to our quarterly releases.

     The vineyard continues to get pruned and Jim has been spending a lot of time preparing the vineyard for the upcoming growing season.  In addition Jim is starting to prepare for his Vines to Wine program which will launch this Spring.  Check it out at: http://marthaclaravineyards.com/VinestoWine.shtml  It will be a great way for someone with an interest in wine and especially viticulture to take their interest to a whole new level.  
     If you are into great wine, African Art, Weddings, Egg Hunts, and/or Wild Women then Martha Clara is the place for you this weekend!  We have an events calendar chock full of great stuff!!!  I know for sure that the JuanMaker is into Wild Women, but that guy is just off of his rocker!  God Bless the lady that can tolerate the JuanMaker... 

     Lastly, I attended a delicious dinner with colleagues at Love Lane Kitchen hosted by Lenn Thompson on Wednesday evening.  It was an eclectic mix of 12 people from the industry.  Each of us brought a wine to be tasted blindly and it was mix of local and non-local wines.  The local wines that were peppered into the tasting showed quite well.  I can say without hesitation that our wines can stand up against wines from anyplace in the world and it is great to be part of an industry that can produce such a diverse array of high quality wines.  Quite frankly drinking local is real easy to do when their is such a high caliber of wines being produced right here in our backyards.  I am quite excited about tasting more of the liquid goodness being produced right here on the East End.  DRiNk LoCaL, EaT LoCaL, Word!     

   Cheers,

         - Juan.

Juan Eduardo Micieli-Martinez
Winemaker - Martha Clara Vineyards
6025 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901
Email: phermentation1@aim.com
www.marthaclaravineyards.com

CHECK OUT THE JuanMaker on Youtube.com!

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL WINERY!

FRIEND ME ON FACEBOOK!

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!

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