NEWSWe are in the throes of harvest and it looks like a good one, but not necessarily a great one my sources are telling me. In general, grapes are coming in with higher pH's and lower acids. (pH is the measure of hydrogen ion concentration; I liken it to blood pressure--the lower, the better! People with lower blood pressure supposedly live longer than those with high blood pressure and wines of lower pH are healthier wines that live longer too.)
Several winery owners have told me that yields are humongous--so big, in fact, there isn't enough barrel capacity.
Now that wine grapes are the county's biggest dollar value agricultural product, will the meager $400 per ton for Chardonnay that some vineyards are getting change that status? Will we see a drop in the price of Chardonnay on store shelves? Probably not. In bumper crop years in Brazil, have we coffee lovers ever seen the price of coffee come down?
BRIEFS
The new Curtis Winery facility will be located in the building which used to be Douglas Cramer's private museum near the intersection of Zaca Station Road and Foxen Canyon Road, and Chuck Carlson has been named the winemaker. Congratulations Chuck!
Firestone will build its new brewery in Buellton, a real boon to the city heretofore known for its pea soup.
So long to one of the pioneering names in the Santa Ynez Valley. Bill Foley, owner of Santa Ynez Winery, will rename the winery after his daughters--Lindsay and Courtney. You guessed it--LinCourt Winery.
FALL FUN
All phone numbers are in area code 805 unless otherwise noted.
Saturday, October 4, 10-5, Santa Maria presents Grapes & Grains Festival, a street spectacular with free general admission. For the beer and wine tasting (noon to 4) the charge is $15. (800) 331-3779 extension 576 for details.
Saturday, October 18, 1-4 p.m. the 38 wineries of the county present A Celebration of Harvest out at Rancho Sisquoc Winery. Tickets, if still available, are $60. Call the Vintners' Association at 688-0881 for availability and additional information.
A number of special dinners and events are scheduled in conjunction with the festival:
Wednesday, October 15, 6:30 p.m., Brander Vineyard, Buttonwood Farm Winery and Longoria host a dinner at Meritage Restaurant featuring the cuisine of Chef Lydia Gaitan. $60. 882-1200.
Thursday, October 16, 7 p.m., Lane Tanner hosts a reception at her tasting room, the Los Olivos Wine & Spirits Emporium. Limited to 20 people. $15. 688-4409. Click here for details.
Friday, October 17
The fun continues Saturday, October 18
- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Andrew Murray Vineyards presents a crush party. $45. 686-9604.
- 5-8 p.m., the Santa Ynez Valley Wine Trail and its member wineries—Arthur Earl, Beckmen, Brander, Buttonwood, Foley, Gainey, Los Olivos Vintners, Rusack, Santa Ynez, and Sunstone—present a Taste of Harvest at Flag Is Up Farm. $25 includes a barbecue, music and silent auction. (800) 563-3183.
- 7 p.m., Chimere, Fiddlehead, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Jaffurs, Lane Tanner, Qupe and Whitcraft are the stars of the show at a special vintner's dinner, The Culinary & Gustatory Extravaganza, catered by Chef Rick's Ultimately Fine Foods at the Los Olivos Wine & Spirits Emporium. $65. 688-4409. Click here for details.
- 7 p.m., Fess Parker Winery hosts a winemaker dinner at the Fess Parker Doubletree resort in Santa Barbara. $75. 1-800-841-1104.
- 5 p.m., Cambria celebrates its tenth anniversary at the winery with a Santa Maria-style barbecue, music with the Sugar Daddy Swing Kings and new release wines. $40. 937-8091.
Bon appetit.
- 5-7 p.m., McKeon-Phillips hosts a special wine tasting at Wine Country. $10. 686-9699.
- 6:30 p.m., Cottonwood Canyon presents a Dinner with an Italian Flair, catered by Testa's. $75. 937-9063.
- 6:30 p.m., Foley Estate Vineyard (the old Curtis Winery & Carey Cellars) holds a harvest barbecue at the winery. $35. 688-8554.
- 7 p.m., Arthur Earl presents a winemaker dinner catered by Lee Schlossberg. $80. 693-1771.
- 7 p.m., Byron presents a winemaker dinner at the winery, catered by Chef Rick. $65. 937-7288.
- 7 p.m., Firestone and Foxen are doing a winemakers' dinner at Firestone. $60. 688-3940, extension 29.
Bob Senn writes The Independent's monthly wine column, "Grapevine," and owns the Los Olivos Wine & Spirits Emporium.
