Vino In My Dino

Weathering storms & media reports

January 20, 2016 18:06

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Climate and other aspects of weather remain the focus of my posts with El Niño in my sights today. When you are a weather watcher like me, with vineyards hanging in the balance during our four years of drought and as we hope and pray for more rain, the conflicting reports about whether El Niño weather is going to stay strong or fizzle out are frustrating. Just last week a headline declared the end of El Niño and this week the media is back at it, trumpeting the amount of rain dumped on Northern California, indicating the pattern is here to stay through March. Hmmm. Once I did a bit of digging around for more information it all made sense, thanks to two websites I visited: WattsUpWithThat.com and GGweather.com (Golden Gate Weather Services). While there is definitely an El Niño pattern it may not be the strongest. And for heaven’s sake don’t call it a storm because the definition of El Niño is our overall climate is affected by the warming of the waters near the equator outside of Peru which in turn influences the storm patterns over our region. I also read where we have received the most rain in this month, which has 10 more days left to record the amount, than we have in the last 6 Januarys (!).

The world of meteorology has changed quite a bit since the largest (97/98) and second largest (82/83) El Niños were recorded. Back then the media reported on the storms but nothing like the technology we have currently. Recalling predictions over the last couple of years they contain almost to-the-minute, accurate target areas, and length of storm information and are correct 99 out of 100 times. One thing is for certain though, this winter will not make up for the years of drought but it is more than a drop in the state’s bucket. I'll splash a drop of Zin in my Dino to El Niño!

One of the things we do at our vineyard is spread straw to help with the erosion that comes with the storms.

Tags: Pedroncelli, weather, climate
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Micro Climates

January 15, 2016 18:10

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Following the Wednesday post about climate, which here in Dry Creek Valley gives us great weather to grow everything from Chardonnay to Zinfandel, today’s topic is micro-climates found within each area of our vineyard.

Climate brings to the weather plate the following: fog, sunshine and a number of degree days for the growing season (Dry Creek Valley being ranked a Region II which makes a warm but not hot growing area), and rain. Climate affects all areas of agriculture or even your own backyard.

A micro climate encompasses a certain vineyard or even vineyard block. We have three specific ranches with a variety of varietals planted. While the climate influences what we plant, the micro climate of a hillside dictates to us (with 88 years of grape growing experience) that Zinfandel, for example, is a good fit because the conditions are just right. The combination of the sun, fog and soil makes the best Zinfandel in our opinion with support of the micro-climate.

We have planted other wine grapes on different areas of our vineyards and have learned the conditions weren’t quite right. We planted Chardonnay in the northern warmer end of Dry Creek Valley and learned Cabernet Sauvignon was the better choice and now thrives there. We depend on our growers in the southern cooler end of the valley to grow our Chardonnay now. Micro-climates are varietals’ best friend bringing out the great qualities in our grapes. Cheers with a splash of Chardonnay in my Dino.

The fog during the growing season is a key factor of climate and micro climate in our Sangiovese vineyard.

Tags: Pedroncelli, climate, Dry Creek Valley, Sangiovese
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Climate Counts

January 12, 2016 18:15

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This month’s posts are about weather and its place in the making of great wine. I sometimes talk about climates and micro-climates but what does this mean?

Grapevines like to grow and they will grow pretty much anywhere except maybe the Sahara Desert. Who knows, maybe someone will come up with a plan in the future-Desert Red or White anyone? Climate is like Goldilocks and the Three Bears: this appellation is too hot for Zinfandel, this appellation is too cold but Dry Creek Valley is just right. When talking about climate we toss around terms like marine influence and degree days, sun and temperature. It all comes down to taking the temperature of a particular region that will give you the degree days (a method developed at UC Davis) and this information will give the grower an idea about how the climate of a particular place will be good for Zinfandel (warm) or Pinot Noir (cool).

Let’s start with California where there are 136 official American Viticulture Areas also known as appellations. Wow this is quite a choice for planting wine grapes. To break it down to bite size: there are 18 appellations from Sonoma County and Dry Creek Valley, one of the 18, was subdivided more than a decade ago with the birth of the sub-appellation Rockpile. Each of these areas are important because there is something distinctive and unique in their climate as well as geography. Dry Creek Valley is classified as a Region II, which makes it a perfect spot for Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc but it is also great for Rhone and Italian varietals, Chardonnay and even Pinot Noir in the right micro-climate pocket. More on micro-climates in Friday's post. A toast with a splash of vino in my Dino to our fine climate!

Sonoma County and the approved AVAs. Provided by Sonoma County Vintners.

Tags: Pedroncelli, climate, Sonoma County
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Counting Raindrops

January 8, 2016 18:19

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I have become somewhat of a water watcher these days digging around the internet for stories about the drought and reading articles about El Nino. Looking up the archives I see I wrote about the average rainfall for Dry Creek Valley being around 35-40 inches of rain. The last three years of the drought we have seen just above half or in other years even less.

According to a couple of websites I frequent, The Sonoma County Water Agency and University of California Cooperative Extension Sonoma County, I see some good news as El Nino drops this much needed rain. Right now we are within 2 inches of what is considered normal rainfall for this area at this time(SCWA data). Secondly we are far above January totals in the first 7 days than we have been over the last three winters (2013-2015) with the measurement taken from Santa Rosa to the south of us. It is close to 3 inches through today when the most that dropped in the three previous years for the whole month was between .02 inches to .89 inches (UCCE data).

Right now the vineyard soil is becoming saturated-I heard it percolating yesterday during a respite after four days of rain. More is expected in the next week but not to the extent of what we have received so far. As heart breaking as it was to see dusty vineyards for the last three January's this year there is plenty of vegetation and such a relief to see the hills green again. Canyon Creek which flows through our winery on down to our vineyards along Dry Creek itself had enough water to flow all the way to our main water artery to the Russian River and on to the Pacific Ocean itself. A splash of Zinfandel in my Dino as I enjoy the soggy view!

January 2014 our Mother Clone vineyard was as dry as a bone. Once we had some rain it turned our hillsides green.

Tags: Pedroncelli, weather, Mother Clone, Dry Creek Valley, drought
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Rain! (1)

January 6, 2016 18:25

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Rain-it’s in the forecast as an El Nino year. How much so far? We have measured 13.8 inches by the 4th day of January with another 4 as this is written. More is expected as several storms pass over us. The headlines I read keep saying this isn’t the end of the drought-no kidding. Remember the phrase ‘It ain’t over ‘til it’s over’? I’ll be waiting for the next 6 months when the official rainfall is recorded for the year in order to know where we stand.

The ‘Dry Creek’ of Dry Creek Valley ran dry in the years preceding the formation of Warm Springs Dam and Lake Sonoma, the body of water created by the dam and is situated to the north of us. Built in the early 1980s, it was put in place to provide flood control, irrigation and recreation. The recent years of drought created low lake levels which plummeted even more since water is released year ‘round. As of January 4 I am happy to report it is 70% of capacity but below the usual average. I have provided a link in case you are interested in the comparison between this year’s capacity, last year’s total as well as 2005-2014. Like I said earlier, the season isn’t over yet. In fact it has just begun and right now the future looks pretty wet. A toast in my Dino to more rain!

My uncle John standing in flood waters circa 1950s-it isn't this bad yet but Canyon Creek does run through our property all the way down to Dry Creek and sometimes it can overflow its' banks even as recent as two years ago.

Tags: Pedroncelli, weather, drought, Dry Creek Valley
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Trimming the Vine

December 11, 2015 11:21

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Trimming vines is a months-long occupation for the vineyard crew beginning typically in November. Since it has been raining the last few days all pruning of the vines has ceased for the moment. Once the vines and ground have dried out a bit the crew will be back out in the vineyard. I discussed pruning last week and how a vine goes dormant after the first cold snap, usually happening in November.

This week the subject is what happens with those canes. Spur pruning the head pruned vines on the home ranch requires the knowledge of where to make changes in the direction of the vine arm for optimal growth and ripening as well as leaving two buds on each arm for the 2016 crop. Canes are piled between the vines and in the old days were burned in large piles. In recent years, with an eye toward sustainability as well as sparing the air, the canes are chopped and left in the vineyard as mulch. A toast to the hardworking crew and vines with splash of vino in my Dino!

Tags: Pedroncelli, vines, vineyard
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Matchmaker: Wine + Food

December 9, 2015 11:44

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My partner in life and wine is my husband Ed. We were married 26 years ago today. 11 years ago we began working together here at the winery (and survived!). So what does this have to do with wine? It brings to my mind the relationship between wine and food and why this is such an important factor when I talk about our wines. It has to do with tradition and style.

Coming from an Italian-American family, and a wine family to boot, food and wine have always been together as far back as I can remember. And by the looks of family meal photos predating my birth it seems it always has been. Traditions are begun at the table for most of us-whether it is who is here for the holidays (and where they sit) or a standing date night dinner out. Family traditions are begun by each generation echoing those of their predecessors and then making their own. For my family one of our traditions is a Prime Rib dinner on Christmas Eve. The table has grown as family is added but the importance for Ed and me are the faces around the table. The wines we pick to go with the meal are important too as they add so much to the celebration.

The style of our wines is one which pairs well with food (or your glass as my husband likes to add). They stand on their own and the experience is heightened when added to a meal. Acidity in our wines helps bridge the wine with food because when in balance-between the fruit, tannins and acid-there is a great match made. Traditions and style go a long way in both our marriage and that of wine & food. Wine is the centerpiece of our lives and pairing with food is as natural to us as a loaf of bread, a bottle of wine, and thou. A toast to 26 years with a splash of champagne in my Dino!

My parents Jim and Phyllis, Ed and me at a holiday dinner mock up this summer-thanks to Dianna Murphy Photography!

Tags: Pedroncelli, family, Italian
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Thoughts on the 21st Ammendment

December 4, 2015 11:54

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The 82nd anniversary of the Repeal of the 21st Amendment is December 5. Prohibition itself played an important role in how we got into winegrowing. In fact, if Prohibition hadn’t happened I’m not sure we’d be in the wine business today. The Italian family who owned the property before us (roughly 1906 to 1927 when my grandparents purchased it) may never have considered selling it. The winery had been shut down in 1919 but they could sell grapes during this time holding and were holding out hope the ban would be lifted. During this time they could sell their grapes to head of households, who in turn could make 200 gallons of wine. By the mid-1920’s the bottom of the grape market fell and the family was struggling to make ends meet.

Enter my grandfather Giovanni who was looking for a piece of land to call his own after living in California for 20 years. Originally he came here as a companion to his sister Caterina who was betrothed to John Zandonella. My grandfather worked at many jobs in the early years including dairy, farming, railroad and other work he could find. He also served in the U.S. Army during World War I. His love of the land along with a Veteran’s Loan and down payment helped him find and purchase the property. The land sustained his young family through the ensuing years that included the Great Depression and began our journey into a four generation winegrowing family.

Today the next three generations call this home in part thanks to the period known as Prohibition. A toast with a splash of Zinfandel in my Dino to my grandparents’ hard work and being in the right place at the right time. Who knows? They could have put down roots in Bakersfield…

The first page of the title for the property purchased July 19, 1927. G. Canata represented the family who originally owned the property and is a relative of Louis M. Foppiano, of Foppiano Vineyards in Healdsburg.

Tags: Pedroncelli, Prohibition, 21st Amendment
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Fall into Winter: Dormant Vines

December 2, 2015 12:02

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Dormant vineyards are the subject as we finish fall in a few weeks and move into winter. The vines began to move toward their dormant state after a few cold snaps-which we had plenty of in November. The colorful leaves have turned brown and are beginning to fall off of the canes. The vine is pulling inside of itself for some well-deserved rest.

Sometimes people have commented that they look dead but there is still a lot of life going on inside those weathered trunks. They are actually carbo-loading as they absorb the nutrients they need for next year’s harvest. Pruning is in our vineyard’s future over the next few weeks. With 105 acres of vineyard, the vineyard crew has their work cut out for them. As you see from the second photo, after this Mother Clone vine has been pruned, that the 2016 crop has been set in the form of two buds per arm-all positioned by the crew to be in the best place for problem free growth and ripening. A toast to the vines as they go dormant with some Zinfandel in my Dino.

This photo reminds me of a song...all the leaves are brown, and the skies are grey.

Pruned Mother Clone Zinfandel vine, ready for winter.

Tags: Pedroncelli, vines
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Messages in a bottle

November 25, 2015 12:09

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Today I am including a note from one of our many customers who opened a bottle long kept in their cellar. It takes a special appreciation for these older wines because they have lost the fruitiness of their youth and developed many other characteristics while quietly aging away in someone’s cellar. I read many articles about aging ability of red wines. There is always a discussion about what is needed in order for the wine to age gracefully and resulting in a wine you can appreciate if not enjoy.

So I have received these ‘third party endorsements’ of those who have waited patiently to try, in this case a 42 year old Cabernet. Each one of the messages (with photos) are always complimentary as you’ll see in this quote from Charles J. MD: “Opened tonight with little hope that it would still be drinkable. Amazingly alive and vibrant. Tastes 20 yrs younger. You guys are good.” Thanks Charles!

This shows our wines are aging gracefully with thanks to my Uncle John who made this wine all those years ago with an eye towards balance. As you celebrate the holidays and have a gem in the cellar go ahead and open it up and share with family and friends. I’ll have a splash of Cabernet in celebration of messages in bottles. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Tags: Pedroncelli, Cabernet Sauvignon, Vintage Wine, Vintage Year
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