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The Bridge Newsletter
APRIL 2021, VOLUME 49
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Vineyard News
by Operations Manager, Joe Salman
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Not Many Showers, but Lots of Flowers. |
Even without a lot of rain, we're seeing a lot of Flowering and Budbreak.
It seems like every year I write something about extreme weather or now, lack of much weather at all. The lack of State water will definitely be a huge deal in domestic and agricultural uses this year and I don't look forward to the political fight that happens when faced with this issue.
The good part is the grapes don't use a lot of water unless we have scorching summer time weather. We are starting the growing season with less water already in the root zone than in previous seasons, when we would typically be saturated now. See how far out the Chardonnay has grown with bud break in that variety about 3 weeks ago.
Other varieties trail in development, like the Pinot Noir and then Petit Verdot by winery. Besides all of this vineyard action the great part of coming here is the rest of the orchards (in bloom now) and landscaping we have throughout this newsletter. Enjoy the scenery!
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Cellar News
By Winemaker, Ed Seikel
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What's the Best Way to Store Your Wines? |
David had a good idea to do something about storing wine and I felt like it would match up well with building up attention for the cab reserve along with answering a frequently asked question:
"What's the best way to store your wines?" is a question that David and I frequently hear, and while we've previously gone over what aspects of a wine make it a good choice for aging, we haven't discussed how best to store it.
The main elements that will negatively affect a wine while aging are extreme temperatures (both high and low), large temperature fluctuations, and light. For those of you lucky enough to have a temperature controlled cellar or wine fridge, 55°F and 70% humidity are the most widely agreed upon "perfect" conditions for storage. Other good solutions are a cool, dry basement, or even the back of an interior closet. Any of these methods should work well to store a wine 5 years or longer with minimal negative effects.
All that being said, most wines do not need to be aged over a long period of time to be enjoyed, and only need to be stored for as long as it takes to find a good reason to open it up. The wines that do have long term aging potential are something special to be enjoyed over time by storing away a case and periodically opening a new bottle so you can experience all the little changes the wine goes through over the course of its life.
Those looking for some wines to try this with should look no further than our 2017 Premier and our soon to be released 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Both are already outstanding wines with incredible aging potential.
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Tasting Room News
by Tasting Room Manager, Tess Jonson
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Choose Your Own Wine Going Strong! |
Choose your own is back! Join us on 4/2, 4/3, or 4/5 for a tasting of your choice. This first-weekend exclusive tasting might not stick around so get out here while you can! Reservations are still highly recommended and you can RSVP here.
Grand Island Vineyards will be closed on April 4th, Easter Sunday, so make sure to stop by and grab some vino for your Easter supper.
Can you believe that we've been open for almost 5 years?! I can't! Time is flying by. We won't be having the bash that I thought we would but we will be having another wine pickup party so mark your calendars for May 15th, 2021 from 3:30 - 6:30pm. We are going to party GIV style with live music from Fish 'N' Chicks and the very popular food truck, Hefty Gyros.
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Wine Spotlight
by Winemaker, David Shattuck
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Reviewing Two of Last Year's Favorites |
The 2019 Grand Island Vineyards Chenin Blanc |
The 2019 Grand Island Vineyards Chenin Blanc is similar in style to its previous vintage. This past year we were presented with a slightly less austere wine with rich fleshy fruit notes at its core. The wine pours a light straw color and immediately captivates the nose with strong aromas of linalool, honeydew, and jasmine blossom. As the wine opens with air, hints of grapefruit, pear, and limestone weave an inviting bouquet in the glass.
The first sip of this dry wine has surprising sucrosity to balance a swell of citrus-like acidity. The finish is lengthy with a lingering note of buttery croissant and peach preserve.
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The 2018 Grand Island Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon |
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The 2018 Grand Island Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon showed the opposite spectrum of our estate Cabernet vineyard from the new Vin Gris of Cabernet. This 2018 red wine is powerful with a dense brick red color. The aroma comes across as a brooding dark fruit with a little bit of dust and humidor character to bring balance to the wine. As the bouquet evolves, the aromas drift towards candied plum, lavender, baking spice, and charred earth. The tannins are plentiful in this wine but have begun to show a well aged restraint. The wine finishes juicy with a hint of French oak.
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GIV Patio Tastings!
*One day advanced booking is required. April 3rd.
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Outside tasting service on one of our spacious patios with views all around while sipping our estate wines. We offer safety, space, warmth, and now food and beverage options.
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Member Pickup Party
Saturday May 25th from 3:30 - 6:30pm
Price: FREE | Duration: 3 hrs | Group Size: 1 - 6 Guests
Live music, food truck, a beautiful setting and more!
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Grand Island Vineyards
12484 Highway 160, Walnut Grove CA 95690
Tel: 916-775-2111
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