Welcome to the Bridge - Monthly Newsletter of Grand Island Vineyards

Welcome to Grand Island Vineyards!

November and we're still Harvesting!

Written by Winemaker, Ed Seikel

Harvest was late arriving, and now continues on into November! Normally we are wrapping up the last of our fermentations and barreling down all the reds by Halloween, but as you can see in my picture from today, our barrel room is still packed with fermenting bins. This year we will most likely not be wrapping up harvest until Thanksgiving, which will definitely be the latest we have ever had harvest go here at GIV.

Last month I wrote that our Malbec was the first red processed this season and now, an entire month later, we only just finally pressed it off of its skins. I was excited about that wine a month ago, and only more excited about it now. In addition to the Malbec, the rest of our Bordeaux varietals that we have brought in are looking really good as well, which means we will hopefully bottle a new Premier in the next few years!

And for those of you excited about the barrel tasting event later this month, don't worry, we will have plenty of space in the barrel room by then to have some fun. And if you haven't bought your tickets yet, they are up on our website now!



Reserve November Release:

Salman Family Reserve 2022 Chardonnay

Written by Winemaker, David Shattuck

We are very excited to release our latest Salman Family Reserve, the 2022 Chardonnay. 

We love the combination of fresh fruit and new french oak for this chardonnay. It has the power to handle richer dishes like roasted double-cut pork chop, mushroom souffle, and baked brie while also displaying a delicacy that won't overwhelm lobster or oysters.

This wine pours a vibrant straw hue. The initial aromas are redolent with fresh tangerine, smoked oak, brioche, and jasmine blossom. The mouth feel is unctuous with a fresh burst of acidity to give it balance. The french oak barrels really shine on the finish with a wonderful baking spice and ripe pear flavor that persists long after your sip.

Because this wine is a very limited release, we left it unfined and unfiltered. This decision means that it has the potential to develop crystals if kept at refrigerator temperature for a long time. If you do see some crystal at the bottom of the bottle, don't worry; it is just cream of tartar. We recommend storing it like a red wine and just dropping it in an ice bucket for 20 minutes or in the refrigerator for a couple hours prior to drinking it so that you can experience the wine exactly as it was in the barrel.

Grand Island Vineyards November Release: Bridgehead RED

Written by Winemaker, David Shattuck

This month we are featuring a favorite wine we haven't mentioned in several years, and since Tess is sick, we are going to double up on our spotlights, so here is #2: The Bridgehead Red Winemaker's Blend. 

This wine is composed of hand selected barrels that display characteristics that we want to highlight in the blend. We have included Petite Sirah for berry flavor and rich tannins, Merlot for a counterpoint of mocha and ripe red cherry, Primitivo for a juicy mouthfeel, and Cabernet Franc for structure and a hint of herbs. 

The Bridgehead Red is an incredibly versatile wine that pairs well with steaks, barbeque, and can also be enjoyed slightly chilled. Additionally, we recommend trying an ounce of the wine mixed into a glass of Bridgehead Bubbles at the holidays for a festive sparkling drink.

Harvest 2023 is... almost done!

Written by Operations Manager, Joe Salman

As I write this article heading into November we still have so many grapes on the vine! 

Yes, I am picking grapes on Halloween, so yea... it is much later than all the previous years. But no concern, things have been turning out extremely well and this October into November week will have us finishing nearly everything. Phew!

Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot will all get picked to wrap up the year. We have seen a bit of rain on the way to the finish line, but that hasn't caused big problems with bunch rot issues.

Winemaking will discuss what has and is still fermenting away in the winery. It seemed like the first part of the season was filled with craziness and drama and now it is slow and we all want it to be over. The good thing is that this vintage is shaping up to be really great. If you missed some of the past events and tastings, I really recommend coming to the November Wine Club Barrel Tasting Tour. Small guided barrel tasting with winemakers with not only barreled past vintages, but wines still on the skins. You really can't get that anywhere else.

Our 50+ year old Petite Sirah vines above with their small almost apple like bunches on the first harvest day for Petite Sirah.

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