With the worst behind us (hopefully!) we opened our tasting room doors in April 2005. They say build it and they will come, and we are happy to say that they did. Looking back on our first year we really did not have the first clue what we were doing in the tasting room. That all said we got through and the customers that mattered most were very kind in consideration of our overall state of panic! If their is one lesson for wannabee winery owners it is that you cannot read about how to do it in a book or practice for six months on family. Jump off the cliff and build your wings on the way down. Since opening we have expanded quite rapidly. In the summer of 2006 poor old Stevey from the U.K. came back and together we added a large extension to the original small start up building. In the late summer of 2006 we added a deck on the rear of the tasting room overlooking the vineyard, so customers could sit down and savor the wine tasting. Within a few weeks we found it necessary to double the size of the deck. Our deck now seats 34 people at elegant european tables and chairs with sun umbrellas. The work list continued in 2006 with well drilling and continued vine plantings. We doubled the number of stainless steel wine tanks just prior to our 2006 harvest. Our wine labels were completely redesigned and now almost all our wines are in the new label which we are very proud of having done extensive research to come up with an identity that reflects our mountaintop location. 2007 will see vine plantings continue, and we will add a concrete crush pad on the end of the building to house our new bladder press and crusher/stemmer. Beyond that our focus will be on making the best wine we can every year for a reasonable price, outstanding customer service in the tasting room and on the new vineyard deck with outdoor bar, and reinforcing our brand in the regional liquor stores we supply. We now look forward to an extended period of normality and plan on possibly buying a rocking chair or two to sit in !!!
You are now officially up to date with our progress so far! From here on there will be a weekly posting that will keep you informed with activities in the vineyard, and wine progress in the tanks and tasting notes on the soon to be releases from the 2006 harvest (which although still quite young, are tasting quite astounding in quality)
Warning - Unoaked Chardonnay lovers brace yourselves for our 2006 Unoaked Chardonnay !!
Pictures above from top to bottom (1) Cousin stevey having a divy (2) The expansion from the inside (3) A good customer & neighbour & excellent grape picker Paula picking 2006 grapes (4) One of our clear channel billboards in the area (5) The expansion before the siding is applied
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