Come and taste our 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon that won a Double Gold at this years San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

http://www.winejudging.com/public_tasting.htm 

The 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition has set a new American wine competition record with an astounding 5,500 entries, surpassing its previous record of 5,050 last year. For nine consecutive years, this prestigious competition holds strong as the “Largest Competition of American Wines in the World.”

A public tasting of these award winning wines will be at the Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center in San Francisco from 2-5 pm on February 18, 2012.

http://winejudging.com/medal_winners_2012/453.htm

Season’s Greetings and best wishes throughout the New Year.

~ The Reynoso Family Vineyards Team ~

http://www.reynosovineyards.com/shop/prices-drop.php

-Aristotle

Over the last four years in Sonoma County, Nature has shown her capricious and playful side:  Late, unpredictable frost, a cold Spring and Summer with a sudden 110 heat-spike, rain in June (late!), rain in September (early!!).  This has played havoc with the plans of both farmers and wine makers, but we have found that Nature’s way is the better one, though it may seem inexplicably unkind, has a destination that we may not perceive, and a path that seems wayward. Embrace her path as your own—you can complain all the way, but in the end travelling with her is better than wandering on your own.

2011 Challenges

Did you know that the weather during the Spring of one year will affect the quantity of fruit that the vines set the next year?!  The Spring of 2010 was cold and wet, which made the number of buds that the vines “pushed” this Spring lower.  This Spring was also cold and wet, in fact it was the coldest on record.  We also had the latest significant rain in our 18 year history—we got about 2 inches of rain on the weekend of 4 June!!  In a normal year this would only affect our recreational plans for the weekend, but in a cold year such as this, the buds were in flower 2-3 weeks later than normal, so we had to worry about the rain knocking off those tiny, fragile blooms.  Additionally, the late rain can lead to rot and mildew both immediately and for the next month or more.  We were prepared and did not suffer any rot or mildew, but there is nothing you can do about rain knocking off blooms.  Once the fruit had set a couple of weeks later we could see the damage: we lost 60% of our Sauvignon Blanc and a depressing 90% of our Viognier!!  Reds fared better, but were still off 25%-50% depending on varietal.

The cold Spring became a cool Summer, though even in a cool Summer our vineyards enjoy 80 degree sunshine every day.  With the combination of the cold Spring and the cool Summer, many were wondering if the grapes would ripen before the first rains, if at all.  That is not a problem that we have here at Reynoso Family Vineyards—we often joke that if we don’t get ripe, no one does!  Our vines are inured to the heat that we can get here and they can shrug off 110 degrees; and during cold years, they get enough sunshine and heat to ripen their fruit.  Farming in this warmer growing climate gives us an edge: we always get enough heat to get the fruit ripe.  In years like the last two, we can sleep a little better at night than those in cooler growing areas.

We began picking Sauvignon Blanc on 21 September, our latest start ever.  We normally begin picking Sauvignon Blanc at the end of August or beginning of September, and have occasionally been completely done with harvest by the day that we started this year!!  Things were going well, we had dry warm weather and many in the business were becoming certain that all their fruit would get ripe despite the late season and the cool year.  And then it rained.  We got just under two inches in two days.  This was not a good situation: now we had to wait for the soil to dry up, and for the inevitable dilution of the sugar and flavor in the grapes to correct itself, which they will given time and good weather.  But with all that rain comes the threat of botrytis, black rot, and green mold.  Wineries and growers held their breath and hoped that these dreaded bogeymen of the vineyard did not make their appearance.

With these, time is not on your side: once they make their appearance they can destroy your crop in a few days.  Within 2 days people were seeing the first signs of botrytis and panic hit the vineyards of Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino.  We still had fruit for our many winery clients hanging, and they wanted it picked NOW.  Botrytis and black rot moved through the North Coast like wildfire.  It destroyed the crop on many acres of vineyards. Estimates are that 70-80% of the fruit in some areas was lost.  What was picked was already rotting and not ripe, or about to rot and not ripe.  Few vineyards escaped unscathed.  Here we had to rush to pick for our clients, but the fruit was ripe, and thanks to the well-drained soils on our sunny hillsides, it was not much diluted by the rain. We were lucky. Sadly, many other growers were not.

2011 The Silver Lining

So Nature gave us quite an exhilarating ride again this year, and despite our complaints, protestations, and cries in the wilderness, Nature’s way seems to have led us (kicking and screaming) to some pretty great wines.  We think that the Sauvignon Blanc may be the best we have ever produced; the Syrah is dark, packed with wild blackberry, and will be loving the barrels they are resting in now; and the Cabernet is dark and concentrated with soft, luscious tannins.  We evaluate the wines as they progress, but we are confident that we have the core of wines that will both express and mask the difficulty of the vintage.  The Sauvignon Blanc promises to be as delicate as our previous vintages with gorgeous papaya and passion fruit notes: you will want to suck it down with a straw!  The Cabernet and Syrah are a bit  lower in alcohol (relative to previous vintages), display dense fruit flavors, surprisingly dark color, and pretty, more elegant  tannins.  Our little piece of the Alexander Valley will shine despite the less than optimal weather that Wine Country endured.  The wines and vines are down for their Winter slumber, post- harvest fertilizers have been applied, and our cover crops have been planted…bring on the rain!

In closing, Reynoso Family Vineyards would like to thank Mother Nature for these strange and unexpected results.   Please forgive us for questioning your wisdom and kindness.  You provided us with a tremendous opportunity to learn this year, and we hope that we have taken full advantage of it.  And to our Wine Club Members:  thank you for inviting us to your tables, for that is what you do when you enjoy our wines.  Your past and continued support means a lot to us, and we are very grateful!

~ Wishing you and yours a bountiful and joyous Thanksgiving ~

Joe and Elena Reynoso

Artisano Grand Tasting- Saturday, November 19th from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm

The Event Center at Vintners Inn

The Grand Tasting is an opportunity to sample and discover local artisan ultra-premium wines rarely available to the general public and enjoy small plates from renowned restaurants featuring locally raised meat and produce. The event will also feature sampling of local artisan cheeses, charcuterie, chocolates, and other culinary delights from gourmet artisan food producers. You can browse and purchase paintings, original works of art from several of the region’s premier artists and enjoy chef demonstrations and book signings with local celebrity chefs. A silent auction will feature a wide range of food, wine and art items donated by local artisans and others to benefit Slow Food Sonoma County North. All this while being serenaded by live music makes this one of Sonoma County Wine Country’s most anticipated events!

http://arestravel.com/4042_attraction-tickets_a843_r434007.html

http://www.artisano.org/aboutus.html

We only have a few magnum’s available. Sold Out in 750ml bottles.

http://digital.copcomm.com/title/3614

To order……http://www.reynosovineyards.com/shop/17-2005-cabernet-sauvignon.html

http://sfvintnersmarketfall2011.eventbrite.com/

What: San Francisco Vintners Market Fall Harvest In The City!
When: October 15th & 16th
Where: Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA (Festival Pavilion)
Cost:
General Admission: $70/$80 day of event (Includes all wines except Reserve Room)
Reserve Admission: $95/$100 day of event (Includes Reserve Room access to wines priced at $50 per bottle or higher)
Times: Trade tasting 12pm – 1pm Saturday & Sunday (RETAIL WINE BUYERS AND MEDIA ONLY)
Consumer Access: 1pm – 4pm Saturday & Sunday
Reserve Room Access: 12pm – 4pm
21 and Older Only! No pets or children

One of the most popular festivals in the Bay Area, the event annually attracts thousands of foodies, art aficionados, wine and beer connoisseurs and music lovers to picturesque Watts Ranch in the village of Bodega.     

More than 25 wineries and 15 micro breweries will pour wine and beer, while 15 restaurants and catering companies will offer a bounty of seafood classics, including barbecued oysters, crab cakes, Key Lime calamari, clam chowder and other delicacies. Vegetarian options will also be available. 

Proceeds from the event will support two important causes — Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods,  which works in partnership with the California State Parks Foundation to provide environmental stewardship programs, and the Bodega Volunteer Fire Department.     

   Festival hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 27, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 28.  Admission is $12 for adults and free for children less than 12 years of age.  Watts Ranch is located at 16855 Bodega Highway in the village of Bodega.  For additional information, go online to www.winecountryfestivals.com.  

So don’t walk, run to the village of Bodega!!

http://www.petalumadowntown.com/ArtAndGardenPetaluma.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjNY5yidR_c

We hope that you are able to take advantage of this great price and help out some amazing charities.  Thank you for your support of Reynoso Family Vineyards, Cellar Angels, and the charities that will benefit from this, and every Cellar Angels event!!  Very Best Wishes, Joe, Elena and Rob. For more information: https://cellarangels.com/