I first saw a video of how Shannon Ridge Wines raise sheep to sustainably manage their vineyards, rotating the sheep from vineyard to vineyard to control cover crop growth and naturally fertilize the land. I was intrigued. Visiting the Lake County winery and meeting vintner/rancher Clay Shannon underscored the responsibility he feels to protect and…
Let me start with some information about the vineyards we visited on our tour… Papera Ranch – the vines were planted in 1934 by Celestino Papera. Head-trained and dry farmed, the vineyard is mostly Zinfandel with Carignane, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Valdiguie. Stuart Coulson purchased the property in 2007 and he and Chris Bowland of…
Microsoft Word – 2016.01.20 Castoro Solar Installation Press Release.docx Latest Solar Installation Adds To The Paso Robles Winery’s Quest For Sustainability Templeton, CA – Castoro Cellars has completed an installation of a massive new solar project that will allow the winery to run 100% on solar power. The 625-‐ kilowatt installation, which covers nearly three…
EPOCH ESTATE WINES It’s been over five years since we first tasted Epoch Estate Wines in Paso Robles. At the time, they were still making their wines over at Denner with Justin Smith as consulting winemaker. Current winemaker Jordan Fiorentini had just come on board. A lot has changed. Winemaking has moved to the Epoch…
Napa Valleys Newest Sub-AVA Gains Quick Support According to Federal Records (Napa, Calif) If an AVAs presence on wine labels is any indication (and it is), winemakers and wineries have fully embraced the new Coombsville growing region in southern Napa Valley. Since its approval as the newest Napa Valley sub-AVA in December 2011, 300 wine…
A Bountiful Menu Filled with Traditions and Kobayashi Signatures ARTISAN, the American restaurant in the center of Paso Robles, presents their 9th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, November 26, 2015. Chef Chris Kobyashi’s acclaimed à la carte four course feast is inspired by the holiday classics and prepared with outstanding products that are locally sourced,…
Artisan’s Chris and Mike Kobayashi Launch a Second Venture – A Breakfast and Lunch Eatery on Main Street in the Heart of Templeton TEMPLETON, California; September 2015 – Chef Chris Kobayashi and his brother/partner Michael Kobayashi have opened their second venture, Kitchenette, on September 1, 2015 at 105 South Main Street in Templeton. Located in the former Roost Café, Kitchenette is a breakfast and lunch eatery…
Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley kick off this harvest season with a positive forecast amidst California’s ongoing drought. HEALDSBURG, Calif. – AUGUST 18 – Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley (WDCV) expect the 2015 winegrape harvest to yield exceptional quality fruit in smaller quantities than the last three vintages, which were larger than normal throughout most…
Do you select wine based on a winery’s choice in being sustainable or organic? Do you know what those terms even mean? Lets start with some basic Definitions (from Wine Spectator’s Dr. Vinny) These terms vary in the way they’re defined and regulated, but I’ll do my best to sort out the way they’re most…
