Welcome to April, the month of exuberant spring growth in the vineyards, fields and everywhere you look. We’re celebrating Earth Day all month long here at the schoolhouse, where the vineyard floor is lush and green and filled with wildflowers, the vines are literally exploding with new shoots and the appearance of clusters. Flowering and fruit set generally occur late in April and early May and our wish is for warm and dry weather during that time.
Last May, we experienced an unusually foggy and windy stretch during bloom, which really impacted vine productivity and reduced yields all over the Santa Cruz Mountains, especially near the coast. We hope for a better, more fruitful outcome this year!
In the cellar, Winemaker Dave is preparing for this month’s bottling of the 2014 vintage reds, and the bottling line is clattering away to put our cellar treasures into bottle for you to enjoy. For those of you who purchased futures, be sure to make room for them in your cellar when they are available by month’s end.
April is a busy month in the tasting room and elsewhere, with lots of exciting wine events, including the Silicon Valley Wine Auction on April 16, where most of the area’s wineries will be sampling the bounty of our mountains. Hope to see you there!
EVENTS
April 16th—Spring Passport Day here at the winery and at over 50 Santa Cruz Mountain wineries. Your passport offers you a unique tasting experience at each venue. Bill the Oyster Man will be here at Burrell School shucking fresh bivalves to accompany our wines. www.scmwa.com
April 16th—Silicon Valley Wine Auction Grand Tasting at Levis Stadium from 1 to 4pm. Sip, sample and bid on wine lots from 50 plus vintners—all to benefit the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. For tickets and more information, visit www.scmwa.com
April 22nd—Earth Day – the original “homage to the planet” – come take a walk in the gazebo garden, bring a picnic and admire the beauty of Spring in the vineyards!
April 24th—Home Sweet Home, a benefit to end homelessness at the Triton Museum, Santa Clara. Spend a sweet afternoon tasting fine wines, craft beer, amazing appetizers and luscious desserts. www.homefirstscc.org/home-sweet -home
April 30th and May 1st—Sippers Session in the Gazebo Garden. Sippers Club members are invited to taste the May club wines and enjoy Chef Desiree’s fine cuisine amidst Anne’s heritage rose garden and our thriving Estate vines. The roses are glorious!
