2005 Bravura is nearly ready

Our 2004 "Bravura" - Anniversary Wine is nearly sold out. We bottled a really small quantity of 2005 vintage to continue with this great blend of Merlot (60%) and Malbec (40%) for the 2005 vintage year.

The Vine Chronicles - Week 21 (August 9, 2007)

Week 21, brought some sizing in the berries, but little else. These green berries will slowly start to turn red (called verasion). Hopefully in the next few weeks we will see the change. We are probably a week or two behind last year in measuring the maturity of the grapes.

Baron Rothschild News!

BARON ELIE ROBERT DE ROTHSCHILD DIES. Baron Elie Robert de Rothschild, who helped France's renowned Rothschild winemaking and banking dynasty recover from World War II, died Monday (August 6) while vacationing at his Austrian hunting lodge. He was 90.

Rothschild had been on a hunting trip at his lodge when he suffered a fatal heart attack, according to the AP. He is the second prominent Rothschild to die this year. In June, family patriarch Baron Guy de Rothschild died in Paris.

The family's prestigious Chateau Lafite-Rothschild winery, for whom Elie de Rothschild began working in 1946 after serving as an Allied soldier during World War II, credits him with at least two of the best and most memorable postwar Bordeaux vintages: 1947 and 1949.

Born May 29, 1917, Elie de Rothschild was captured by the Germans near the border with Belgium. He wound up at Luebeck, one of the Nazis' most infamous POW camps.
There, he was reunited with a brother, Alain, and although they were Jews, they were treated as captured officers and avoided execution.

Rothschild married his childhood sweetheart, Liliane Fould-Springer, who was one of France's leading patrons of the arts when she died in 2003. Together, the couple acquired works by Picasso, Rembrandt and other masters.

He held a 25% stake in the Rothschild banking empire and oversaw the conversion of the former Paris-Lyon-Marseille railway into a travel company of hotels and restaurants.

Rothschild is survived by a son, Nathaniel, a financier; daughters Elizabeth and Nelly; and five grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are yet to be completed.

More from North Carolina

The Atlantic Ocean was a great place to be this week. Only one day of rain and the rest of the week was perfect. The Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Grandparents and kids all had a great time swimming the waves and basking in the rays!

Brower's are on Holiday at the Outer Banks

Family is everything. For the last number of days we are all together and having an incredible time. The weather has been from warm showers to great sunshine. Our family (minus Bobby in Fresno) is together for this event. Now, look at the hot dogs and tell me we are not the "All American" clan!!!!!!!!

Chateau Julien Wine Estate at MotoGP - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca 2007

Another great weekend at Mazda Raceway - Laguna Seca for 2007. The first picture is Bob with the Legendary Dan Gurney and Director Carl Anderson. Wayne Rainey was elected to the Legends of the track and the crowds came to see the race. As you can tell, Chateau Julien wines have a long history at the track.

The Vine Chronicles - Week 19 (July 20, 2007)

Week Number 19 brought a few new changes to the vineyard. We brought in a crew to pull the leaves and open the fruit to the sunshine. This is a very labor intensive event that took a few days. The grapes are now directly exposed to the sunshine and we are enjoying a sunshine filled July. The leaves are dropped to the ground and will be disc'd into the soil at a later date.

Time for some Water Politics

The campaign to elect Bob Brower for Water Board has begun. Today, Kristin Horton, signed on as Treasurer of the campaign. Hopefully, tomorrow, I will file the State and county forms that will allow us to begin requesting campaign contributions.

My position for candadicy to the Water Board is to obtain or protect the following:

1) A replacement water supply that reduces the amount of water "take" form the Carmel Valley Watershed.

2) To protect the endangered steelhead and other endangered species in the Carmel Valley river basin.

3) To protect our Carmel Valley River environment.

4) Improve all efforts for "Conservation of Water"

I will keep you updated on how our campaign is going!

Bob Brower for Monterey Peninsula Water Board

Well, This morning, something changed in my life. I have made the final decision to enter the political arena and I filed for an elected position. A formal filing took place for the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District - District 5. The first few weeks will be spent gathering the information I need to run a campaign. I will keep you posted!

This Qualifies as one of the best "Thank you's"

If you admire Ferrari's, then you have to read this letter sent from Piero, himself!

Back to Concorso d'Eleganza Ferrari 60

About 100 cars were shown within the frame of the Concours in two categories (road cars and racing cars) with 15 categories. It was great to bring home the "First Place" award for Classe 7 - Le 275/365 GTS, 365 California.

The Vine Chronicles - Week 18 (July 14, 2007)

Week 18 of the 2007 growing season brought cool mornings and warm afternoons. The vine vigor was so great that we hedged this week so we can get into the vineyard rows. Our tractor has the ability to hedge the vines back and open up the canopy. The pictures show how neatly this process works. As you can also see, the grapes are sizing and the weather is perfect.

Summer Jamboree - Last of the Pictures for 2007

As the Jamboree becomes a memory for 2007, the fun we had will stay in our minds (or at least on the blog) for a long time. Thanks to our great staff for all of your hard work and dedication - Bob & Patty

25th Celebration - Summer Jamboree

More pictures on the 25th Celebration at the Summer Jamboree. From lemonade to Reserve Wines - We had it all!