Weekly Podcast for June 30, 2006

It's the 4th of July weekend!! You know what that means, another reason to enjoy life with a nice glass of wine in your hand. Always responsibly of course. This week is a short podcast as not much has happened in the past week..but I didn't have any less fun recording though..hehe.

Weekly Podcast for June 23, 2006

Well Heeelllloooo! This week some interesting information about vineyards being asked to dig up their vines and stop making wine. Red wine good for you? In many ways. Join me for a the next 3 minutes and let's learn something new.

Chai Soiree Pictures

Friday June 16, 2006

An evening of pure fun highlighted by Chateau Julien wines and shopping tidbits. Passed hor d-ourves and small plates was enjoyed among the aging oak barrels of the Wine Estate’s Chai.

Wine & Cigar Dinner Pictures

Friday June 16, 2006

A simply fun, festive evening of culinary delight, fine wine and hand-rolled Dominican Republic cigars. Dinner was served under the stars in the Wine Estate’s Conservatory.

Just published our weekly podcast...

Featured on our podcast is this weeks new information from our vineyard and some from around the world. Join me...

Featured in Gene Hiller Magazine

In the Spring/Summer 2006 issue of Gene Hiller Magazine, Château Julien is the suggested red wine out of two wines listed in the magazine. The Private Reserve Merlot, representing the highest quality produced, is the favorite in the magazine.

Gene Hiller is the finest men's clothing in San Francisco and the Bay area. If you would like to know more about Gene Hiller, please visit their website.

Wine label standards have changed…

Château Julien Estate
High 67 Low 54
Mostly Sunny

Lockwood Valley Vineyard
High 78 Low 52
Mostly Sunny

Well, about a month ago the standards have changed. The U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TBB) on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 set into stone in the Federal Register changing the minimum content requirement from 95% to 85% for vintage date statements on wine labels with state and county designations.

Now you may be asking, what does this really mean to wine? In the past (well before May 2^nd) when a wine label said a vintage year (1990, 1991…2000, 2001, etc.) it meant that 95% of the juice in that wine came from grapes harvested in the year that is displayed on the label. Now, only 85% of the juice has to be from the vintage year of vintage printed on the bottle label.

The Wine Institute argues that the change would benefit U.S. winemakers and American consumers, saying an 85 percent vintage date regulation would lead to “improved taste appeal and quality perception of many wines. Young reds would be smoother and less ‘green’ and would be more consistent across vintages. Older white wines would be fresher and fruitier and more consistent across vintages as well.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

I know that here we always try to bottle the best product humanly possible. We will just have to see what future vintages bring. Is this change good for the wine industry? Does it hurt the grape growers? Does it lower the wine standard in the U.S.? Good points on either side, however I highly doubt that U.S. wine will hurt from this.

Greatest summer trip…I think

In today’s world where gas prices seem to be unforgiving, trying to figure out what to do this summer with your loved one is a bit more difficult. I know that when I try to plan a vacation or weekend getaway the cost of gas is pretty much the deciding factor on which places I can go and which places I will just have to wait till next time. I think that it’s important to get away at some point in our busy lives, but to do so without breaking the bank is hard. Something that I have done recently with my girlfriend is to just go wine tasting. If you are reading this blog, then you have some interest in wine, so why not go out and taste wine at the vineyards where they’re made. It’s pretty inexpensive as most wineries do not charge to tasting. In most cases there is a bus that will take you to each of the vineyards and then back to your car. Here in Carmel Valley the public bus system, MST (Monterey Salinas Transportation), has a bus line dedicated to taking wine enthusiasts to all the vineyards in the Carmel Valley. Of course the favored spot on the tour is Château Julien, I can’t really lie there… If you were thinking about what to do, I say grab your love, friend, family, whomever and hit the vineyards for an enjoyable wine tasting experience.

If you have any suggestions or comments about wine tasting in your area just do a search in good for “wine tasting”.

What to look for on a vineyard

Château Julien Estate
High 66 Low 52
Mostly Cloudy

Lockwood Valley Vineyard
High 74 Low 50
Mostly Sunny


At this stage of the vineyard, the vines have grown quite a bit. It's beginning the summer months where traditionally there is longer sunlight exposure and drier conditions. Walking the vineyards we look at the lenght of the shoots. Since bud break was approx March, it appears the shoots (therefor canes) have good healthy growth. Look at the color of the leaves: nice bright green, no yellowing. Look for any signs of mildew (grey powder). The canes and leaves are free of mildew, because we are very diligant in sulfuring (a naturally occurring, environmentally correct, friendly, stable, nothing-Sierra-Club-wrong with it) compound. It was a very wet spring, so the big challenge this year, so far, is preventing mildew. (Causes sriveling of leaves and/or berries). Flowering on clusters, and fruit set are also important.

One day it just hits you....

You look out the window one day and notice that the vines have grown a lot since you last really looked at them. But that was just last friday! It's a jungle out there...

Weekly Podcast

This weeks weekly podcast has been recorded. I just love this part of my job! :) Enjoy and as always, I answer all suggestions, comments, complaints and anything of the such. Have a great weekend!