Winter Work in the Vineyard

The winery is closed to the public until April 17th, but this is one of our busiest times of the year.

Winter in the cellar is challenging, space is tight. Something always else needs to be cleaned, scrubbed and sanitized. The racking and fining of the wine creates the opportunity to taste, and to imagine what the wines will be when they pass from the adolescent stage in their life.

Due to the long growing season and warm September, the 2009 wines have a muscular concentration of fruit. The Frontenac technically (sugar/acids/ph) is the best we have ever grown, and it fermented for 20 days on the skin to pull as much flavor and tannin as possible. It is impressive in the silkiness at this stage of development. Also, we will be introducing our Marquette (limited supply) this summer, and from initial barrel tastings, it is robust and spicy. It reminds me of a young Gigonda or Vaqueras at this stage of development.

And then there's the winter work in the vineyard. There is an old saying, "the best fertilizer is the owner's footsteps", and in Minnesota, you may just catch us in snowshoes!

Last month we started pruning the vineyard, and in addition to some sore muscles, we also have to guard against snow burn... yes snow burn. The glare off the snow WILL give you a tan. It is actually quite amusing to dig around for the suntan lotion before you head out into the snow.

If I could claim a soul-deep connection to the vineyard, I would also claim that in winter, the vineyard has a different soul. In all other seasons, the vineyard is about the grapes. There are no grapes present in winter, and that stillness pulls deeply on the subconscious. That deep unrelenting quiet, at times... a pulse of the collectiveness can be felt.

We're looking forward to spring, but the vineyard brings us joy in all seasons. What a great workplace!

Traveling Wine Bottle goes to Hawaii

The traveling wine bottle was in Hawaii from January. You never know where that wine bottle will show up!

Send us your photo and story of the traveling wine bottle. Now the incentive...we will provide a bottle of Crofut Family wines for your submission.