This release represents two vintages that were interesting, to put it mildly. It’s been two years since the 2020 fires that submerged so many local vineyards in smoke. At the time, many wineries were turning away fruit, not picking certain vineyards, pouring tainted wine down the drain, etc. We made some calculated risks depending on how the grapes tasted at the time, the limited lab analysis we were able to get accomplished (huge backlogs), the geographic location of the site, and literally which way the wind was blowing. Putting up the money to produce wine only to pour it down the drain is enough to sink a brand. On the flip side, the choice of not picking is also a risk as it means no wine to sell. While we made much less wine than usual in 2020, we decided to pick and crush more fruit than many other wineries, and now that we have the wine in the bottle, we are so incredibly glad we did. None of wines we are bringing forth have been impacted by smoke. Deep, joyful breath here. The whites and rosé are fantastic, and the few barrels of Pinot that we bottled are delicious. (When we say “few,” we aren’t kidding, as illustrated by the mere 31 cases of Baranoff that we produced… just about 1 barrel)

Thank goodness that Sonoma County was largely spared from wildfire in 2021. Our Sonoma fruit is delicious and we are stoked about what’s to come. The Caldor Fire in El Dorado did burn thousands of acres near our main vineyards in the foothills, and we were only able to source a little Gamay for the 2021 Rosé release, but we love how it’s tasting – fresh and vibrant. We just won’t have as much this year – so enjoy it while we have it!

Climate change has always been at the forefront for us and Gros Ventre. We’re hearing from the experts that things are unfolding at a more rapid speed than anticipated, and we are first-hand witnesses. We’re moving quickly to adjust. We’re seeking out cooler coastal sites for Pinot in the face of warming temperatures. We’re sourcing high acid white varieties from El Dorado that are proven in warm Mediterranean climates. And in 2021, we got our first Gamay Noir grapes from far-away Santa Barbara to mitigate fire risk. Don’t be surprised if you find us poking around Oregon in the future, something we’ve been interested in for years. In some ways we’re lucky – we have the flexibility to be geographically diverse and mitigate our risk. It’s also a great excuse for Chris to head down to the Central Coast and visit Cal Poly – SLO, and (hopefully one day soon) for Sarah to visit her beloved Pacific Northwest in the name of our business. As a winery, and as a family, we’ll continue to do what we can to support sustainable farming, the defense of the environment, and protection of our wonderful natural resources.

Life has thrown us some challenges the last couple years, that’s true. But it’s also been pretty darn awesome in so many ways. We’re glad the windows are opening up.