Friday, November 12, 2010

Releases in 2011

Designed labels in PowerPoint, had them laser-printed on standard white paper at OfficeMax, then cut & adhered to bottles with milk.  Let them dry, wiped clean with windex, then applied a heat-shrink cap.  The official titles, from left to right:

Overlook Vineyards 2008 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Santa Cruz Mountians
93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot

El Gato Dorado 2009 Fair Play Zinfandel
97% Zinfandel, 3% Petite Sirah

Little Red Wagon Red Table Wine
70% 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Cruz Mountains)
30% 2009 Zinfandel (Fair Play)

Friday, November 5, 2010

Fall Glam Shot

The leaves seem to be holding on longer than usual - and I'm not complaining, loving the fall foliage look here in Northern California.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Fall Nutrients

As the vines slip into dormancy, we're doing some soil amending to ensure a healthy recovery and start to the 2011-2012 season.  This year, I'm digging in some organic plant food; I opted for a locally available product; so carefully evaluated for the one with the least nitrogen and most minearls we're deficient in - E.B. Stone Organics Tomato and Vegetable Food won.  

Dug up the topsoill above the root zone of each vine, and added about 1/2 cup of this supplement per vine.  Also sprinkled 1/3 c Epsom Salts per vine (for additional Mangesium), and a couple handfuls of compost (for general soil health).  

Next step is to wait for rain, then cover with mulch.