September 2009
The summer is suddenly getting hot. No, I don't mean health care reform, I mean in the Vineyard on the mountain in Napa. What started off as a confusing season of cold, rain and a drawn-out winter has now settled in to a really intense hot summer.
Our clusters developed so big and plentiful I've never seen a vineyard so rich with fruit. If we went in to the commodity business we'd be rich this year. Needless to say we dropped maybe half the fruit in the last couple months so the quality and intensity is at a maximum high. Cutting clusters off the vine from say eight to leaving two on the vine is like turbo-charging the vine. All the energy and flavor goes into the surviving clusters, boosting the intensity to a whole new level.
Then you start to slow down the watering and the vine starts to struggle. Sounds cruel doesn't it, but keep in mind the fruit that is dropped blends back into the earth and feeds the plants, if not this year then next year for sure. So Mother Nature does a pretty good job of recycling.
We will drop more fruit in the next week or so. As you know we are striving for perfection and would rather make and sell less than chase volume.
We moved out of our facility at Silenus due to our fanatical obsession with quality control. This allows us to mother our wine even more. Truth be told, Vito really likes to sneak into the cave sometimes and barrel taste and daydream.
The "In Wine Country" segment also caused quite a lot of awareness. We are now hosting visitors from all over the world. Our overly talented Gen. Manager Dick Wallingford takes great care of our visitors.
Tastings are by appointment only and purchase of wine is encouraged or as Dick would say "required".
More good news is that we have implemented a wine club now that demand outstrips supply. What this really means is a pre-release annual membership. Since we anticipate going on allocation, once you sign up you will be assured your annual allocation. We will not sell this out once you are a member. Wine will come in wooden boxes for easy storage.
When you sign up we will ship you three, or six or twelve bottles max. Once you stay on the list you will always be on the list. Think of it as being your winery, made for you, our true partner in the evolution of Bialla Vineyards.
Please make sure you use your permanent email not the one at work when you sign up. Deliveries will be made upon release and shipped in time for Thanksgiving annually. When you sign up, also please let us know if you'd like to be contacted before shipment occurs. Someone age 21 or older will have to be there to receive the shipment.
We will do our best to find a colder week to ship and will pay attention to the temperatures. To sign up please go to www.biallavineyards.com/store/wineclub.html Feel free to pass this on to a friend or someone you think might be a good candidate to join our family.
For private tastings by appointment simply write to dick@biallavinesyards.com.
Thank you for sharing our passion
Vito & Linda Bialla