Change of Seasons

The seasons have changed here in Walla Walla. The 2009 harvest is over, the wine is finished and in barrel. The weather has turned windy and cold and of course the days are suddenly getting dark very early. We have had a nice dusting of snow in the Blue Mountains for the last couple of weeks, a sure sign that fall is turning into winter in a hurry here in the Walla Walla Valley. The change in the weather means lots of work for the vineyard crew. Every winter we run the risk of damaging cold temperatures. Most winters are mild in Walla Walla, but every so often we have extreme temperatures that can be way too cold for the grape vines. In 2004 we saw temperatures of 17 degrees below in the Pepper Bridge Vineyard. Temperatures that cold are too extreme for the varietals that we are growing, Cabernet and Merlot are particularly cold sensitive. As a result, we sustained substantial damage in the vineyard and in many sections, the vines had to be cut down to the ground. The vines will grow back after being cut to the ground but it means one year without fruit. So as an insurance policy against the cold, our crew is out in the vineyard burying canes. Each spring we allow two canes to grow at the base of our vines, they are suckers and normally would be clipped off. These canes grow along the ground all summer and now that it is fall, Arturo and crew are burying these canes under a blanket of dirt. Hopefully if we were to experience an extra cold winter that damaged the above ground growth, the canes that are buried would be protected from the cold. In the spring we would be able to cut down the dead growth, unbury the canes, trellis them and they will bear fruit. Of course all this work is done by hand, with the crew walking every row with shovels. With the weather turning quickly into winter, it is cold and windy work. But without their hard work we run the risk of going a season without fruit.

Fall Release

This past weekend was the Fall Release here in Walla Walla. A weekend of new wines debuting all across the valley. Despite the forecast, we ended up having perfect fall weather, no rain, just sun and wind, typical Walla Walla. The nice days made getting out and tasting new wines even more enjoyable. At Pepper Bridge we released our 2006 Reserve. It is an excellent finale for the 06 vintage. Its full of dark red fruit with long tannins and lots of complexity, a very well balanced and elegant wine. Reserve is a fitting title with this wine, in my opinion it is the best wine from the 2006 vintage. We poured Reserve all weekend for old friends and new visitors and the response was fabulous. Everyone loved the new wine, along with the 06 Merlot and Cab of course. Hopefully we will have more occasions to pour the Reserve over the next few months. Certainly the staff will have no complaints in tasting more Reserve! The other big news of the weekend was the unveiling of the new barrel room for Amavi Cellars. Our sister winery is moving to the southern neighborhood and this weekend we welcomed visitors and tasters in the new barrel room. 2007 vintage was the focus of the Fall Release for Amavi, both 07 Syrah and Cab, and for the Coin Club members, the 2007 Les Collines Syrah. Saturday, the Amavi Coin Club had a party to celebrate the new site and the new wine club wine, Ceres. It is a blend of 50% Cabernet and 50% Syrah and all of the fruit comes from our Les Collines Vineyard. This wine has yet to be bottled but Ray Goff was on hand to pull barrel samples of this new wine for all to taste. A fun treat for all of the fans of Amavi wines. At the moment there is not much to see of the new tasting room, just a concrete wall, but hopefully we will be able to host Spring Release in the new building. Then visitors can get their Pepper Bridge/Amavi fix without having to drive across town. Both Pepper Bridge and Amavi want to thank all of our club members and visitors for the support and enthusiasm this weekend. We look forward to seeing everyone for Holiday Barrel in just a few short weeks when we will be tasting 2008 out of barrel!