Getting the Dirt on Our Soil

A few weeks ago we had a tractor tilling between the rows of our Adelaida vineyard and while that doesn't sound very exciting, it brought up an interesting conversation about our soil management. 

Parrish Adelaida Vineyard

My dad shared with me that we have been a part of a soil project the last couple of years that was implemented by the local RCD (a.k.a. Upper Salinas - Las Tablas Conservation District) and funded by the CDFA (a.k.a. California Department of Food and Agriculture). While my dad might have told me this before, it was like hearing new information and I had to know more. So, he directed me to our vineyard management company, Vineyard Professional Services (VPS), to fill me in. The Chief Operating Officer of VPS, Linnea Smith, reached out to me with a great document (thank you, Linnea!). 

VPS has been working with the RCD to study the impact of middle row management and soil health over four years (2021 marks the last year). The reason for this study is that generally vineyard managers till between vineyard rows to reduce weeds and pests as they are competition for the vineyard's water...a precious resource. The problem with this practice is that it is expensive, time-consuming, and impacts erosion control. The updated practices are easy to implement and can be applied by any vineyard in California. 

Parrish Templeton Vineyard

In 2018, Parrish Family Vineyard's Templeton and Adelaida vineyards were brought into the trial along with three other local vineyards with diverse terroir; soil, and microclimates. In the trial, they tried different cover crops; brome grasses and barley. Then they tried a mix of mowing versus discing. The RCD took soil samples each year and observed the changes in the soil. They took note of the amount of organic matter, nutrient levels, and soil biology and diversity. The hope for the project is that it will lead to an increase of organic matter, improve water retention, and long-term storage of carbon in the soil. 

In simple terms, the changed soil practices will mean less water, improved water quality, and fewer pests...overall making the vines productive. That's a win, win, win! This project shows how important soil is in the vineyard. Soil needs to have nutrients and water retention to feed the roots of the vines...otherwise, you will see problems with the season's development. 

Thanks to the RCD and VPS for including Parrish Family Vineyard in these important trials. It is another example of the Ag Industry innovating and improving to meet the challenges around them. The farmer has always had to adapt and always will, due to climate, disease, pests, and economics. 

We'll see how 2021 concludes for this project, so for now, we will wait with a glass of wine and appreciate the efforts as the wine starts in the vineyard.

Cheers! 

Cecily Parrish Ray 

Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc - Start to Finish

We have been growing our Sauvignon Blanc at the Adelaida vineyard since 2013, while we had been using the fruit to produce our Estate Sauvignon Blanc since 2016, the winemaking team was compelled to try something new. They wanted to do a sauterne-style wine as it would be a nice addition to our lineup as we didn't have a sweet wine.  

What is a sauterne? Sauternes are from the Bordeaux region of France and they feature not only Sauvignon Blanc, but also Sémillon and Muscadelle. They tend to be heavier in body, sweet, and have notes of stone fruit, tropical fruit, florals, toasted sugar, coconut, and baking spices. It all depends on the fruit and barrel program, as you do age this style in barrels to add the wonderful body and secondary flavors. 

Back in 2019 we took the leap and held back some Sauvignon Blanc clusters from the main harvest in September and allowed the grapes to stay on the vine to develop more sugar. In November 2019, we harvested the remaining Sauvignon Blanc and they were raisined with colors of gold and pink-purple. Hence the term, Late Harvest because it was last to be harvested and allowed to develop more sugar, or higher brix (measurement of sugar). We normally pick at 21 brix for the Sauvignon Blanc, but for this wine, we picked at about 35 brix.  

Below is a video we recorded in the middle of the processing the Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc with Cellar Master Ethan and Assistant Winemaker Cody sharing about this new wine: 

*I'm sorry about the background buzz from the winery!

One thing you may notice from the video is the vibrant color. It looks like orange juice! That color fades away during fermentation. After talking with Assistant Winemaker Cody, I learned more about why young wines have a cloudy color that is nowhere near what the finished product will look like. This is known as browning and it's a normal thing that happens during pressing wine. The oxygen dissolves causing the color. It also has some lees and sediment that are stirred up making it not as clear. The CO2 that occurs in fermentation helps lift the oxygen and at that point begins to change the color to be more clarified and golden rather than yellow-orange. 

During fermentation, the winemaking team used a weaker yeast so the process would stop at 15-16% alcohol and allow there to be residual sugar in the wine.

What is residual sugar? This is what makes wine sweet. Dry wines have no residual sugar because they have had all the sugar eaten up by yeast during fermentation. Sometimes wine tasters think that sweetness in a dry wine is sugar, but that is most likely the fruit notes of the palate. So, if you like wines that are "sweet" in a dry wine then you would want to look for wines that fruit-forward, less tannic, and have spent time in stainless steel or little time in the barrel. 

After processing, the wine then journeyed to oak. The Late Harvest aged in 35% new French oak and 65% neutral oak for about 16 months. This gave the wine more body than our traditional Sauvignon Blanc. Typically, the winemaking team ages Sauvignon Blanc in stainless steel to keep it light and crisp, whereas the Late Harvest is aged to be heavier bodied with more creaminess and caramelization. 

The day we bottled the Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, I got to taste it and it was delicious. The notes I got were apricot, lemon and grapefruit jelly candies (think of those Sunkist ones), cream soda, toffee, and then a beautiful brush of acidity. I love the acidity in this wine as it helps balance the body to keep it from becoming cloyingly sweet.

For the winemaking team, it is such a rewarding day to take the wines that have been worked on for a couple of months or years and finish them. They get to see the once grapes transformed to wine and then placed in the bottle. It is also rewarding for the team to do something new and have it turn out to be wonderful. No longer a thought, but a reality. 

As far as packaging, it is different from our other bottles as the label is with gold accents and the bottle is smaller, 375ml (rather than 750ml). Our whole team voted on the bottle shape for a few days in bottle planning. It was very sophisticated as we lined up 2 options on the counter and then did a tally on post-it notes. It became a bit of a competition, jokingly, as one bottle was being picked by a landslide and the other was lonely with 1 tally mark. But that team member began convincing other team members to bring them to her side. Haha. Alas, the popular bottle was chosen. It was a good attempt! In summation, it was a team effort in picking the packaging. 

So, importantly, how should you serve this? Chilled. I would recommend a smaller glass so you can easily access the nose. This will age well. I have yet to try it after being open a couple of days, but feel this would last longer open than a stainless steel, crisp Sauvignon Blanc. Regardless, this wine will age in the bottle for some time. 

And then what do you pair it with? You can do dessert with this wine. I would say tarts would be lovely with it like a lemon, coconut, or almond. Cheesecake would be simple and decadent with the Late Harvest. For the release weekend, Estate Chef Samantha paired it with aphrodisiac macarons; fig & pistachio, strawberry balsamic, and raspberry chocolate (awesome!). The fig & pistachio macaron was my favorite with this wine, so taking inspiration to home, try thyme mascarpone figs with roasted pistachio and honey drizzle. 

And then let's not forget cheese & charcuterie as this would be beautiful with a board for starters or dessert, I mean why not! Here are some thoughts; baked brie, Fromarer D'affinois Blue Cheese, St. Agur Blue Cheese, Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog, Asiago Rosemary, Idiazabal, Manchego, Honey Bee Goat Cheese, Oakdale Lemon Quark, Foie Gras, Duck Prosciutto, Alle Pia Calabrese Salami, and Smoking Goose Spruce & Candy Salame. Add some fun accouterments like quince paste, bacon jam (Olivas de Oro does one), Marcona almonds, dried nectarines, dried cherries, homemade candied pecans, pumpkin seeds, shortbread biscuits, sourdough, or brioche toast...you'll be set! 

I hope you enjoyed learning more about this new wine. Cheers, and if you're a club member, you can pick up this wine here! 

-Cecily 

 

Winter in the Vineyard & A Quick Look at the Year

Winter is upon us with its calm and cold presence ushering in a quiet time for the vines. I have a lot of times called this their sleepy time, but in more formal words, the vines are currently dormant. It is a perfect time for dormancy as the temperatures can drop below 30 degrees. Even in Paso Robles, California we can get freezing temperatures at night and early mornings. So, dormancy protects the vineyard from being hurt by the freezing temperatures.   

The vines have gone through senescence after the hard work of harvest, which is the dropping of leaves. Since the leaves are now covering the floor of the vineyard, it indicates that the vines have stopped photosynthesis (energy production). The vines don’t die because they have stopped photosynthesis, but rather they depend on the stored energy in their trunk and roots. This brings up one of the important practices for a vineyard and that is soil health. The soil is what provides nutrients to the vines. During this season we will work on the soil by applying fertilizer and/or planting cover crop seeds (i.e. flowers, vetch, or barley).

Shortly, we will also work on pruning the vines to prepare them for the growing season. With pruning, the prior year’s canes are cut back leaving the best canes for the new year’s shoots. There won’t be a lot of activity with the vines until bud break which usually occurs in April and marks the start of the growing season. Below I have dug up a timeline I made years ago of the stages of growth throughout the year highlighting the important moments for the vines. The months listed are approximate as every year is different due to the weather.

My hope this year is to share more information about the vineyard when they are happening, so we’ll see how I do!

Cheers!

Cecily Parrish Ray

Reflecting on 2020

It is December 31st, 2020. The last day of this year. Who would have foresaw during the joyous calls of "Happy New Year!" on January 1st, 2020 at 12am that this year would unfold the way it did. Normally we experience difficult times at different times, but in 2020 we experienced it at the same time. It has truly been a notable year for everyone that will be remembered.

It was a year that has brought about deep gratitude and togetherness despite what one would think. As I reflect on these photos and videos above, it amazes me to see such a year with vibrant life, colors, and joy. I believe the reason is that our family and team chose to make it that way. That is not to say that we haven’t had moments, but we chose to work hard together and keep going with the best attitudes possible. Thank you so much to them for all their hard work and team work. I truly could not have gotten through this year without them.

It was also a year of sharing with guests even though it was with distance and behind masks. There were so many moments and stories we got to experience with our members and guests that it brought us all closer. Thank you to all our club members and guests who trusted us to provide safe service. Thank you for the support and encouragement.  

Lastly, it was a year of unexpected joy thanks to the location of our tasting room and winery. We saw the hills frame beautiful, inspiring sunsets. We had many visits from wild life from reptiles to birds…one we weren’t able to capture was a recent visit from a bobcat. It’s these moments that make us pause and remember that there is so much more to life than just the doom and gloom.  

My heart is so full as I watch this video. Despite all the difficult and unimaginable, thank you God for such a year as this.

With a grateful heart,

Cecily Parrish Ray

Wine Pairings - Christmas Movies!

We were thinking that this is a perfect time for wine pairings with Christmas movies. Our family has always loved watching movies this time of year and there are a few that are tradition for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. So here’s our list...

2018 Sauvignon Blanc –  Rifftrax Christmas (Mystery Science Theater 3000 Fans) 


2018 Chardonnay – The Santa Clause (1994)

2016 Petite Sirah – The Family Man (2000)
 

2016 Silken – While You Were Sleeping (1995)

2016 Four Chords – Christmas Carol (1951, traditionally on Christmas Eve) 

2016 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
 

2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvingon – It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, traditionally on Christmas Day)

Tomorrow is National Christmas Movie Marathon day, so grab a blanket, turn on the tree, and enjoy! We’re open 11am-5pm if you need some wine for this. Cheers!

Instagram Live Tasting: 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Virtual Tastings!

Watch our two most recent Virtual Experience below. Enjoy our next virtual on December 10th featuring our 2016 Silken and our Winemaking Team! Tickets Here

 

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Virtual Tasting with Petite Sirah
September 24th, 2020

Learn more about our 2016 Petite Sirah as well as other facts about the variety.
Also, a fun sensory experience of pairing spices with wine. 

Hosts:
Erin Foley - Wine Club & Event Coordinator 
Samantha Eitel - Estate Chef 
Cecily Parrish Ray - General Manager

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Virtual Tasting with Chardonnay
October 29th, 2020
Featuring our 2018 Chardonnay, learn about the variety as well as some wine nerd facts like ML.
The team also shares a paired cheese with the tasting group and how we pair with the wine. 

Hosts:
Erin Foley - Wine Club & Event Coordinator 
Lupita Sotelo - Tasting Room Manager
Samantha Eitel - Estate Chef 
Cecily Parrish Ray - General Manager

Still Safely Open with Award of Excellence

Hello PFV Guests!

We received word (7/13/2020) that Govenor Newsom wants wine tasting experiences to continue outside only at this time. While we love our indoor space, we are blessed with spacious, beautiful outdoor areas giving us the ability to distance guests according to the guidelines. We have been following guidelines for our experiences upon reopening in late May with our team wearing masks and gloves to put your mind at ease during your visit. Our team, led by our Tasting Room Manager Lupita, also has been working hard to sanitinize surfaces through out the day. We have also been serving our delicious, fresh, comforting food by Estate Chef Samantha with plastic utensils and paper plates (the nicest we can find) as an extra precaution. 

With all our effort, our team is happy to announce that late last week we were given an Award of Excellence by the San Luis Obispo County Environmental Health Services. We scored 100% on our routine inspection and passed in spades for the covid inspection. We are ready to continue serving you outside and are even looking into ways to cool our spaces during the Summer months (my dad is on it!). Thankfully we are looking at 80 degree weather this weekend! 

If you are comfortable, we invite you to join us as we will continue to operate safely and we appreciate your patience as we work through this uncharted time together. Please feel free to visit our virtual tour, here, as it reflects the space we have (table distance has been modified since the video was shot). 

Thank you to all who have supported us during this time. My family, my team are forever grateful to you. 

Blessed,

Cecily Parrish Ray 

Opening Thursday, May 28th - New Hours!

We are excited to share we are opening our doors on Thursday, May 28th for service! We have our current hours listed below in this email. 

We have new wines and an entirely new food menu to share with you! You can review the food menu here. Our team has been working tirelessly the last few weeks in preparation for this moment. A huge thank you to them!

Regarding visiting, things are going to look a little different as we have guidelines set forth by our County in this 2nd Phase of re-opening. Things will change possibly in the future, so we appreciate your patience as we head into these uncharted waters together. Our top priority above all is your safety and the safety of our staff. We are following sanitizing and cleaning guidelines that have been set forth. 

The following are important notes regarding your visit as these are inline with the County guidelines:

• Reservations are required for visits at this time. Reservations can be made here. 
• Masks will be required while entering the tasting room and we can provide one if needed.
• All wine purchases must accompany a food order. We ask that there only be one check per table and that group sizes are limited to 10 people. 
• Most seating will be outdoors. All tables are set at six feet apart to maintain proper social distancing, this includes our limited indoor seating.

We know that this will be an adjustment and again we appreciate your patience. We are beyond thrilled to have you visit and finally be able to enjoy our beautiful location, wines, and food! 

Hours

Thursday-Sunday

11am-6pm 

Reservations Required, but it's easy to make here!

 

White Flight Virtual Tasting with David and Vanessa

Ok, it's hot! Join Winemaker and owner David Parrish and Certified Sommelier Vanessa Igel as they taste through our white wines and chat pairings and movies.

Grab a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Rose to join along. 

Click here for the video and here for more details about the wines they are tasting.