It's like watching grass grow

Or Watching Scotty Grow? 

March 21, 2020

Plenty of time to sit and watch this one-of-four take off.  Self isolate has its advantages, I guess. I'm not clever enough to create a viral meme, so I will watch others. And watch my vine grow.  Hope the other three catch up.

April 5, 2020

At this rate, #3 will have grapes by summer. Another week of work-from-home, so may have a chance to update with more photos. Until then, I'll just add one more pic, but this time with a bottle of wine. Adds a little context. Plus, it is a cool label. Oh, and a great wine, too!

New Home

July 20, 2019

And this is where they live.  Well, three of them.  Sometime after this, a late bloomer appeared.  And then there were four.

But for the timeline, this is one month later.

August 17, 2019

They survived the harsh California winter - just kidding.  All went well.  Had some 'fall color' on the patio.  Spent the winter watching more YouTube videos.  And then, due to a very warm and dry February, Bud Break. Good thing I pruned in January.

February 23, 2020.

 A very noble bud, n'est pas?  Now what? Oh, I don't know.  A couple of years from now they may produce bunches of grapes. But don't expect any Larkin Cab Franc from this patio vineyard anytime soon, if ever.  Besides, the name is already in use in Napa.

Feb 29, 2020 From a spark to a flame.

You should see them now, one month later...

Grapes Without A View

For the first time ever, my planted grape seeds germinated. Maybe because they were 'local'?  I doubt it, but I'll never know.
This photo is from May 29, 2019.

2 of 4 eventual seedlings.

Little baby Cab Franc seedlings.  Now, I have tried seeds from Saint-Émilion, British Columbia, Italy, Quebec, and all over California (do the Feds know this - editor).
Nada.

Time to move on.


And then this happened.  How fun.  Now what? Nothing.  Just let 'em grow and enjoy the greenery.

Then two more seedlings pop out (pic is from June 16, 2019) and I start planning my #patiovineyard.

Only 3 here, but a little later a 4th popped out.

Getting serious, now.  Four vines.  Delusions of grandeur start filtering through my head.  Not really, but still fun.  Time to find a vessel to hold these beauties.
Another funny thing occurred while this was happening on our back patio.
{ BTW, I should mention that I have the full support and encouragement of #TheLovelyWife ™ . I think she may have delusions of grandeur :) } 
I had just discovered the joys of podcasts (I have a long work-commute). Read an article in the NY Times by their wine writer, Eric Asimov - yes, he is related to this guy. Unfortunately, it is likely behind a paywall today.
Anyway, it was about Levi Dalton and his podcast. Since then, I am a Wine Podcast junkie. But that is another story.  
Back to my seedlings. I decided that everything I learned listening to Levi and a few guys from Sonoma County, among others, I would put into practice on my #Patiovineyard. 
I drink the stuff, why not see what it is like to grow it. Are you aware of the info available on YouTube about grape-growing? 
 I believe this is one of the earliest pics I have a the seedlings.

May 11, 2019

 

As the 'bumper art' from the old Tonight Show would say, more to come...

While I was away...

Meanwhile.  For as long as I can remember (that's not very long - editor) I have been saving grape seeds.  Anytime I visit a winery and they allow picking a few grapes to taste, I do. I always spit the seeds to my hand and then a pocket, ideally in a Kleenex.
Way back in October, 2018, while on a hike through the Back Bay of Newport beach, we walked by the private estate of Newport Beach Vineyard & Winery. As luck would have it, they were hosting a Brunch / Grape Harvest party.

My sheers and payload.

Being on the outside of the fence where grapes were not accessible to the crew, I had them pass shears through to me.  I cut off those out of reach and handed them back. They offered a small bunch for a snack...
Moments later the foreman waved us over, thanking us for the help. Then invited us in, allowing us to continue the harvest, joining the taco brunch/lunch, AND a glass of wine. Several hours later we left, never finishing our hike ;)

As I always do with the seeds I save, after drying, I plant them.  See next post...

OTBN

It has been awhile, and this might be a little late for most, but tomorrow, the last Saturday of February, is Open That Bottle Night.
Here is the origin, but sadly the couple have long since been fired by the Wall Street Journal.  All the more reason to keep their terrific idea going.
Enjoy...

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/open-that-bottle-night/

And here is a piece from the originator, from this year:
https://grapecollective.com/articles/finally-we-made-a-choice-heres-what-were-having-for-otbn-

Gainey Limited Selection Cabernet Franc 2009

Once had a website for wine, foodandwinefordummies.com.  The Lawyers at The Company did not like it very much and sent me a cease and desist. It was a nice site and I should post the contents here (without the 'For Dummies' tag line).  I was hoping they would offer to buy it from me.  Oh well.

Tonight, fashioned a dinner around a menu suggestion from a Wine Club that we belong to.  If you should click the link and decide to join, tell them I sent you, please.  We get a discount if you do.

The Limited Selection Cab Franc 09 was great, as usual.  Medium bodied this vintage - Gainey is often full-bodied, even their Pinot Noir.  The winemaker notes stated it would be good for three to five years.  Ha.  We received it December, 2011 and enjoyed it tonight. That is a record for us :)

Wine Notes and Menu

Enjoyed it with their own menu recommendation.  Grilled Steak with Warm Shallot Vinaigrette.  Both were delicious.  The Vinaigrette was easy to make, the bottle was easy to open, and I can cook a steak with the best of them...

Picked and ready to clean.

It being the end of the 'fall season', I picked the last of our Leaf Lettuce for a salad to enjoy with the dinner.  Not bad for a patio garden, if I may say so myself. Lite Caesar dressing, avocado, and tomato made for a perfect starter.









Wine tasting notes can be read on the image above, so I won't pretend to match the winemaker's palette.  I will just say it was medium bodied, fruit forward and softened nicely from the first glass to the last. 

Have two bottles of 2010 - wonder how long they will last.
Should you find yourself in Santa Ynez, visit Gainey.  They have gotten big and not as accommodating as they once were, but the wines still hold up.

Romancing The Grape

Ah, the romance and glamour of life on the vineyard. There is nothing like a harvest to burst that bubble. More...

Or here.  Hmmm, or here, too.

Open that bottle night 2008

It was OTBN night last night. We had several delicious wines, two of which I will mention. With our dinner ( braised / roasted Pork Loin with a red wine reduction sauce, cooked with new potato's; asparagus spears, sauteed with butter, Dijon and lemon juice) we started with David Arthur 2004 MERITAGGIO. MMMM

Followed up - there were four of us - with a Venge 2004 Syrah. The Venge was our OTBN, as it was signed by the winemaker Kirk Venge, who we met here:

As a matter of fact, while the dinner was at our place, the chef was the owner of La Maison Gourmet - our kitchen, our ingredients, his skills. He cooks as well as knows his wine. As does his wife, plus she loves cheese, so the combo makes it perfect. Thus they opened their Cheese and Wine emporium. If you are in the area, drop in. Or call and order a basket or join the wine club.

Oh, the wines? Delicious. I cannot do them justice with descriptions - plus I don't really know how to describe them properly. But should you ever see them, they are highly recommended.