Dear Members,
We hope to see you at our quarterly membership meeting that will be held at the Oak Springs Pool Clubhouse, 39 Spring Road, Orinda on Sunday October 29th at 3pm.
Please bring a bottle of wine and appetizer to share.
If you haven’t paid your 2017-2018 dues, please bring your checkbook.
We will be sharing harvest experiences and talking about the results of an upcoming member survey.
We hope to see you at the meeting!
Best,
Bill Scanlin
President, Lamorinda Wine Growers Association
Dear Members,
Our next General Membership Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, October 29th at 3pm.
The membership enjoys going to another members home for meetings and seeing their operation.
If you’re willing to host the October meeting, please reach out to me by the end of September.
Thanks,
Bill Scanlin, President LWGA
email: bscanlin@gmail.com cell: 925.200.7676
As you may know, Tom Powers has sold his vineyards to Kevin Balestrieri. A Upick operation will be held at the Balestrieri Family Farm vineyards at 8:00 AM on Saturday, September 16, 2017. The available grapes include: small amounts (a few hundred pounds each) of merlot, chardonnay, and cabernet sauvignon, and several tons each of pinot gris, viognier, and syrah.
Those wishing to pick high quality grapes, should meet at the Alhambra Valley Winery at 6140 Alhambra Valley Road, Martinez, CA at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 16, 2017. There is a wide parking area in front of the winery. The winery is about one quarter mile east of where Bear Valley Road and Pereira Road intersect with Alhambra Valley Road. Note that Alhambra Valley Road/Pinole Valley Road is closed between Castro Ranch Road and Bear Valley Road. If you are coming from the East Bay, the shortest route is San Pablo Dam Road to Bear Valley Road.
Look for Bonneau Dickson, Czar of the Contra Costa Wine Group, in a white Subaru Station Wagon. Bonneau’s cell phone number is 510 910 3420, but cell phone reception in this area is spotty at best for services other than Sprint.
Please be on time. If you are late and I am not at the winery, go to the intersection of Alhambra Valley Road and Pereira Road, turn north (right if coming from 6140). The entrance to the vineyard is on the right about 200 yards from the intersection.
The vineyard previously belonged to Tom Powers, who wrote the book “Vineyard Simple”. If you are interested in planting or tending a vineyard, copies of the book will be available for $20.
The price is 50 cents per pound, cash only. Bring small denomination bills.
If you want to use my crusher/destemmer, you will have to come to my place at 2428 McGee Avenue, Berkeley, CA. I will help you crush/destem and will even help you press and all this for free
If you think you want grapes, please reply by email to dickson.bonneau@gmail.com giving me your name, the varietal that you want, the approximate number of pounds that you want, and whether you would like to use the crusher/destemmer. There is no obligation if you decide not to come but it helps my planning efforts if I have some approximate indication of what the demand will be. Come anyway if you did not manage to let me know that you are coming. Also let me know and come if you do not want any grapes but would just like the experience of picking grapes.
For anyone wanting a ton or more, we may be able to arrange to have it picked for you. A deposit would be required. The pickers usually are not available on Saturday and Sunday.
You can try to reach Bonneau at 510 910 3420 (Cell, but spotty at the vineyard) or 510 845 8625 (Landline but only checked intermittently during the hubbub of wine processing)
Happy grape picking and wine making.
—
Bonneau Dickson, P.E.
2428 McGee Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94703
Tel. 510 845 8625
Cell 510 910 3420
Fax. 510 845 4606
On September 24, Tom and Bobbie Preston are hosting a Wine, Cheese, and Heirloom Tomato Tasting to benefit the Habitat for Humanity Hurricane Relief Fund. The Prestons would be most appreciative of a few bottles of wine from those growers who can do so, to help make this event possible. Bobbie would be happy to come to you to pick up any donations. The event is Sunday September 24, from 4-6:30pm at the Preston home and garden, 1307 Larch, Moraga.The event will cost $25 per person, with the proceeds going the Habitat Hurricane Relief Fund; there will be personnel at the event to assist guests in making online donations to the Fund, as well.Thanks for your consideration! And they’d love for you to come and enjoy the event, too!!Tom and Bobbie Preston925-376-8474 Home925-330-2446 Cell1307 Larch Ave, Moraga
The Friends of Wagner Ranch Nature Area is hosting the annual Olive Festival on Oct. 1. Friends sponsors outdoor/environmental education programs for Orinda students. Please consider donating one bottle of your wonderful local wine to this worthy cause. I am happy to pick up and will put together a Lamo basket for the auction portion of the fundraiser.
Thank you,
Colleen Sullivan
Alwazrt@comcast.net
925 254 6993
For those of you who were able to attend the last general membership meeting, you’ll remember what a great presentation we had from Jim Lapsley. He sent me his presentation deck along with some other material that was mentioned and below are the links to the material.
impact of information on champagne purchase
Do more expensive wines taste better
Bill Scanlin, President Lamorinda Wine Growers Association
Wine Spectator News