All posts by Leslie - 3. page

Cherry Family Winery is located in the Sleepy Hollow area of Orinda. Cherry pinot noir is 100 percent estate grown and consists of approximately 225 pinot noir vines planted to clones 115, 667 and 777 in a 45/28/27 proportion. Sleepy Hollow’s warm days and cool nights create ideal growing conditions for pinot noir. The vineyard faces southwest and is planted on a gentle downslope with good sun exposure.

Brian Cherry established the vineyard in 2009. While he has a love for wine, he didn’t have a background in grape growing or winemaking. A fan of California’s fruit driven pinot’s, he also appreciates the complexity of a great Burgundy. Brian believes great wines start in the vineyard but are also completed under the steady hand of a skilled winemaker.

The inaugural bottling of Cherry pinot was the 2014 vintage and based on initial reviews, it looks like the terroir is well suited to growing pinot noir. Cherry pinot noir is finished in new French oak barrels and bottled by hand on site. Yields were low in 2014 and are even lower in 2015, but yields should increase as the vines get older.

Being a small grape grower and a winemaker is both challenging and hard work, but the reward of being able to open a bottle of your own wine after a long, tough day is worth working for.

JOAO MAGALHAES, VILLA CALACOLA: Joao planted his vineyard in 2004.  The Magalhaes’ have 500 vines of Pinot Noir, Syrah & Merlot.  In early 2005 he became one of the Founding Father’s of what is today our LWGA.  He and Dave Parker (Parkmon) developed the vision, mission and goals for the Association and developed the first generation of By-Laws.  Joao’s work with the Moraga Town Council has led to much improved relations and lighter controls on Grape Growers and Wine Makers in Moraga.  He is also involved in the preliminary planning for the new Hacienda renovation and expansion.

Thanks to Daniel Howsepian for being the first to provide history on his vineyard and family.  I would like to see these from all members, so we can document our efforts as a group to turn Lamorinda into a (small but thriving) appellation.  Once again, any family or property history or grape growing.  Why you decided to jump in to this, and a picture or two.  Thanks!

Couloir Vineyards; Lafayette, CA;   Established 2011

Having spent the better part of my youth with my family in France during the summer months of July & August, I was fortunate enough to be able to visit and stay in many parts of France where my family lived.  One of my favorite memories there were the times spent with my Aunt, Renee and her husband Jojo, who worked in a local winery in Nuit St. George as the cellar master.  Jojo would take me through the ancient Roman caves, once used to store military goods in case of attacks, now converted to wine cellars. These were long, rambling arched roofed, earthen, moss lined caves, full of wine barrels, bottles, aromas,  and interesting wine making apparatus.   He would show me around, and we would occasionally stop here and there to sample wines that were very fine indeed!  Once, he stopped to plunge his hand into what looked like a moss covered wall, and withdrew a concealed bottle of their wine, which we thoroughly enjoyed that evening.

Renee & Jojo’s sons would each work a small parch of land near their homes and were always eager to share their own wines with their American cousin.  This would be the inspiration that I carried all my life to someday have a small vineyard of my own, and enjoy the bounty of our hard work.

And so when I found the home we purchased years ago, I saw the potential for a vineyard and pursued the realization of my dream!  Thus Couloir Vineyards was born.  Couloir, in French means canyon, where the vineyard is located, and is also a winter mountain gully for steep powder skiing for advanced skiers like me.

Our vineyard is currently three years old, and we expect to have our first true harvest in 2016.  We have 260 vines of Cabernet Sauvignon and 75 vines of Merlot, which we hope to blend with the Cabernet Sauvignon.  The vines are progressing with lots of promise and we should have our first drinkable wine as early as 2018.  I am also very lucky to have my son, Julien, as a graduate of UC Davis, in the Viticulture and Enology department and is currently working  at Kosta Browne in Sebastopol as their Cellar Master.  He has been very supportive of our efforts and has been a great family project. We will be processing our own wines in our wine cellar with great love and care.

It is with great pleasure to be a part of the Lamorinda Appellation, creating our own Terrior,  which we can all be proud!

We look forward to many enjoyable times with our friends and family with the bounties of Couloir Vineyard!

Daniel & Annemieke Howsepian