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.
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Bonneau Dickson, P.E.
2428 McGee Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94703
Tel. 510 845 8625
Cell 510 910 3420
Fax. 510 845 4606
