Yesterday morning, I drove up to the foothills to check several vineyards. Most pressing was Ellen Ridge. The grapes are ripe - lots of brown seeds, good sugars and nice acid. (24 Brix, PH of 3.37 and TA of 7.5 G/L)

Ellen Ridge is on the edge of the American River canyon at about 1,800 feet above sea level. The blue label is right where our vines are.


View Ellen Ridge Vineyard in a larger map

This year we are going to try something totally different with our Roussanne. 50% will be fermented on the skins in an open top wood fermentation vessel. The other 50% will be fermented whole cluster. It should be interesting. Not sure what day we are picking but it will be soon.