March 2007 Newsletter
The Wait is Over for 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
On May 1, we will release our highly anticipated 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. As always, we focused on quality versus quantity, and we are confident you will be thrilled by our latest vintage.
This elegant, balanced wine is juicy, supple and silky, filled with ripe black fruit flavors. Dark berry and cherry flavors lead into a smooth, licorice finish. The oak is well integrated, lending chocolate notes and a lick of smokiness and spice.
Jean-François feels this wine carries on the Pepper Bridge style of elegance and balance and is very happy with its flavor profile. Given the low production levels (approximately 1,800 cases), be extra careful not to miss out!
To purchase this intriguing new vintage, contact us via phone (509-525-6502) or email (info@pepperbridge.com).
In the News:
~ 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon & 2004 Merlot ~
We just received great news! Wine Enthusiast gave our 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon 91 points. Furthermore, our 2004 Merlot received a score of 90 from both Wine & Spirits and Wine Enthusiast.
From the Winegrower, Norm McKibben
~ 2007 Starts Off Busy ~
The 2007 vintage has started, and it’s off to a good start at that! We are safely past the time of year when we worry about damage from severe winter weather.
As you may remember from a previous newsletter, we now bury portions of our vines (“canes”) to protect them against intense freezes. By doing so, we can remain confident of a normal harvest even if a freeze damages the exposed part of the vine. If we experience a vine-damaging freeze, we can unbury these extra canes, train them along the trellis and harvest as usual.
This year the winter was kind to the vines, so we do not need these buried canes. However, we still have to unearth and remove these portions of the vines or they will grow unruly. It is very labor-intensive, yet unquestionably necessary.
Winter Pruning
Winter pruning is one of the most critical events of the year, as it determines the crop load for the coming vintage. We go through the vineyards with a pre-pruning machine and cut the canes.
Then, trained pruning crews further prune each cane by hand to further reduce the number of buds. The number of buds we desire on each cane is determined by the age and condition of each particular vine and by the crop size desired by the winemaker. For Pepper Bridge wines, we ultimately would like to harvest 2.5 to 3.5 tons per acre this fall. By controlling crop size, we can produce grapes that ripen fully and evenly from vine to vine. Keeping ripeness levels consistent is a key component in making high-quality wine.
Complementary Plantings
We’ve had lots of rain this winter so we will be planting chicory in between some rows to help use the water in the soil and hold down on vine growth. We will also be experimenting with buckwheat in between other rows to furnish pollen as food for the beneficial insects we want to keep in the vineyard. These plantings are all a part of our ongoing, forward-thinking sustainable viticulture mission.
It’s a Tough Job...
I tasted through many barrels of our 2005 and 2006 vintages this weekend with Jean-François and some visitors from Napa. We were all very impressed with what we tasted, and as a winegrower it is always fun to listen to three winemakers compare notes on the flavors they are finding in the juice from your vineyard.
If not before, I hope to see you at the winery during the Walla Walla Spring Release the first weekend in May. I know you are going to love our latest vintages.
Meet the Team: Dana Lane
Dana Lane holds the title of Marketing Coordinator, but in reality the scope of her job is astronomically broader. Over the years, she has participated in practically every aspect of this winery’s business, from working in the vineyards to analyzing financial statements.
Stop into Pepper Bridge Winery on any given day, and chances are she will be doing something different from the last time you saw her. She could be sorting fruit, processing payroll, taking distributors’ orders, visiting with guests in the tasting room, or serving as office manager. In a small company, everyone has to wear a lot of hats, but for Dana this is particularly the case. Her ability to multi-task, her tenacity and her attention to detail are unmatched.
Dana began her journey to Pepper Bridge Winery when it was still a dream. She worked with Norm more than 15 years ago when he was in the apple business and then moved into the realm of grape-growing with him. She worked by his side in every aspect of planning, planting, and pruning our estate vineyards. She loved being outdoors and being involved in the foundation of our company.
When Pepper Bridge Winery was built, she left vineyard work behind to help with the winery startup. The knowledge she took away from the apple and vineyard business is a genuine asset to our team. In addition, she is very resourceful and has an uncanny ability to keep tabs on all of us as we work in different functions across the winery – and even across the country. Given her comprehensive knowledge of the wine business and her knack for keeping track of our seemingly countless projects, she is somewhat of a mother to all of us at Pepper Bridge Winery.
Dana moved to the Walla Walla Valley in 1979 to start a family with her husband, Dan. Sweethearts since the age of 15, they have been married for 27 years.
Together they raised two children, Amanda and Christopher. Both are still fresh out of the nest, yet already leading successful lives of their own. Amanda loves sports and dedicates her free time to umpiring little league and high school softball. Christopher is a member of a helicopter unit in the Oregon National Guard and recently served for a year in Afghanistan.
Dana enjoys spending most of her leisure time with her family, but when she gets a moment to herself, she likes to pick up a camera and shoot! In fact, she took most of the pictures you see in our newsletters and on our website.
In each of the next several newsletters, we will introduce a key person in the Pepper Bridge team. We’d like to give you a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes, beyond the activities of Norm and Jean-François.
Bridge Club Events:
It’s a Luau!
On Friday, May 4 we will celebrate our fourth annual Bridge Club Day. Seasoned veterans, you know what’s up! Newcomers, don’t miss out on the great food, great fun, and a game that doesn’t require you to put down your wine glass.
As always, we have planned a petanque tournament, giving you the chance to carry the coveted championship title for a year. We’ve added a twist this year in that the party will be a luau. So wear your most festive garb, and we’ll have an award for the best dressed.
If you would like more information about this event or about the Bridge Club (our private wine club), please contact Lisa Schmidt at 509-525-6502 or Lisa@pepperbridge.com. There is no cost to join the Bridge Club, and membership entitles you to a 20% discount on current vintages, including large-format bottles. In addition, members receive wines not available to the general public and invitations to exclusive events, such as the one discussed here and Holiday Hors d’Oeuvres.
(Left to right) Michelle Fraser, Adam Hitch and Rita Anderson won the 2006 Petanque Tournament title.
Calendar of Events
Website Updates
Have you ever wondered what happens at Pepper Bridge Winery while you aren’t here? If everything goes as smoothly on the inside as it appears from the tasting room, well now you can find out! We will be writing a weekly blog letting you in on all of the happenings (good and problematic) and answering any questions you might have (technical and whimsical). Check us out at www.pepperbridge.com/blog, read up on the last few weeks and let us know what you want to hear about.
Please let us know what you think. Thanks!