We are back in Napa and getting ready for harvest. All of the grapes in our vineyards are now in their final color.
Testing BRIX.
Yesterday we check BRIX of the grapes for the first time.
BRIX is a type of measurement of of ripeness. BRIX is actually a measurement of the amount of sugar in a grape, and it is the sugar that makes the alcohol. Grapes will naturally produce at full maturity a BRIX of around 25 or 25.5. That means that the grape is 25% sugar or 25.5 sugar. At 25% BRIX, grapes will produce an alcohol level in the wine of 14.5%.l We get there by multiplying the BRIX by .58. That formula gets us very close and is very reliable.
Sauvignon Blanc Grapes almost ready to pick.
Notice the translucent yellow color
Notice the translucent yellow color
Yesterday the BRIX Sauvignon Blanc was 23. We are getting very close. The Merlot was 19 and the Cabernet was 18. Both have more than a month to go.
Great Color in the Cabernet Sauvignon on September 3, 2011.
Another month to go.
Another month to go.
Bottling the Red Wines September 15.
On September 15 we will be bottling many of our Red Wines. So we have to get ready for that. We have already done all of the sampling and test blends so we will be getting tanks ready this week and getting the blend wines into the tanks for the blending and they will stay in the tanks until they go into the bottles on the 15th.That day we will bottle the 2009 Adagio, the 2009 Franc and the 2009 Piacere. You may not have heard about our FRANC or our PIACERE.
FRANC is a Napa Valley Cabernet Franc that we do a small amount of and sell in the tasting room. Cabernet Franc is regularly used as a blending wine in Bordeaux Blends and mixed with Merlot and/or Cabernet Sauvignon. It is seldom used as a "stand alone" wine. But we are making a small amount and it has been quite popular in the tasting room. It is very interesting and sells for around $48. It is aged in oak and it gets the same high quality wine making and handling that our other best wines get. Is not presently included in any of our wine club shipments, but you can order it direct from the winery.
Introducing PIACERE (pea-a-chair-ay).
PIACERE is an Italian word meaning "to enjoy" or "to have pleasure." In music it is a phrase indicating that the piece may be played at a tempo in the discretion of the performer. Blended from estate grown varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, this wine has been made to enjoy now, or it will age for years...at your discretion. It is designed to be more approachable early than its big sister ADAGIO. It sells for about $45. Like the FRANC it is not presently included in any of our wine club shipments, but you can order it direct from the winery.
Tours and Tastings by Appointment.
We are open during the harvest season for Tours and Tastings; by appointment only. They are always private, one group at a time. We do 3 tours per day, one at 10:30, one at 1PM and one at 3:00. If you are a wine club member or a follower of our blog, just mention it and the tastings are complimentary. Call 707-225-2276 for an appointment or send an e-mail to tours@kitchakcellars.com.
Bring a Picnic.
We have a beautiful picnic patio on the shores of Lake Cynthia in the middle of our vineyard. It has picnic tables and overlooks the lake. Come for a 10:30 tasting, bring your lunch, buy a bottle of Kitchak Cellars wine and enjoy a picnic in the vineyards overlooking the lake under the spreading branches of a 200 year old Oak Tree. Or come for a picnic and follow it with a tasting at 1PM. Either one works. But, you need an appointment. Call 707-225-2276 for an appointment or send an e-mail to tours@kitchakcellars.com.
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