“Always focus on the front windshield and not the review mirror.” ~ Colin Powell

What an amazingly busy time at the rancho this week!  After enjoying a quick jaunt back to Ohio for a wonderfully happy wedding celebration and a family celebration of a graduation, it was time for the ranchers, technically farmers, to turn their attention back to all things rancho, and that careful juggling act of remembering to take care of each item, incorporating new things learned, while continuing the farming education, all the while, not dropping any balls -- or mother nature can be wickedly cruel.

The head rancher spent two weekends at Cal Poly at a vineyard management seminar, which was quite timely, because this is the year the grapes are going to be the lush envy of all Paso (in our heads).  He returned eager to employ all his new-found skills, which worked out perfectly, because in the two weekends his head was being stuffed with information, his grapevines were growing in an out-of-control manner and needed shoot thinning and leaf pulling and spraying.

While this was occurring, the other dedicated member of the team worked diligently to finish bottling, labeling, and shrink sealing (not necessarily in that order) the 2013 olive oil.  Once completed with that task and a celebration of sorts with a playful little bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, attention was turned to the lavender harvest, which came off without a hitch on Thursday, June 13.  Utilization of a crew, rather than the two-member ranch team, cut the process down by possibly a week.  Of course, the lavender drying, de-budding, and cleaning still must occur, but that is on the list.


One of the highlights of the week, and great fun, was volunteering at the Central Coast Wine Competition under the careful guidance of a new star on the winemaking horizon, Mike Jones.  Could the judges just have tried Mike's Syrah or Grenache and called it a day?  Sure, but the other winemakers would also like to roll out their best and brightest wines, so after a well-organized orientation, the crew dove in on Wednesday/Thursday, and the results were then announced on Thursday. 

What was so very impressive was the careful consideration each judge gave to each wine, and if it was determined that a wine, perhaps, had become oxidized, requests were made for a new bottle to be opened and poured, with new glasses, giving each wine every benefit of the doubt and opportunity to shine.  The Competition was run under the auspices of Bob Foster, Chief Judge, who tirelessly travels around the country, even when recuperating from a serious illness, to oversee many of the big wine competitions, which are important marks of achievement for any winemaker, be they a home winemaker, a garagiste, or a commercial winery.  One must have goals and standards of excellence, and as each goal is achieved, new goals must be set. 

Speaking of which, the rancho's 2011 and 2012 wines were tasted, topped, and then topped with a layer of argon.  What say we about them?  Could this be the year that others actually have a bottle of our wine in their hands?  Quite possibly, but we'll keep you guessing.  Will the wines be described as bursting with jam, smooth, with a hint of cocoa, accompanied by a dash of black pepper?  One can hope.  As always, it would be the preference of the chief winemaker that terms such as "wet weasel" or "baby vomit" not be the critical acclaim the wine receives -- and we mean critical.

The 2012 olives, which have been brining in sea salt, which is changed monthly, were put in their last fresh brine and are slated to be jarred in July.  They taste delicious now, though, and will accompany many a summer dinner on the patio.  The website, blog, and e-commerce functions continue to be honed, and one day, hopefully, the balance of our products will be made. 

As this blog is being written, deer fencing is being installed on the land above the water tanks and solar panels, on which is planned the planting of another block of olive trees, this time, 100 trees, which are slated to be planted next spring.   

So, while the lavender dries, the grapes grow, the olives grow, the wine matures, the olive oil awaits its marketing blitz, it is time for these ranchers to put out the "Gone Fishin'" sign and head off into the sunset, to a highly secret location, where we cannot be found, so that sufficient energy can be regenerated for a month of happy visits with tiny tots and their parents, visits to the Ravine Waterpark, vine netting, and beginning our preparation for harvest.

Happy trails!

The Winemaker & Olive Oil Bottler