Central Coast Olive Oil Competition Results and Update

We got word late last week that we received four awards from the Central Coast Olive Oil Competition.  We were awarded a Silver Medal for our Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a Silver Medal for our Lemon-Infused Olive Oil, a Bronze Medal for our Orange-Infused Olive Oil, and a Bronze Medal for our Smoked Olive Oil.

We are attempting, ourselves, to make sense out of the inconsistencies between the different judging panels.  The O/C member of our team reviews results with the plan of doing things better each year, and scrutinizes every fact provided but just cannot reconcile the results.  Some might suggest we ought to just celebrate the 12 awards we've received this year, with an additional two Best of Class Awards, but yet, we are left SOH (shaking our heads), as they say.  There are producers who submitted and did not win awards, so we are thrilled that, on the whole, all of our oils are award-winning.

So, what mountain is left to scale this year?  One of the BIG competitions, Napa.  And before you ask if we have any early calls on it, as professionals, we can share that we have no idea.  We would like to keep the track record going and not be told, sorry, please join us next year, but we're hoping (and guessing) it will be somewhere in between.

What else is going on here?  Lots.  We are preparing to bottle our 2015 Cabernet.  We are planning to bottle our 2016 Grenache Rosé.  We are shoot thinning our vines -- and then doing it again and again.  The olive trees are in full blossom with gale-force winds and a storm predicted for this weekend (that doesn't sound good).  As always, no, the olive oil is not all bottled.

On the wildlife front, we have also said goodbye to the four black angus that have called the ranch home for the last year.  It is always sad to part with our friends, but lest we shed too many tears, the 2017 class is being delivered next week and will include six brand spanking new calves.

It has also been a rather busy reptile year at the ranch and surrounding areas.  May is always the most dangerous month, as the male rattlesnakes are out aggressively looking for mates, but as we're learning with the environment warming generally, we ought to plan to see them at any time and always exercise caution.

The work never seems to be done on a farm, but we also realize that we are living the dream.  We are looking forward to enjoying spring and summer nights on the patio with a good glass of wine, some amazing local food, and longer days, which might afford us the opportunity to get more done.

Check back in to see how we do in Napa Valley next week!