Rancho Azul y Oro ~ Surviving the Dream

Below is a quote from July of 2013 describing our experience with growing grapes and making wine: "Of all of our crops, the grapes are the most work intensive and, if ignored for one moment, can turn on you like a mean girl at camp.  At every step of the wine making process, there is opportunity to fail -- from a miscalculation at harvest or a blown bung during spring to a leaking barrel to bad corks to exploding wine bottles -- the list is endless.  For whatever reason, though, the wine grapes are much like the child in any family that is difficult, fussy and throws tantrums; it seems Mother always loved them the most.  Making the wine (and drinking it) is a passion, a love which cannot be explained, and we are passionate about making extraordinary wine -- although it hasn't happened yet -- and nothing beats those moments when it all comes together and we get it right.  We are inching ever closer." That was three years ago. ...

  Apologize for the hiatus!  As with everyone, some time was taken to bask in the warmth of the summer sun, roast a few marshmallows, go to the fair, watch a few sunsets, and walk barefoot through the grass (only in our minds, otherwise, the rattlesnakes could end the summer quickly).    What's been going on at the rancho, you might ask?  Lots, as always.  The table grapes ripened nicely and surprised us with much more bounty than expected!  The fig tree has produced a serious crop of figs this year.  We're currently producing fig jam, strawberry fig jam -- basically, anything one can think of utilizing figs, as well as our highly anticipated Tequila Jalepeno Grape Jelly and our Ruby Royale Grape Jelly.  Our current cocktail accompaniment is a olive/fig tampenade, with the ranch olive oil, naturally!   It was been a sizzling summer here on the Central Coast, with temperatures over 110 since mid-May through the end of July....

Oddly, this winter seems as if it may last forever.  It started raining last September, and as the ranch prepares for the seventh annual Stuart & Jason Birthday Festival (and a mighty big one for Stuart, at that), the reports have just come in, chance of rain all days.  It isn't as if we aren't appreciative of the gift from Mother Nature, but with over 26" in the ground for the season, we're ready for a little sun and warmth. All things growing are also ready for springtime, as well.  Bud burst has actually occurred on the table grapes (no frosts, please), we anticipate bud burst on the Zin and Petite Sirah around the time of the birthday festival, the Cabernet usually is a bit later, the olive trees have sprung forth and are preparing the 2011 crop, and the fig, apple, and the cherry trees have buds.  Of course, the truest sign that spring has arrived is when Pete's cattle returns to the ranch, and that has not yet happened. It hardly seems like it's...