FALL IS HERE  - September, 2010

Spotlight on Jose Plancarte - Cellar Master


On August 9th, our Cellar Master, Jose Plancarte, celebrated his 25th anniversary of service with Pine Ridge Vineyards. For the last quarter of a century, he has been an integral part of our production team, and his hard work has been a tremendous contribution to the quality of our wines. We sat down for an interview with Jose about his time with us so far to celebrate his long-term membership in our Pine Ridge family.


When and how did you start working for Pine Ridge?

I started in 1985 at Pine Ridge, working the night shift that harvest as a cellar worker.

What is your favorite wine from Pine Ridge?

Of course, I love our Chardonnay, and I usually prefer softer red wines, so I tend to like our Merlots better than our Cabernets. I’d have to say my favorite is our Crimson Creek Merlot.


What are your predictions for this year’s harvest?

I expect the harvest this year to be similar to last year’s, just later and longer! Due to a cooler summer than we normally have, harvest should begin about two weeks later and last longer than usual. The fruit looks great, and I think we will bring in between 700 and 800 tons this year.


What are some of your fondest memories of past harvests?

I remember working several of my earliest harvests alongside our founder, Gary Andrus, and also with many different cellar interns from different countries. I’ve enjoyed meeting many different people on the job and appreciating their own unique points of view. In 2003, when we began intensive sorting, I remember sorting until one or two o’clock in the morning. There was so much fruit that season, and sorting seemed to go on forever!


Do you have any interesting stories we may have never heard about the winery?

Yes! When I first started working here in 1985, strange events would occur in the office. We would eat dinner in the kitchen, and from the kitchen, we could see that the office doors would open and close by themselves. Then, when additions were made to the office building, these events stopped. About four or five years later, funny things began to happen again, but this time in the caves. To this day, sometimes we feel someone brush by us while working in the caves or hear a strange sound when no one else is there. We may very well be haunted by a friendly spirit who has taken up residence in the caves!


What’s your favorite thing about working at Pine Ridge?

I love being at Pine Ridge and in the Napa Valley in general. I am very grateful for the fact that I’ve spent the last 25 years in the same beautiful place, learning and growing along with the winery, and there’s no place I’d rather be! P•R•V

   Harvest Time Again

September marks the end of summer. To many of you, this may mean returning home from your vacations, preparing your children to go back to school or hosting your final outdoor barbecue of the season. Here at Pine Ridge Vineyards, September means that harvest is about to begin!


Our stellar production team, headed by winemaker Michael Beaulac, cellar master Jose Plancarte and vineyard manager Gustavo Avina, has just finished preparing our cellar, barrels and equipment for crush. Every year in August, just before this busy time begins, the entire staff celebrates the upcoming harvest by attending a pre-harvest fiesta, held in the vineyards. Our team takes this opportunity to appreciate the hard work of the production group throughout the year and especially at harvest time to create our outstanding wines.


2010 has been an interesting year here in the Napa Valley, to say the least! It has been an all around cooler growing season, with a delayed start to a mild summer. This led to slower vine growth early on and gradual ripening later in the season, but according to vineyard manager Gustavo Avina, the harvest is very promising. “The crop is looking good this year, with lots of grapes, big clusters and full berries,” says Avina. “We’ll be harvesting at night starting between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. At that time, the grapes are not too hot and the skin is a little stronger, preventing berries from breaking before they get to the winery. We will be picking around 30 to 50 tons per day.”


Our production team has already been making preparations for a late, lengthy harvest. “I think harvest will be about two to three weeks later than last year and will last a bit longer,” says winemaker Michael Beaulac. “We should have a larger than average crop and the fruit looks great! Also, I have a very strong team to work with, as I found out last year during my first harvest with Pine Ridge. I am definitely looking forward to harvest this year! ”

Our Concierge service is another one of the many benefits of your Wine Club membership.  We've partnered with several Napa Valley hotels to offer you special pricing through this avenue.  If you'd like to learn more about this program, book a winery tour, sign up for a cooking seminar, or if you have any other questions, our Concierge is available to assist you at 800.575.9777 or concierge@pineridgewine.com.  We look forward to seeing you this fall!

Read the the rest of our September wine club newsletter here. >>


 

Downloadable Newsletters

On August 9th, our Cellar Master, Jose Plancarte, celebrated his 25th anniversary of service with Pine Ridge Vineyards. For the last quarter of a century, he has been an integral part of our production team, and his hard work has been a tremendous contribution to the quality of our wines. We sat down for an interview with Jose about his time with us so far to celebrate his long-term membership in our Pine Ridge family.

When and how did you start working for Pine Ridge?

I started in 1985 at Pine Ridge, working the night shift that harvest as a cellar worker.

What is your favorite wine from Pine Ridge?

Of course, I love our Chardonnay, and I usually prefer softer red wines, so I tend to like our Merlots better than our Cabernets. I’d have to say my favorite is our Crimson Creek Merlot.

What are your predictions for this year’s harvest?

I expect the harvest this year to be similar to last year’s, just later and longer! Due to a cooler summer than we normally have, harvest should begin about two weeks later and last longer than usual. The fruit looks great, and I think we will bring in between 700 and 800 tons this year.

What are some of your fondest memories of past harvests?

I remember working several of my earliest harvests alongside our founder, Gary Andrus, and also with many different cellar interns from different countries. I’ve enjoyed meeting many different people on the job and appreciating their own unique points of view. In 2003, when we began intensive sorting, I remember sorting until one or two o’clock in the morning. There was so much fruit that season, and sorting seemed to go on forever!

Do you have any interesting stories we may have never heard about the winery?

Yes! When I first started working here in 1985, strange events would occur in the office. We would eat dinner in the kitchen, and from the kitchen, we could see that the office doors would open and close by themselves. Then, when additions were made to the office building, these events stopped. About four or five years later, funny things began to happen again, but this time in the caves. To this day, sometimes we feel someone brush by us while working in the caves or hear a strange sound when no one else is there. We may very well be haunted by a friendly spirit who has taken up residence in the caves!

What’s your favorite thing about working at Pine Ridge?

I love being at Pine Ridge and in the Napa Valley in general. I am very grateful for the fact that I’ve spent the last 25 years in the same beautiful place, learning and growing along with the winery, and there’s no place I’d rather be! P•R•V

Harvest Time Again
September marks the end of summer. To many of you, this may mean returning home from your vacations, preparing your children to go back to school or hosting your final outdoor barbecue of the season. Here at Pine Ridge Vineyards, September means that harvest is about to begin!

Our stellar production team, headed by winemaker Michael Beaulac, cellar master Jose Plancarte and vineyard manager Gustavo Avina, has just finished preparing our cellar, barrels and equipment for crush. Every year in August, just before this busy time begins, the entire staff celebrates the upcoming harvest by attending a pre-harvest fiesta, held in the vineyards. Our team takes this opportunity to appreciate the hard work of the production group throughout the year and especially at harvest time to create our outstanding wines.

2010 has been an interesting year here in the Napa Valley, to say the least! It has been an all around cooler growing season, with a delayed start to a mild summer. This led to slower vine growth early on and gradual ripening later in the season, but according to vineyard manager Gustavo Avina, the harvest is very promising. “The crop is looking good this year, with lots of grapes, big clusters and full berries,” says Avina. “We’ll be harvesting at night starting between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. At that time, the grapes are not too hot and the skin is a little stronger, preventing berries from breaking before they get to the winery. We will be picking around 30 to 50 tons per day.”

Our production team has already been making preparations for a late, lengthy harvest. “I think harvest will be about two to three weeks later than last year and will last a bit longer,” says winemaker Michael Beaulac. “We should have a larger than average crop and the fruit looks great! Also, I have a very strong team to work with, as I found out last year during my first harvest with Pine Ridge. I am definitely looking forward to harvest this year! ”

Our Concierge service is another one of the many benefits of your Wine Club membership.  We've partnered with several Napa Valley hotels to offer you special pricing through this avenue.  If you'd like to learn more about this program, book a winery tour, sign up for a cooking seminar, or if you have any other questions, our Concierge is available to assist you at 800.575.9777 or concierge@pineridgewine.com.  We look forward to seeing you this summer!

Read the the rest of our July wine club newsletter here. >>


 

Downloadable Newsletters

On August 9th, our Cellar Master, Jose Plancarte, celebrated his 25th anniversary of service with Pine Ridge Vineyards. For the last quarter of a century, he has been an integral part of our production team, and his hard work has been a tremendous contribution to the quality of our wines. We sat down for an interview with Jose about his time with us so far to celebrate his long-term membership in our Pine Ridge family.

When and how did you start working for Pine Ridge?

I started in 1985 at Pine Ridge, working the night shift that harvest as a cellar worker.

What is your favorite wine from Pine Ridge?

Of course, I love our Chardonnay, and I usually prefer softer red wines, so I tend to like our Merlots better than our Cabernets. I’d have to say my favorite is our Crimson Creek Merlot.

What are your predictions for this year’s harvest?

I expect the harvest this year to be similar to last year’s, just later and longer! Due to a cooler summer than we normally have, harvest should begin about two weeks later and last longer than usual. The fruit looks great, and I think we will bring in between 700 and 800 tons this year.

What are some of your fondest memories of past harvests?

I remember working several of my earliest harvests alongside our founder, Gary Andrus, and also with many different cellar interns from different countries. I’ve enjoyed meeting many different people on the job and appreciating their own unique points of view. In 2003, when we began intensive sorting, I remember sorting until one or two o’clock in the morning. There was so much fruit that season, and sorting seemed to go on forever!

Do you have any interesting stories we may have never heard about the winery?

Yes! When I first started working here in 1985, strange events would occur in the office. We would eat dinner in the kitchen, and from the kitchen, we could see that the office doors would open and close by themselves. Then, when additions were made to the office building, these events stopped. About four or five years later, funny things began to happen again, but this time in the caves. To this day, sometimes we feel someone brush by us while working in the caves or hear a strange sound when no one else is there. We may very well be haunted by a friendly spirit who has taken up residence in the caves!

What’s your favorite thing about working at Pine Ridge?

I love being at Pine Ridge and in the Napa Valley in general. I am very grateful for the fact that I’ve spent the last 25 years in the same beautiful place, learning and growing along with the winery, and there’s no place I’d rather be! P•R•V

Harvest Time Again
September marks the end of summer. To many of you, this may mean returning home from your vacations, preparing your children to go back to school or hosting your final outdoor barbecue of the season. Here at Pine Ridge Vineyards, September means that harvest is about to begin!

Our stellar production team, headed by winemaker Michael Beaulac, cellar master Jose Plancarte and vineyard manager Gustavo Avina, has just finished preparing our cellar, barrels and equipment for crush. Every year in August, just before this busy time begins, the entire staff celebrates the upcoming harvest by attending a pre-harvest fiesta, held in the vineyards. Our team takes this opportunity to appreciate the hard work of the production group throughout the year and especially at harvest time to create our outstanding wines.

2010 has been an interesting year here in the Napa Valley, to say the least! It has been an all around cooler growing season, with a delayed start to a mild summer. This led to slower vine growth early on and gradual ripening later in the season, but according to vineyard manager Gustavo Avina, the harvest is very promising. “The crop is looking good this year, with lots of grapes, big clusters and full berries,” says Avina. “We’ll be harvesting at night starting between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. At that time, the grapes are not too hot and the skin is a little stronger, preventing berries from breaking before they get to the winery. We will be picking around 30 to 50 tons per day.”

Our production team has already been making preparations for a late, lengthy harvest. “I think harvest will be about two to three weeks later than last year and will last a bit longer,” says winemaker Michael Beaulac. “We should have a larger than average crop and the fruit looks great! Also, I have a very strong team to work with, as I found out last year during my first harvest with Pine Ridge. I am definitely looking forward to harvest this year! ”

Our Concierge service is another one of the many benefits of your Wine Club membership.  We've partnered with several Napa Valley hotels to offer you special pricing through this avenue.  If you'd like to learn more about this program, book a winery tour, sign up for a cooking seminar, or if you have any other questions, our Concierge is available to assist you at 800.575.9777 or concierge@pineridgewine.com.  We look forward to seeing you this summer!

Read the the rest of our July wine club newsletter here. >>


 

Downloadable Newsletters