AROUND THE RANCH

We are enjoying Spring here at Kimmel Vineyards with new growth in the trees, grasses, and wildflowers, and of course the new buds and clusters emerging from the vines. During this transition time from Spring to Summer, the nights and early morning hours can still get very cold at which time we turn on our overhead sprinklers to protect the new buds from frost and freezing temperatures. We are lucky to have enough water in our lakes this time of year from run-off on our ranch - many wineries have very limited reserves of water to pull from for frost protection. Hopefully by the end of this month the need to protect the grapes from the cold temperatures will end. Warmer days are ahead with many wildflowers proudly showing their color in the hills and valleys.

EGVM trap placed in the vineyard to monitor the spread of this moth.

Many of you have been reading about the European Grapevine Moth (EGVM) and the damage it can do to the grapes. The moth has been found in Napa and some parts of Sonoma, up to Ukiah and Redwood Valley just west of us. The EGVM is native to Southern Italy and many areas of Europe. The finding of the moth in Napa is the first ever recorded in the United States.

The EGV moth feeds on grapes at various stages of their development from larvae to adult moths. The EGVM likes grapes but is also a threat to many other fruits such as stone fruit, blackberries, kiwi, olive, persimmon and pomegranate. The County of Mendocino where we are located is actively watching for signs of the moth in order to take preventive measures. We placed traps in our vineyards this past weekend as requested by the County. Should the moth be detected in our valley, vineyards will need to have the grapes inspected prior to any shipments.

Although we manage our vineyards through sustainable farming methods, spraying to eradicate this moth may be required in compliance with approved procedures.

WHAT IS MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION? ...


Winemaking 101: Crush, Ferment, Age, and Bottle, right? Sometimes, winemakers make use of another step, called Malolactic Fermentation. It is a secondary fermentation and is commonly abbreviated as ML or MLF.

MalolacticWhat is malolactic fermentation? Malic is derived from malum, a Latin term which describes the tartness of green apples. Lactic, derived from lactis, describes milk. So, the process of malolactic fermentation is the transformation of tart acids to softer milky acids.

Our Chardonnay is made with some barrels going through a partial MLF process so that softer acids are combined with the grape's natural tart acids. The amount of MLF the wine undergoes is determined by our winemaker Bruce Regalia as he creates the perfect blend for the final product.

So, the next time malolactic fermentation comes up at a party or with friends at dinner, you can explain what ML is and everyone will be impressed.

DINING OUT WITH KIMMEL VINEYARDS

The Grill on Hollywood

The newest restaurant to add our wine is The Grill on Hollywood located in the Hollywood and Highland Entertainment Complex. The center is home to the Kodak Theater and host to the annual Academy Awards. The Grill on Hollywood is the fourth restaurant for the group that started The Grill on the Alley concept in 1984 in Beverly Hills. Modeled after the great grills of New York and San Francisco, you'll find a tradition of first-rate fare, attentive service, and a familiar dignified atmosphere. The Grill has evolved into one of Los Angeles' "must-do" places.

A fun aspect of our wine being served at the Grill is that "Jimmy Kimmel Live" is produced by ABC across the street from the Kodak Theater. Mike Green, the General Manager, tells us that Jimmy and his staff sometimes frequent the restaurant before the show.

If you are in the area, stop in and say hi to Mike Green and tell him you are a "Friend" of Kimmel Vineyards. You also just might run into Jimmy Kimmel.

View all restaurants carrying Kimmel Vineyards wines>

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE FOR USD WINE CLASSIC ...


Kimmel Vineyards will be participating again this year in the 2nd Annual USD Wine Classic to be held July 25 at the University of San Diego. Even though the University has increased the number of tickets this year, it is anticipated to be sold out before July.

Added this year is the opportunity to meet with Bruce Regalia and learn how he approaches Chardonnay winemaking. In this pre-event tasting, he will explore the components of a single vineyard Chardonnay to show how they contribute to the final blend prior to bottling. Participants will get to taste and experience the influences of oak (new vs. used) and cooperage, Malolactic fermentation, barrel fermented vs. stainless steel and see how everything comes together in a finished wine. Everyone will taste all components directly from the unfiltered barrel and then taste the final blend.

Get your tickets early by going to www.usdwineclassic.com. It was a great event last year and we expect it to be even better this year with 25 wineries participating.

STOCK YOUR CELLAR BEFORE SUMMER ARRIVES...

In a month or so we will run into hotter days that make it difficult to ship your wine orders. This will be especially important to those of you outside of California where longer transit time and unpredictable weather make shipping during summer months risky. So, please check your inventory and make sure you have enough wine for the summer.

And, make sure to enter the word FRIEND in the voucher section to receive the 20% discount.