St. Rey 2008 Single Quinta Port Front Label

St. Rey 2008 Single Quinta Port Front Label
Originally uploaded by craighaarmeyer

Well this is it. The first label for my first production wine. It's been a long time since Micah Charlot got me started brewing beer in my early twenties and although the brewing has been on hiatus for over 5 years this little traditional style port wine represents the pinnacle of my efforts to produce high quality, commercial alcoholic beverages.

For those of you who do not know, the longish story is that I have been enjoying wine since before I was of legal drinking age and I got a late start in wine making because I was always intimidated by the process. So, brewing is what I did. I like beer, too, so that had something to do with it but it was not until 2007 when I started helping out at Revolution that realized I might actually make my own wine.

I wanted to make something that was not being made at the winery and deciding on Port was easy. I love Port Wine and I love the idea of making small lot, hand crafted wine that can be hand sold to a local market. So I hatched the idea of starting a the Port Wine program at Revolution and Joe and Gina were very receptive to the idea, being Port lovers themselves.

In 2008, with the help of friends and family, the generosity of several others, including experts in port wine making I was able to make my first real wine.

We are holding back a few barrels for future projects, such as Tawney Port and/or a Vintage Port but the majority of it (4 barrels) will be bottled up and released as a young port called simply "Ruby" with the year stated on the label since it is of a single vintage and the description of "Single Quinta" since the grapes were all from a single vineyard, that of Mr. Ron Silva in Galt, CA.

We will only have about 100 cases, so get it while it lasts and I would recommend buying at least a couple bottles. One or two to enjoy now and one to lay down for 8 or 10 years. After an extended time in bottle you will have a Vintage Port.

The release party is on November 12 at Revolution Wines, 2116 "P" Street in Sacramento and I hope you can all be there to help me celebrate!

Also, I need several volunteers to help out with bottling the weekend before the party. Get a hold of me if you want to be a part of the project.

A nossa!

Waiting for Ullr

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Originally uploaded by craighaarmeyer

Waiting. Waiting patiently. Waiting not so patiently. I have been dreaming about skiing almost every night for the past several weeks and in each dream I am rock/dirt skiing. So even my dreams have not seen enough snow to ski on. Perhaps I need to sleep at a higher elevation or with my feet sticking out of the covers.

In any case my ski shop is open for business. If anyone wants a tune just drop by in the evenings after 7 or 8 and I'll tune 'em while you wait. My fee is 3 beers per ski, by the way.

Marian is 13 but still a good kid

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Originally uploaded by craighaarmeyer

Been too busy to blog as crush 2009 has me at the winery 7 days a week, 8 to 12 hours a day but I still make time to watch and Marian play soccer. Yesterday in a very physical game against Placer Gold she assisted the first goal in the last ten minutes to tie it up 1-1 and then she scored the winning goal in the final minute of play. Marian assisted Sheridan's goal and Sheridan assisted Marian's. Nice team work, girls! And very nice effort to show the opposing team that no matter how much punishing, dirty tactics you apply (and get away with) or how far you can punt the ball in down field desperation, Boca will prevail by playing a possession game.

Go Marian! Go Boca!