What goes up, comes down in Glen Ellen
Seven people in a hot air balloon landed safely on Tuesday in Devil’s Canyon, east of Glen Ellen. The balloon had been blown off course and was running low on fuel when the pilot set it down near the top of the canyon in the Mayacamas mountains, off Cavedale Road.
Firefighters from Glen Ellen responded, but no injuries were sustained. Firefighter Marty Amon was quoted as saying of the emergency landing, “It was just a wild ride.” The balloon and basket will have to be carried out to a road by hand, for retrieval.
National farm bill could give California organics a boost
Members of the House Agricultural Committee last week approved a new five-year farm bill that would provide new benefits for California agriculture. House Democratic leaders, including Mike Thompson, Lynn Woolsey and Nancy Pelosi, fought off efforts by urban lawmakers and other interested parties opposed to continued crop subsidies. They argued that the bill should include increased funding for conservation, food stamps and creating community food security for healthier diets.
While some Bay Area activists disagreed, saying that crop subsidies skew food production and separate consumers from farmers, among other things, Thompson and others saw it differently.
“This farm bill represents a change in direction from previous farm policy,” Thompson said. “It gives specialty crops and organic crops a seat at the table, while at the same time preserving the importance of conventional agriculture across the country.”
The 2007 bill contains $1.6 billion in mandatory funding for strengthening and supporting specialty crops as well as funding for additional organic certification. It has not yet been approved by the entire House; the U.S. Senate will debate its own version of the farm bill.
Pouring wine at fundraisers now legal
Small wineries have finally won the right to pour their wines at non-profit fundraisers. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week signed a bill allowing “virtual vintners” the same rights as vintners holding a Type 2 alcohol license.
Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, authored the bill after three small wineries in Napa were cited by state officials for pouring wine at a non-profit fundraising event, an action that was illegal at the time.
The new bill grants pouring rights to some 1,400 California vintners that hold so-called 17/20 licenses, which allow them to produce and distribute wine made at other wineries (thus the “virtual” nomenclature).
Vintage Festival water fights washed out
In the spirit of water conservation, the associated fire agencies in the valley have canceled the annual fireman’s water-fight at the Vintage Festival. Fire Marshal Steve Marler informed Vintage Festival community events chair Paula Vinson in a phone call Thursday July 26.
“Of course, we understand the concerns regarding water conservation, but we’re disappointed that the 110th year won’t have this popular event. We’re looking into other activities to fill the hole in the event schedule,” said Vinson.
City councilmember Ken Brown, who spoke with the Fire Marshal, said he quoted numbers ranging from 30,000 – 50,000 gallons of water that might be used at the festivities depending on how long the nozzles are open.
According to the 2000 census there are 9,128 residents within city limits. The average low flow toilet uses 1.6 gallons of water per flush. By extrapolation, the amount of water intended to be used by the Vintage Festival would equal only 3 toilet flushes per city resident.
Grape harvest may be early this year
The earliest start for makers of North Coast sparkling wines dates to 2004, when Calistoga’s Schramsberg Vineyards brought in its first pinot noir grapes in late July, according to industry reports, but things are shaping up for picking to start early this month.
The below-average rainfall has kept grape berry sizes smaller than usual, though the dry weather also resulted in some vineyard reservoirs currently less than half-full and some wells in danger of a higher salt content that could cause vintners some problems.
Makers of North Coast sparkling wines are pleased with the modest size of the crop. The sparkling wine harvest is closely watched by makers of still wines, who like advance notice on whether or not they will need to make late-season grape purchases before their own harvest gets underway in another few weeks.
Le rat est mort
“Ratatouille,” the Pixar animation film about a character of the same name, is still going strong, but the wine of the same name is no more. According to a press release, the Disney Corporation has pulled out of the wine business before its wines had hit the shelves. Disney has cancelled its Ratatouille wine, which was to be sold in Costco stores, in August. A ‘trickle’ of inquiries and complaints led to the decision not go to ahead with the promotion. Apparently the fact that it is French wine upset domestic vintners, but what may have killed the deal is that the label showed the film’s star, Remy the rat, holding a tiny glass, which could violate advertising ethics. The advertising code bans advertising that might appeal to children by the use of cartoon characters or very young models.
