Landmark Vineyards owners Michael and Mary Colhoun unveiled John Deere’s new tractors, the F-Series Orchard/Vineyard Tractor and the A-Series Nursery Greenhouse Tractor, which are designed to fit into tight rows without disturbing plants. Mike Colhoun is the great-great-great grandson of John Deere. Photo by Ryan Lely/Sonoma Valley Sun
Most Americans buy their wines in stores and would never dream of making their own. Those who do make wine at home are full of enthusiasm about making their wines as well as sharing them with others. Talented Sonoma Valley home winemakers, including myself, will be pouring their wines at Olivepalooza, Three House MultiMedia’s Olive Festival taste, sip and spit bash in the back garden of the Sunflower Caffé on the Sonoma Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 16, two days after Valentine’s Day.
Home winemakers are allowed to make up to 100 gallons per year of wine per person or 200 gallons per year per family, but they cannot sell it. One hundred gallons of wine makes roughly 504 bottles, or 42 cases, of wine. If you were to drink one bottle of wine every day for one year you would still have 11 cases left over. So home winemakers like to share their “handcrafted boutique wines” with others, and when asked, will do so.
I will be pouring my 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon that was just released. I am anxious to see how it is received, because I can honestly say that I like it a lot. There will be a variety of other wines as well. Doug Ghiselin will be pouring his 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, which received a gold medal at the 2007 Sonoma Valley Home Winemakers Competition, and a 2006 Folle Blanche. Sharon Ivanoff, a local grower, will be pouring her 2005 Merlot. Bart Malpass and Byron Nichols, both members from the Cirque de Vin group, will be pouring their wines, which include a 2004 Cabernet, a 2006 Chardonnay and a 2006 Pinot Noir. Bart recently received a gold medal for his Bordeaux-style blend, which he will be pouring as well. Bobbie and Pat Collins will be pouring their 2003 Syrah and 2004 Carignane as well as their Veto Vineyards 2005 Zinfandel that earned a bronze medal at the Home Winemakers Competition.
The event should prove to be a lot of fun. In addition to the artisan wines by home winemakers, there will be olives and olive oil from Figone’s of California Olive Oil Co. and artisan cheeses from Sage Marketing. Participants will be able to “sip and spit” and I get to watch.
If you want more information on the event you can go to www.olivepalooza.com.
Jack Bertram is a Sonoma resident and brings a unique perspective to home winemaking. He is the President of the Valley of the Moon Dilettante Enological Society (www.vomdes.org).
