What a month it has been since we sent out September's Episode! While the wildfires forced us, sadly, to cancel our eagerly anticipated Fall Wine Club Pick Up Parties, even in such disastrous events, there were some silver linings.
Food intended for the gatherings was donated to the Salem Evacuation Center at the State Fairgrounds. Yes, it was delicious and greatly appreciated by the many volunteers and recipients.The generous donations of Wine Club Members of much needed items from handmade quilts and blankets to canned food, baby formula, and more filled two SUV loads. Sue and Bob made a feel good delivery, thankful to all.
Fortunately, the smoke did not linger long here in the Willamette Valley while fires continue tragically to burn in Oregon. Our hearts go out to all those affected and to our industry colleagues in California who have had a much tougher and more destructive time with the wildfires there. The good news is the Glass Fire, in Napa County, is now, gratefully, contained at 97%.
The above photograph was posted on Instagram, on September 22nd, as we moved into Harvest. We hope you may have followed our 2020 Harvest story, there and on Facebook.
Here you see Lisa and Emma who many of you know from the Tasting Room. Both have now also worked multiple Harvests, among the vines in bringing in the grapes and in performing various, demanding roles in the winery as well. As I am sure you agree, it is wonderful to have them bring this firsthand experience and knowledge back into the Tasting Room for the rest of the year.
Much of the documentation that you see in videos and photographs on line comes from Lisa. While her business cards identify her as Tasting Room Manager, needless to say, her interests extend to winemaking, marketing, wine education, and photography, all that just the tip of the iceberg of our multitalented Lisa.
If you have missed them, please check out the virtual wine tastings, archived on both Facebook and Instagram, that Lisa and Sue have done together. Surely, there will be more to come. Sue is our second in charge for the Tasting Room and has brought so many of you into the Wine Club. During Lisa's absence, Sue is not only fulfilling the many Tasting Room Management duties but has also been attending to the daily care and lunch and dinner feeding of our winery crew. Thank you, Superwoman Sue!
Welcome to Mike and Mark who have joined us as Harvest Interns this season. We are delighted to have them with us. Mike describes himself as a passionate and experienced sommelier. He has worked with Left Coast wines from that perspective during his almost decade long tenure in NYC. In looking to be part of the 2020 Harvest, he felt it was time to get his "hands dirty and see the production side of the wine world up close and personal". You're a great fit, Mike.
As is Mark, a journalist from Monterey, California, who has written about food and wine for fifteen years. He resigned from his position as a managing editor and food and wine columnist a couple of years ago to afford himself a more flexible schedule. Mark is now enjoying working remotely. He has recently finished a project in Washington's San Juan Islands before coming to Left Coast to explore "the art and science of winemaking".
Steven has joined us in the winery as Cellar Hand, replacing Patrick, mentioned in Episode 7, who has moved over to our neighbor, Van Duzer, part of the wonderful interrelationships in this tight knit Oregon wine community. Steven has worked for our friends at the Union Wine Company; Justin Hoffman, Union's NW Regional Manager, was one of our volunteers, part of that group photo in Episode 1 of this blog, when we opened to the public in 2007. Steven has also worked two harvests, among others, at Oregon's Antica Terra. Beyond a short wine sales stint, I was pleased to see his Bachelor's degree having been awarded in English and Creative Writing, even if it comes from the University of Southern California. So writes this rival old UCLA Bruin!
Creative Director and left handed daughter, Cali, has also been in the winery this season, getting her hands and boots dirty. Newly engaged, her future husband, Chad, has provided many of these photographs with a Harvest video to come on the website. Brother, son, Taylor, CEO of Left Coast, has, of course, been in and out of the winery and vineyards, Winemaker Joe keeping him apprised of the many directions and decisions involved in the progress of this 2020 Harvest and of the winemaking.
As the grapes have come in from the vineyards and into the hands of our winemaking team, Joe's enthusiasm for the 2020 vintage has grown day by day. The majority of the fruit, of excellent quality, is in. The Syrah and Viognier will continue to hang for a bit longer. The remaining Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc will be brought in this week and next.
Last night, Cali asked me about my favorite part of Harvest. In essence, my response echos that of our first vintage of 2004 and all those since. It is, most certainly, the patient, collaborative teamwork and the many hands and hearts of this astonishing collective of talented, creative, and ever inquiring contributors.
Together, with Joe at the helm, year after year, they bring out the very best of what the year, the vintage has given us, reflective of our very special place in the Willamette Valley. We look forward to sharing these wines, when ready for release, and our current and library vintages with all of you and you with those you love.
Cheers,
Suzanne and All of Us at Left Coast
