As we move from summer to fall, we count our many blessings. The gorgeous grapes, at the very core of what we do at Left Coast, are coming along beautifully as our winery and vineyard crews ready themselves for Harvest. Despite a necessarily deferred spring season for the Tasting Room and a slow but careful start to our summer, we have come back as have you, both in person and virtually in your support, for which we are ever most grateful.
And while we had to limit the number of runners, for everyone's safety, for this year's annual Run for the Oaks, your generosity resulted in one of our best days of the summer. That has made a wonderful contribution to our ongoing Oak Restoration projects across property. Thank you, thank you, thank you❤
Now, in advance of the 2020 Harvest, here is a long awaited introduction to two key players at the Winery and in our Winemaking program and efforts. Their really busy season is just ahead!
As is true for many of us in this world of wine, Mark's deep appreciation for Willamette Valley wines developed as he was tasting and serving them in his native California and then adding them to wine lists as a part of restaurant work in Corvallis. In 2008, he entered Oregon State University's program in Food Science and Technology, with an emphasis in fermentation, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in 2011. He worked that Harvest at Left Coast and then headed to New Zealand to experience how they did it there. Mark returned to us in June of 2012, progressing from Cellar Master to Assistant Winemaker.
Mark believes "the field of winemaking to be the perfect intersection of artistic expression and science and is proud to be a helping hand in the production of exceptional wines at Left Coast Estate". Thank you, Mark, we are proud to have you with us too.
Mark brings to the Left Coast Family his lovely wife, Robyn, and beautiful daughter, Evelyn. We were delighted and honored to have celebrated their love and marriage at Left Coast the summer of 2019. It was as perfect of a day and evening as I could have imagined, bride and baby radiant, Mark the happiest of men.
You may have seen Alex in the last Episode, also archived on our website. Alex grew up in Corvallis and majored in Environmental Studies, with a focus on ecology and conservation, at Southern Oregon University in Ashland. He came to Left Coast as a Harvest intern in 2018 after having worked a first vintage in Sonoma and then moving into a position at Wente Vineyards that combined vineyard and lab work.
In Alex’s own words. “I loved spending the morning scouting the vineyards to return to the lab to run analysis on the finished wines. It was great to see every step in process. I fell in love with the hard work that was required to make wine and learning the art and care that goes into the craft.”
Alex returned to Oregon in 2016, working at Soter and Domaine Drouhin prior to his internship with us. He is now our Cellar Master, running the crush pad and managing the interns during Harvest. The remainder of the year, Alex heads the bottling and winery operations, he and Mark under the direction of Winemaker Joe Wright.
Alex's environmental concerns and background are also especially aligned with the mission and beliefs at Left Coast. We are grateful he is ever looking to improve our understanding of how we can better impact our community and ecosystem as a winery, vineyard, and big, working farm.
Wine Club Members have just received Mitch's terrific email on the Pick Up Party timing and planning. We are all looking forward to seeing you and sharing the superb wines that will be in the Fall boxes.
If you are not a member yet, consider joining today! You can explore the options on our website, and sign up for our Pickup Party in the coming weekend. Wine, food pairings, and great company; you won’t want to miss it.
Our Tasting Room staff, too, of course, will be happy to walk you through the brochure. Mitch, our ever helpful Wine Club Manager, can be reached at: mitch@leftcoastwine.com or by calling (503) 831-4916, option 3.
HERE'S TO AN EXTENDED SUMMER FOR ALL OF US! In the next episode, we will be talking more about the 2020 Harvest and Vintage. May they both be GREAT ones.
Until then,
All the best from All of Us
Here at Left Coast🌻
