Thanks for reading our blog called "The Press". We share fun happenings and news from the vineyard, winery, our patrons and more! If you would like to receive these updates via email, please email us. We look forward to sharing news with you.
Sarah Hafner shares the inspiration behind her two new watercolors - a kestrel and quail. Originally painted for her granddaughter Marie's room, we shared those two illustrations on notepads that we included in the Fall Release of our Annual Tasting Program patrons. Watercolors can be challenging because you can’t hide your mistakes, so Sarah shares more about the difficulties with the two birds.
Barrel fermented Chardonnay is one of the techniques we use at Hafner Vineyard, typical of Burgundian white wines. Unlike tank-fermented Chardonnay (traditional of California), which highlights bright fruit aromas like citrus, tropical fruit, and melon, barrel fermentation adds layers of complexity, creating a richer mouthfeel, creamy texture, and subtle oak notes from the barrels like vanilla, toast, and roasted nuts. Learn more from Winemaker Parke Hafner.
Forty years ago, we began our internship program with an agricultural school in Toulouse, France. This year, we welcomed Raphaël Gleize to the winery and our home. He arrived in time for bottling and has been helping with Harvest. He went backpacking with us and has become part of our family, learning the importance of a good iced vanilla latte and reminding us that a cheese board is a requirement to any lunch. Raphaël's internship is nearly over, so we wanted to share a few highlights from his time here. We look forward to continuing our friendship with him both here and in France.
In June, we launched the Summer Smiles Photograph Contest and here at the winners! Captured are anniversaries, proposals, weddings, family reunions, milestone birthdays, evenings with neighbors and friends, elegant galas supporting community organizations, the relaxing moments out on the water, plus a quiet afternoon in the backyard hammock. Patrons from coast to coast, north to south, shared memories of their Summer fun.
At Hafner Vineyard, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do from our solar array and electric tractor to the packaging choices we make. Recently, you may have noticed that our Chardonnay bottles look a little darker. That’s because darker glass contains more recycled content, helping us reduce our carbon footprint by using fewer raw materials and less energy. We’ve long sourced American-made bottles to cut transportation emissions and support domestic manufacturing, and we’re also exploring lighter weight bottles to further lower shipping impacts. Since 1982, our Chardonnay has stayed the same. Now, the only difference is that the bottle it comes in is better for the planet.
