When we released our 2019 Chardonnay and 2017 Next Red, we invited patrons to join us for a virtual tasting of these two wines as well as a few Library vintages. We tasted the wines and looked at how the wines age and develop over time. We also shared how Winemaker Parke Hafner determines when to harvest and some scenes from our Chardonnay Harvest. We hope you enjoy the recording.
This Harvest marks our 40th Harvest here at Hafner Vineyard. We (Parke and Sarah) wanted to share a look back over the Harvests to share some stories, what has changed and what is the same. We also share some photos from the archives from the early 1980s. We hope you enjoy it, and we are excited what the next 40 Harvests hold.
Winemaking is science driven and hence an ever-evolving profession. Through experimentation, we always strive to improve our techniques, processes and ultimately our wine. Cork is a natural product; one that we consider 100% sustainable. However, there is a component (trichloroanisole or TCA) that can impart a musty quality and hence ruin the wine. We call this a "corky" wine. Cork producers have worked hard to eliminate TCA or at least mitigate its impact. In the quest to do so, a French company named Diam has created a new technical cork. After many trials and conversations with colleagues, we decided to move from "punch corks" to Diam "technical corks".
One of the most consistent questions patrons ask is, “What is the best way to open an older bottle of wine?” The question is prompted by concerns about an older cork and the possibility of it breaking or disintegrating during extraction. This can happen regardless of how well the wine has been stored or the quality of the cork. We recommend, and use ourselves, an “Ah-So” or “Butler’s Friend” which is a double prong wine opener. Here we share four steps for how to open an older bottle of wine.
We make two different Chardonnays from the same vineyard - our main and Reserve Chardonnays. Patrons often ask why we do this and what the difference is between the two wines. Generally speaking, the main Chardonnay is a blend of California and French winemaking techniques that yield a bright, crisp, citrus driven wine. In comparison, the Reserve Chardonnay is all barrel fermented, goes through malolactic fermentation and is aged "sur lies". This wine is more complex with flinty aromas and a soft, round palate. Here, we dive deeper into the differences between these Chardonnays.
