Wine tasting should be about enjoyment, not intimidation. Whether we are conducting professional sessions at the winery or sharing a bottle at home, we believe that every opinion is matters and that the best pairings involve good food and great company. In this post, Grace Hafner shares a look at a recent "Pizza and Pinot" blind tasting, along with simple tips for hosting your own low-pressure event using newspaper-wrapped bottles and a lighthearted ranking system. Discover how to take the mystery out of the glass and keep the focus on fun.

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This growing season in Alexander Valley and all over Sonoma County has been a bit unique. That's what makes farming fun and interesting... no two years are the same. Vineyard Manager, David Huebel, gives an update on the grapes and shares his harvest predictions for vintage 2023. The headline: "It has been late and will continue to be late."

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We are constantly reminded that farming has us at the will of Mother Nature and this year is no different. We thought it would be interesting to take you out into the vineyard and share with you what is happening now. Just a hint… we are anticipating early bud burst, one of the earliest I’ve ever seen, which means we are busy being strategic about pruning and mowing. I hope you enjoy this video.

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Harvest is always an exciting time here. It means early mornings for the vineyard and cellar teams, the smell of fermentation throughout the winery and the prospect of another vintage. We wanted to take people behind the scenes of the Chardonnay Harvest and give you an insider’s look at how the grapes are picked by machine, processed and made into wine. Check out the video here. 

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At the beginning of June, we hosted “Summer Session”, our Friday evening series of virtual tastings focused on Cabernet, Chardonnay and Malbec. These “classes” were a fun way to explore our wines, their aromas and flavors, how they are made and more with patrons near and far. Each tasting was an hour. Scott Hafner welcomed patrons and introduced them to the HV Team. Winemaker Parke Hafner and his wife Sarah (the best palate in the house) tasted through the wines, and we shared some fun videos to help take people behind the scenes here at Hafner Vineyard. We closed the session with a lively Q&A that I hosted where patrons were able to grill Uncle Scott and Dad/Parke about all things wine. Watch the recordings here.

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