The charming coastal town of Mendocino was a favorite weekend getaway for my grandparents, Mary and Dick Hafner. They shared their love of the Mendocino coast with us, so my husband and I try to make an annual trip there. We've heard from patrons visiting us that they are often on their way up the coast to Mendocino, so we thought it would be fun to share some of our favorites with a Weekend Itinerary in Mendocino.
In the past few weeks, California has experienced a series of rain storms, which has brought much needed precipitation to our dry (and thirsty!) state after years of drought. Here in Alexander Valley, the rainfall has been consistent with about one inch per day – some days heavier and some days lighter. Here is an interview with Winemaker Parke Hafner and Vineyard Manager Dave Huebel with their perspectives on the impact of the rain on our vineyards and ranch.
In 2020 when the pandemic hit, there was much uncertainty, but one thing was clear: people lost their jobs and were struggling to provide enough food for their families. At the same time, we had about 13 acres of vineyard land resting fallow before we replanted the next year. We have a longstanding family tradition of supporting a nearby food bank by donating our extra fruits and vegetables, so the empty field got us thinking…let’s plant a garden specifically to supply produce for those in need. It has now become a permanent fixture at Hafner Vineyard and yielded more than 8,800 pounds of produce for people in need.
Since last year's Kincade Fire reached our hillsides, threatening the winery, vineyard and homes, we have taken many actions to prepare for future fires. Fire officials suggest two main goals for preparing for a wildfire: 1. Create “defensible space” and 2. “Harden structures”. We took these recommendations and made several changes that we hope will help when the next wildfire comes our way. California has experienced devastating fires these past years. Five out of the six largest fires in California history occurred just this year. As the climate continues to become drier and hotter with stronger winds, we can only predict that massive fires will continue. All of us on the West Coast and in many other areas are faced with this annual challenge. Together, hopefully, we can work to make a difference.
When we closed our "Fire Update" blog for the Walbridge Fire, we noted that we hoped that it was the only fire blog for the year. That was in August, at the beginning of fire season. Here we are at the end of September with a new "Fire Update" blog; this time about the Glass Fire. A new way of life for California. We have been touched by the calls and emails from patrons, friends and family concerned about our safety with this fire. We are safe. The Glass Fire is not a threat to us here in Alexander Valley, although it is devastating parts of Napa Valley and the hills of eastern Santa Rosa. On our blog, we share resources for you to monitor the fire's development.
