As the Holidays approach, harvest seems a distant memory, but for the cellar team, "harvest" is not complete until the fermentations are finished and the wines are aging in barrels. I have the long but fun job of monitoring each fermentation, taking the sugars daily and sampling the wines as they progress. I share my findings with our winemaker (and my husband), Parke Hafner, who makes suggestions about our next plans with each lot for the coming days. Follow along on my harvest journey through the blog. 

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Thanksgiving, perhaps more than any other holiday, is about being together with family and friends, around the table, sharing delicious food and enjoying wonderful wine. This year so many of our plans for Thanksgiving (and much else!) has been turned on its head because of the COVID pandemic. We love hearing patrons’ stories and when photographs accompanied them, it’s even better. It reminds us of what a privilege it is for us to play a small supporting role in the milestone events of our patrons’ lives.

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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.

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For almost four decades, we’ve been honored to be many patrons’ “secret winery” that they share with friends and family. Since travel and group gatherings are no longer part of our 2020 plans, and patrons aren’t able to visit us here, we decided it would be fun to bring Hafner Vineyard into people’s homes…virtually. We invite you to watch the recording of our virtual tasting where we shared some history, introduced the team, tasted a few wines and had a lively Q&A session.

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At the start of June, we asked patrons to share with us stories and photos of their Summers, knowing that this year would be different. We have been touched by the emails we received. One told of toasting a socially distanced wedding with our Chardonnay. Another shared highlights from an anniversary dinner where a 1994 Cabernet was opened. As fire evacuations reached her home, another patron sent a photo of a 2005 Cabernet she opened with friends who welcomed her family into their home. Although this Summer wasn't what most of us had planned, these stories and photos highlight the quiet evenings and milestone celebrations in the time of COVID.

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