The Press

Summer Session Virtual Tastings

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, ...

Diam Corks

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...

How to Prune a Grapevine

Pruning is arguably the most important job in the vineyard. Not only does it take many months but with each cut, the crew is determining the potential crop load as well as overall vine structure fo...

How to Open an Older Bottle of Wine

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 break...

Comparing Main & Reserve Chardonnay

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, t...

Fall Releases Virtual Tasting

With the release of our 2018 Chardonnay and 2016 Next Red, we thought it would be fun to taste them virtually with patrons. Virtual talks have been a nice way to “be with you” in your home during t...

Our Virtual Harvest Talk

September in Wine Country is exciting with vineyards abuzz. It’s Harvest time! We often welcome patrons and friends to the winery in September who want to experience this season when our cellar is ...

How Chardonnay Ages

Often, I am asked “How long do you age your Chardonnays?” And my answer is always a bit complicated. I do say that our Chardonnays can age easily for five years from the vintage date, but wine is a...

Hungry Goats

After the recent fires, we have been particularly aware of the need to reduce fuel near the winery. The Kincade Fire that broke out on the evening of October 24th, 2019 and reached our property in ...

5 Wine Books

It may come as no surprise that we enjoy reading and referencing wine books. Viticulture and enology have a rich history with plenty to learn. Here are my top 5 wine books. They include a narrative...

How to Taste Wine

Wine tasting can be intimidating, but with a few hints, tasting wine can be lot of fun. And remember, there isn’t a right or wrong answer…it’s your preference. All you need is a little knowledge to...

Food & Wine Cootie Catcher

The concept of food and wine pairing can be intimidating, but in reality it can be as complex or as simple as you want. I prefer to have it be simple. That is why I thought it would be fun to creat...

Barrel Fermented Cabernet

The goal of every winemaker is to produce the best wine they can each year. We have been making wine here at Hafner Vineyard for over 35 years, and we enjoy the wines we produce, so we are not tryi...

Holiday Wine Prep

Two weeks to Thanksgiving. Four weeks until our Holiday Party. 47 days until Christmas. It feels like we have all the time in the world. And then I remember: at this time of year, time evaporates f...

Cabernet Sauvignon vs. Malbec

Here at Hafner Vineyard, we grow three red Bordeaux varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot) and from those varieties we make two distinctly different wines - Cabernet Sauvignon and ...

How to Make Rosé

Rosé has become a popular new wine, not just at Hafner, but across the country. It's a very fun Summer drink on a warm afternoon day. Producing a pink wine is a bit different than making a red or w...

Barrel Fermented Chardonnay

The technique of barrel fermenting Chardonnay has been used for centuries in France but was first introduced to me in 1979 when I worked at Chappellet winery in Napa Valley. My time working at Doma...

Vineyard Pruning

One of the dependable aspects of farming is its consistent annual cycles. Every year in late November or early December after the first frost, we begin pruning the grapevines. The vineyard crew hea...

Tips from a Somm

Choosing wine from a restaurant list can be hard and intimidating! We asked our friend and favorite sommelier Alexis Iaconis if she might have some tips about how to do that. Currently, Alexis is t...

Host a Cabernet Vertical Tasting

Explaining in writing how our wines age can be difficult to comprehend. Actually tasting the differences between vintages gives you a chance to see the aging process in action. That is why we often...