 |
 |
|
It's over! The 2010 crush is history. The last time we came this close to the optimal conditions we had at harvest this year was 2000. Here is hoping we won't have to wait another decade!
Monday past, the last of the fruit passed through the destemmer/crusher and with it the end of a great growing season. This year Crane Creek brought in over 83 thousand pounds of fruit. Comparing back to our first harvest in 1997 of 300 pounds, we have come a long way. In just a few more days all the fruit will be out of fermenters and safely tucked away in barrels and tanks for their long winter's sleep. Kudos to Matt Matteson, my assistant wine maker. Matt has done yeoman's work this crush with many long and late hours in the winery. (I really need to thank Matt's wife Natasha!)
Now it's the Tasting Room staff in the hot seat! A beautiful October brings the multitude from Atlanta, Chattanooga, Greenville and beyond. The wine bars at the tasting room will be hopping! This Saturday the 23rd is our Annual Harvest Festival and we are expecting a great crowd!
Even though we have the whole holiday season ahead of us, the vineyard guys are already planning and prepping to kick off the pruning season starting December. In addition, there will be prepping for the spring planting of about 4 more acres of vines. As always much to do, but we wouldn't have it any other way!
Eric Seifarth
President and Winemaker
Here in the vineyard we are just at the halfway point of harvest. We have had a lot of interesting new harvest workers and I have enjoyed meeting the new faces. We got all our bird netting up in time and were able to keep the fruit in great shape thus far. All the whites are in their tanks where they will begin their transformations into what we hope will be a wonderful 2010 vintage. The season so far has been almost perfect for it. We just started picking our first red, the Cabernet Franc today in the third week of September. We will work our way thru a few more red varieties finishing up always with our Norton.
Besides getting in all the fruit from our labors this year we have been working on the new property making sure our new vines are properly maintained. They need a strong beginning so they will produce well for us in 2012. We just finished taking all the grow tubes off so they will harden off and be ready for the winter. The grow tubes are plastic protective cylinders we secure around the new vines to help generate heat and protect them from herbicide applications that we have to make during the growing season. It's important to keep the vine rows around new plantings weed free so they don't have to compete to get water and soil nutrients. The tubes also help to keep deer from nibbling down the new growth. The newly planted hillside looks great and I can't wait to prepare it for more planting this year.
So thus far I give 2010 a big thumbs up. I think everyone in Georgia must be pleased with the weather we have had. Hope to see everyone at the harvest festival this year. Maybe will have some fruit left to stomp!
Russell Shannon
Vineyard Manager
The Tasting Room at Crane Creek Vineyards is truly the "heart" of the vineyard. It is here that the hard work and efforts of the vineyard staff, the Winemaker and the winery staff all come together. It is where customers decide how well we have done with the "fruits of our labor". It is in the Tasting Room where friendship begins and you become a part of the Crane Creek Family.
For fifteen years you have encouraged us, supported us, and given us valuable feedback to help make the Crane Creek Vineyards experience memorable for all who visit.
And we THANK YOU; you are our most valued asset.
Jacky Fortier
Tasting Room Coordinator
My favorite time of the year is here. Before the first frost we picked all of the green tomatoes still on the vines. Now what to do with them? We've had Green Tomato Soup and we canned pickles out of the rest.
I am traveling to Italy in November and am very excited to experience Umbria's food traditions. I look forward to the inspiration that travel always brings to my kitchen. Come by and share in that inspiration with us as Soup Kitchen Saturdays take on a decidedly Italian flair.
David Sanford
Chef
½ cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup water
½ cup chopped nuts
1 cup pumpkin
2 eggs
1¼ cup sugar
1 2/3 cup flour
½ tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. nutmeg
Mix oil, water, nuts, pumpkin, and eggs. In separate bowl sift together sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture. Divide batter into greased muffin tin. Bake 25 to 30 minutes in 350 degree oven.
Serve with honey butter or slightly sweetened cream cheese. Great for breakfast, tea time, or snack.
|
Soup Kitchen Saturdays
Every Saturday
11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Wine for Women
1st Wednesday of each month
6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Annual Harvest Festival
Saturday, October 23rd
11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Georgia Winter Wine Highway Weekend
Friday and Saturday, December 3rd and 4th, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 5th, 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Annual Winter Solstice Celebration
Tuesday, December 21st
6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Confirm details for any event
by calling 706.379.1236
Tasting Room Hours
Tuesday-Saturday 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
For more info please go to
www.CraneCreekVineyards.com
|
|
|
|
 |
|