Every year around Thanksgiving the same question presents itself at the tasting bar. “Why are the grapevines dead?” Please, let us reassure you, without death there is no life. This is the natural order of the vine. Each Autumn the leaves turn brown and fall. Just like a tree! This leaves the vine bare with a few stragglers looking discolored and rotten, maybe there is even a shriveled up cluster of grapes hanging on for dear life. Because after we harvest our choice fruit, the vine continues the process of photosynthesis. This creates carbohydrate reserves which the vine will store in its trunk and root. Once it has filled itself full to satisfaction the chlorophyll in the leaves begin to break down and the leaves begin to change to their fall colors. Then, when the temperatures fall low enough, the leaves drop. This signals to the vine to stop its metabolic activity. The vine is asleep, it has gone dormant. This stage in the vines yearly cycle is argumentatively the most important stage. This is the time when we will go through the vineyard and prune back growth that is unnecessary to the next year. Because, while the vine is sleeping, it will not bleed its water and sugar. Instead it will heal over and harden where we cut. Shortening its size so it can grow again without detrimental affect. It is conserving all of its stored energy so that when the Spring comes it can burst forth, all at once actively, visually, and effectively producing new growth.
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Jack Frost is in the Vineyard!
December 14th, 2015Cab Franc for Christmas!
November 5th, 2015
With the weather chilling and the rain falling we’ve had some time to sit and mull over our favorite wine for the holidays. The 2010 Cabernet Franc is tasting so great right now that we are going to give an additional 15% off to our wine club members. This offer is through the tasting room only as we only have 25 cases left. To get in on the goods call the tasting room at (805)238-2544 or email Renee directly at hearthstonevineyard@gmail.com.
Do you need wine with your turkey?
November 17th, 2014
Be sure to come on in this upcoming weekend to get your last minute wine for your holiday meal. We will be closed Tuesday-Thursday (25-27) of next week, but open on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Do you need a fun place for social hour with all of your family in town? Our hours that day are 11-5pm. Don’t forget we produce every variety your turkey dinner could be wanting. We hope to see you!
Library wine release at Hearthstone Estate!
November 6th, 2014We have discovered a hidden stash of fun and exciting library vintages in our storehouse and will be pouring one each day. Each library wine costs $25 but if you buy 3 of them you may receive 50% off. Due to such limited quantities of each wine and to protect its quality and our inventory this special will only be available to you if you come in to the tasting room. They are available while supplies last. Here is a list of what we will be featuring:
Grenache: 2004, 2006, 2007
Profundo: 2006, 2007, 2008
Slipstone: 2006, 2007
Mourvedre: 2007
Lodestone: 2007
Fireside Claret: 2008
Our new AVA. What is an AVA?
October 10th, 2014
As many of you know, our tasting room and vineyard are actually about 8 miles away from each other. Confusing? Why yes, it can be. Especially since we are now considered to be located in 2 separate AVAs. What is an AVA? An American Viticultural Area is a grape growing region distinguished by the Trade & Tax Bureau that can range in shape and size. This is a very similar concept to the European appellations of origin or the Italian Indicazione Geografica Tipica. How ever, our AVAs do not control the blending and wine making methods that we use. Also, it truly only signifies the location the wine grapes were grown for that bottle. And, to top it off, only 85% of the grapes making up the wine had to have been grown there. But, don’t be alarmed. Yes, here at Hearthstone we remain 100% estate and we use only our grapes for our wine making. Our 40 acre vineyard is located in what is now considered the Adelaida AVA where we share a fence line with friendly and organic Tablas Creek. Is that a helpful reference? But, to come taste this estate grown delicious wine you will need to find yourself in the Paso Robles Willow Creek AVA. Our tasting room is nestled between Dover Canyon (home of the big dog and great Zin) and Denner Vineyards (pioneers in healthy water conservation). Now some of you might be wondering “why all the fuss?”. Well, these new AVAs will actually help the budding wine connoisseur. Don’t get me started on the various microclimates, water tables, and soil types happening in Paso Robles. That is for another blog. But, long story short, we have so many different types of possibilities in terms of resulting textures, flavors, and colors in the numerous varieties growing. Each AVA will produce these different personalities accordingly because of its natural surroundings. And now, instead of being confused, you can read a Paso Robles wine label and know what you might expect in the resulting wine based on the AVA you read.
Fireside Claret vertical tasting seminar
August 11th, 2014
On August 30th from 5-7pm join winemaker Paul Ayers at a vertical tasting seminar as he opens our Fireside Claret (Cab Sauv, Cab Franc blend) vintages ’04-’11. Tickets are $40 and will include a bottle of our Fireside Claret in the vintage of your choice to take home. Light appetizers of gourmet cheese will be served. Please purchase your ticket at our website before August 25th. We will sell out. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the tasting room.
Great Party!
August 4th, 2014A big thank you to everyone who came to our Midsummer dinner on Saturday,. The weather, food, and company could not have been more perfect. Stay tuned for upcoming news and events. We hope you can make it next time.
Dinner and a sunset
July 10th, 2014
For those of you who joined us last weekend for our July 5th tri-tip bbq, you’ll remember it was a fabulous hit so we will be doing another event on August 2nd from 5-8pm in much the same fashion. On that note, we also sold out of tickets on the 5th, so for our mid-summer dinner be sure to RSVP ahead of time. We will be cooking up kabobs(vegetarian, chicken, or shrimp) and other sides for $10/plate, $5/club members. To enhance the ambiance, we will be joined by pianist Brett Mitchell. You can reserve your ticket by contacting the tasting room at (805)238-2544 or hearthstonevineyard@gmail.com
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