Craig's Thoughts

October 10, 2011 - How is the harvest going? Well, it begins for us this week, anout two weeks later than usual. After a late bud break in the spring, this summer has been average and even in temperature - good growing weather, but not the best. The light rain last week had us anxious that we might re-live last year's moist harvest experience. Current weather forecast is for about 14 days of warm weather. That should be enought to get things ripe. In fact, things could be fantastic. We are in high spirits and expecting great things. Onward!

Futures are closed!- Our Wine Futures offering of selected, unreleased 2009 and 2010 wines started June 1, 2011 and closed June 30, 2011. We'll be sending e-mail out to all our club members and to our general mailing list formally announcing this event. We'll be shipping your wines beginning October 1, 2011. If you are picking the wines up at the winery, they will be ready for you after that date. You can order these wines online.

Our Annual Wine Club BBQ is June 19th, 2010 at the beautiful Larner Vineyard in Ballard Canyon. This a great chance to visit with your friends and our winery crew. Mike Larner and Craig Jaffurs will give tours of the vineyard and help you enjoy the day. BBQ runs from 11:00 to 2:00. Tickets are $25 for members and $40 for quests. Children's meal tickets are $10. Advance ticket purchase is required and are available at the Jaffurs on-line store.

Our 2009 Vineyard Designated Syrahs, UPSLOPE, and Grenache were in April 24. Everything went really well and these wines will be featured in our Futures Program which opens June 1, 2011.

Our 2010 white wines (Viognier and Grenache Blanc) were bottled in May 2011 and will be released in the fall. Our 2010 Petite and SB County Syrah were bottled during a marathon bottling session in early September 2011. The Petite and SBC Syrah will be released by December 1st.


You can purchase wines directly from us - click here to find out how. Or, e-mail us with your home address and we will add you to our mailing list. Hurry, the vineyard designated syrahs are selling fast.  You may also press the Tasting button to find a retailer or restaurant near you that carries our wine. 

Our 11th Harvest in our New Home - In March 2000 we purchased a small industrial lot in the city of Santa Barbara.   Construction of our new winery began in March and completed in five short months - just in time for the 2001 harvest.  Among other things, the winery has a walk-in chiller, environmental control, and affords us the ability to work at a careful and natural pace.  In addition, it is only only 7 minutes from home.  This new facility helps us reach toward our full winemaking potential. It also preserves the quality of our home life. 

We are open for tasting Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 11 am to 5 pm. During the summer months, we are open everyday from 11 am to 5 pm. Appointments are not necessary if your group is 6 people or less, and you plan to visit during our regular tasting hours. Tasting fee is $10 per person. If you have a group larger than 6 people, please call for an appointment. Tasting fee for large groups is $15 per person. Call 805-962-7003 or  e-mail if you have questions.

Other Events? - ask via e-mail