Monthly Archives: October 2009
Tasting at the home office
I work at Starmont winery, which is located in Carneros at the southern end of the Napa Valley. Starmont is owned by Merryvale Vineyards located in St. Helena in northern Napa Valley. Merryvale is the home office of the company … Continue reading
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Attack of the yellow jackets!
One hazard of working harvest that I had not expected was swarms of yellow jackets high on grape juice. All of the processing equipment at Starmont is located outside, and as we crush grapes the juice and grape skins attract … Continue reading
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Midway and a moment of reflection
The rows of vines that once were covered in leaves of brilliant shades of green are now spotted with orange, red or dusty brown. Mornings are much colder and foggier and the coolness persists through the weaker sunshine of the … Continue reading
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Enough with the cryptic back text
When you pick up a bottle of wine you expect to learn a few things from reading the label. Perhaps where the grapes are sourced from, or what the wine tastes like. Not about a duck “pretending to be a … Continue reading
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Two very different kinds of tastings
One recent afternoon the head of winemaking operations took myself and the two other interns at Starmont winery for a tasting of this harvest’s juice. It was a pleasant and informative experience as we walked through the cellar sampling various … Continue reading
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It’s a 24-hour industry
As I drive through the vineyards to the winery in the morning, the sky is painted in light shades of blue and orange as the sun begins its ascent. The edges of my high beams catch groups of vineyard workers … Continue reading
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