Fall 2010
TESS + JASMINE = SITE SPECIFIC CUSTOMER SERVICE

This August marks the 2nd anniversary for Jasmine Hirsch and the 1st for Tess Bryant at Hirsch Winery. They have infused our customer service and relations with the same energy, wit and sparkle that mark the wines of the site. Tess is a native Cazaderoean and graduate of UC San Diego, majoring in Writing. She is totally immersed in the universe of food. She has imparted her warm personality and intelligence to all our customers who have visited the ranch or reached us by phone and email, making the customer feel a part of the chain of production of our wines. Jasmine, who is in charge of all the marketing, is now entering her 3rd vintage at Hirsch. She has infused her energy and wit into all phases of the business. Her goal is to extend and deepen communication with our customers to enhance their understanding of the site, and how we farm and make wine. She has some wonderful ideas how to achieve this, so become a fan of Hirsch Vineyards on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or look out for our regular email newsletters.

FALL WINE DINNERS

Below is a list of the wine dinners we will be hosting this fall. Please contact Jasmine or Tess for more details. We will update the mailing list with further events and details as we add them to the calendar.

Napa, CA	September 15	Farmstead
Washington, D.C.	October 20	Agora
Atlanta, GA	October 21	Murphy’s
New York, NY	October 22	New York Vintners
Houston, TX	October 26 or 27	TBD
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA	November 3	Hanna’s
Chicago, IL	November 4	La Madia
Honolulu, HI	November 11	TBD
Big Island, HI	November 12	Mauna Lani Bay Hotel
Bluffton, SC	November 17	Palmetto Bluff
Seattle, WA	November 18	Crush

2010 SEASON UPDATE

2010 has become the year of the “marine layer.” We have been living in the summer fog usually reserved for the coastal bench. Due to persistent troughs, the layer has deepened to 1500-2500 ft bringing the fog and clouds far inland. Temperatures have been down in the 40’s at night and often no higher than sixty during the day. Due to extensive winter rains and cold weather, the soil has retained a very high level of moisture, spurring the vines to ecstasies of vegetative excess. Meanwhile the poor reproductive side has had to suffer the inclement weather and disease pressure of the wet cool days. Net result is a smallish crop that is slowly ripening, surrounded by an Amazonian jungle of long shoots, leaves as big as plates, and endless lateral shoots and suckers.
Now we must find a way to try to bring some balance to the vines as we enter the time of ripening. Anyone interested in a career change?

POWDERY MILDEW AND BOTRYTIS BUNCH ROT

These two bandits are the long time nemeses of grape growers everywhere, and this year’s cold and wet conditions are their perfect breeding ground. The rampant canopy and damp ambience inhibit fruit ripening and give the fungi every opportunity to develop and infect the vineyard.
Powdery mildew is caused by the fungus Uncinula necator. It tends to be a problem early in the season, but this year we have had to monitor it much longer due to the slow ripening of the grapes. At about 10 percent sugar, it no longer can attack the fruit. It’s only due to the efforts of our vineyard manager, Everardo Robledo, that we have been almost completely clean of mildew this year. Sulfur is the main deterrent, but cannot be used once the bunches start to close. With the continued wet and cool weather, it’s been necessary to take away all the interior leaves close to the fruit to allow it to dry quickly and to allow access for the fungicide.
Botrytis is mainly from Botrytis cinera, also a fungus. It usually gets after the fruit when it has softened with ripening, so it’s our late season devil. It can hide out in the vines over the winter as well, so we will have to be on watch during the 2011 spring. As with mildew, a healthy and open vine canopy is the best prevention. Once the rot gets going inside the bunch, the only remedy is to drop the fruit.
Our deepest thanks to Everardo for his watchfulness and response to a most intensive and persistent threat this year. What he is looking for and we all desire is a few warm days to get the fruit fully into ripening and then into the picking bins.

David, Marie, and Jasmine Hirsch