New Report: An Exceptionally Great Grape Harvest This Year

According to a new report, the 2012 growing season is as "textbook perfect" as many vintners can remember. With harvest well underway, most are reporting above normal crop yields and high quality fruit. 

Our own Melissa Stackhouse, VP of Winemaking for J Vineyards and Winery, is quoted in the report. 

"The quality of the fruit is nothing short of exceptional," she said.

Other winemakers, too, are reporting ideal weather, healthy bunch weights, and superlative grapes. 

"Mother Nature is helping to make this an exceptional harvest," said Jim Mickelson, President of Kunde Family Vineyards.  

The report represents the perspective of vintners throughout the region. It's being issued as a series of updates by the Sonoma County Vintners and Sonoma County Winemakers.

Here at J, the sparkling wine portion of the harvest ended in mid-September and transitioned smoothly into Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris. We expect to be finished picking grapes before the end of October.

It's a banner year in the making, so keep your eye on 2012 wines from J Vineyards & Winery!

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"Everybody's So Happy This Year About the Vintage"

That's according to Kasey from AM 650 radio's "Best of Food and Wine," where our illustrious VP of Winemaking, Melissa Stackhouse recently appeared alongside J "ambassador" George Rose to chat about how this year's harvest is going. Listen here (look for the August 30th show). Melissa discusses how this year's grapes are looking and at one point gets really into describing J's Pinot Noirs. Which one is "lush, earthy, mushroomy, with black cherry" and which is "brooding, with licorice and sassafras?" Listen to find out.

(If you listen carefully, too, you can learn the secret of why it's bad luck to wash your car this time of year in Northern California.)

In other news, J Vineyards just participated in the Sonoma Wine Country Weekend and if you ever wanted to visit the Sonoma region, this event is the perfect reason. It takes place every year over the Labor Day weekend and includes a huge array of events, tastings, dinners, and concerts, so it's easy to customize the perfect agenda. The marquee event is Taste of Sonoma where over 200 wineries and chefs serve up their very best.

As a part of the festivities, J Vineyards was so pleased to participate in the Coppola Starlight Dinner this year. We think Clinton Stark summed it up perfectly: 

"As is the gift of Sonoma, the event felt equally swanky as it did casual. You can’t help but feel a sense of grandeur as you ascend the impressive stone stairs, and pass through large iron double-gates on your way to the poolside dining area. Several wineries were on hand. Some of my favorites included Ceja, J Vineyards, Sojourn Cellars, and Coppola."

In other J news, we were thrilled this week to read nationally syndicated wine writer Robert Whitley's review of J Pinot Gris California:

"Although production has grown, quality has remained remarkably high, and the J Pinot Gris is consistently among the finest made in California. This 2011 offers succulent aromas of stone fruit, pear and melon, with a lovely floral back note."

We couldn't have said it better ourselves! Thanks to Robert Whitley, Tony and Kasey of AM 650, and all the folks involved in Sonoma Wine Country Weekend and Coppola Starlight Dinner. Harvest is officially on!

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J Winemaker, Melissa Stackhouse, Harvest News!

We are looking to begin our sparkling vintage sometime early this week. First grapes will be Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from our Nicole’s estate vineyard in the Russian River Valley.  This fruit was recently sampled at 17 Brix, and the current heat wave will certainly move it to the desired 19 Brix in the next 5-6 days.

J Nicole's Vineyard

We are on deck for a beautiful vintage this year; having luxuriated in brilliant winter and spring conditions, as well as finally getting the summer temperatures that we’ve been robbed of the past couple years.

Fruit set was spectacular in 2012, giving us relatively large and compact clusters in all varieties. We continue to green drop fruit in our varietal vineyards, ensuring even ripening and balanced fruit load for each vine.

J Nicole's Vineyard Pinot Noir Clusters (April 2012)

Since Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay grapes for our varietal programs won’t be ripe until the end of August, through September and October, our focus at this time is on sparkling wine production.   Therefore, with that said, we are expecting a “Sparkling” Harvest, one that represents the essence of J’s Russian River Valley terroir!

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Cheers,

J Vineyards & Winery

Harvest is Coming, Harvest is Coming!

It Takes a Wine Village to make every bottle of inspired J, especially during harvest.  We are so appreciative of our adoring J Fans that we want to share the hard-working J Harvest Team Members that bring your favorite bottles of J to your table for sharing with family and friends.

J Team Member: Melissa

Position at J: Winemaker

Years working on the J Team: 1 Year & 3 Months

Favorite J Wine:

J Vineyards Robert Thomas Pinot Noir

Collaboration with Melissa’s team in making the best wine possible keeps Melissa inspired at J Vineyards & Winery, Melissa says, “my hope is that the next vintage will yield the best wine I’ve ever made.  I also feel incredibly blessed to be a part of a great team as winemaking is so collaborative, that collaboration keeps me very inspired.”

Melissa is very team-centric, easily approachable, brief and to the point, and quite a mellow soul, Melissa says, “during harvest I thrive in a chaotic stress driven environment that allows me to be very decisive.  I value everyone on my winemaking team, so much so that I give them thoughtful challenges, especially during harvest; this provides them the ability to be great decision makers as well so our team thrives harmoniously during harvest.”

Melissa values her career choice as a winemaker as agriculture has played an important role in her life from growing up in Michigan and having grandparents who were farmers in Minnesota, she became clearly aware of their dedication to the land.  Melissa says, “aside from being able to wear jeans to work every day (which is a big plus!)…winemaking is a career choice that combines science, art, and agriculture. It is rewarding to make a product that is received with joy, and acknowledges a quality to life.  It’s an incredible opportunity as a winemaker to be able to produce sparkling wine, as well as high end Pinot noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay at J Vineyards & Winery.”

Melissa not only values her career choice as a winemaker, she values her greatest joy of all, being a mother, Melissa says, “as a single-mom of a 9-month old, my life away from work is all about my daughter.  I grew up in a very family-oriented environment, and there is no better enjoyment then spending time with my family, my beautiful daughter and my loving dog Scout playing at the beach or reading my daughter’s favorite book to her, Ten Little Lady Bugs.”    

Melissa loves and thrives for the stress of harvest. “I love that moment, when the vintage is unfolding, when you realize what sort of harvest it is going to be, you have an “aha” moment.  I look forward to the unknown with all the twists and turns that harvest brings, and this harvest I look forward to creating exceptional J wines.  I am especially looking forward to blending some of the 2012 Pinot Noir blends. Mmm…! The weather this winter and spring has put us on deck for a spectacular vintage. We’ve had a great summer season as well. Fingers crossed…this one will be memorable, in a good way!”

Melissa’s passion as the J Winemaker shows in her approach as she uniquely connects with people, whether it is connecting with her J team members, consumers, growers, media, trade, or her peers in the winemaking world.  Melissa has a great appreciation for what Mother Nature has to offer and loves to share her wealth of knowledge through her skillful winemaking.  Her strong family values are very widespread with everyone she connects with and has a genuine inspiration when conveying the warmth and admiration she has for her family members at home or work.  For those who know Melissa’s warmth, kindness, and nurturing regards to Mother Nature’s deep roots, knows the timeless personification Melissa exemplifies with everyone she touches.  We adore you Melissa and are so fortunate to be surrounded by your continuous inspiration!     

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Cheers,

J Vineyards & Winery

J Vineyards & Winery Visits The London West Hollywood, California!

Sonoma Vintners Visit The London West Hollywood, California

By Nancy Jo Saper (L.A. Examiner), that includes J Winemaker Melissa Stackhouse in an interview & video.

J Winemaker Melissa Stackhouse

The Sonoma Vintners Association was having a wine tasting event at The London West Hollywood recently. A good wine showcases a story. While tasting at The London, I was fortunate to experience superb storytellers and wines that drew me in completely. I spoke with some of the organizers, wine makers, and marketers and am delighted to share their profound experience and passion with you.

Major Sonoma wineries such as the exceptional J Vineyards and Winery were represented at the event as well. Judy Jordan, daughter of Tom Jordan (the founder of great California wines and Jordan Winery), created her own successful brand with J Vineyards and Winery. They have a unique range of wines and exceptional sparklings.

 

This day they brought their Sparkling Rose, which is a masterpiece. The lushness of this sparkling lingers on the tongue and has balance and elegance combined. To know a good sparkling wine and or Champagne is its tiny bubbles. J Rose is a standout, it is engaging, lively with fresh fruit notes and a pleasurable finish that lingers.

J Pinot Noir is another winning wine under J winemaker Melissa Stackhouse. This bountiful wine has layers of texture with a rustic quality that is quite fun to drink. The intensity of fig, dark cherries, dark plum and cocoa emerge on your palette. J Pinot Noir can be sipped with a variety of culinary selections, a little chocolate compliments the wines rich character and it is perfect to drink on its own.

J Chardonnay makes your mouth water with sensual flavors of lemon-peel and shortbread. The creaminess and flavors are inviting. J also makes a J Pear Liqueur that will knock your socks off. The pure pear essence, vanilla aromas and butterscotch silkiness drape your palette eloquently. It has cognac tenacity with a feminine touch. Melissa is an exceptional artisan and shares insight into all things J!

NJ: Speak a little bit as a winemaker as to how it is when you are creating a wine.

MS: For me winemaking has always been incredibly collaborative, so it’s not just about one person, it’s about many people coming together to make a product. That means the vineyard crew, the winemaking team, sales and marketing and PR, bringing it all together. As far as winemaking goes I’m more hands-off. We really try to make sure the fruit is rock solid when we box the wine.

NJ: Let’s hear a little bit about the grapes that you’re growing and how particular you have to be to create the wines that you produce.

MS: I think if there’s any time to micromanage my day it’s in the vineyards and you also need to have a couple plans. When harvest unfolds you never really know what you’re going to get, so we usually go in with a plan A, and that’s if everything works out, and then a plan B, and a plan C if the weather turns extreme and so we try to just be present in the vineyard, be out there and micromanage it up front and we hopefully can bring solid fruit in.

J Nicole's Vineyard

NJ: Share a little bit about your wines. Especially about your Pinot Noir, about your sparkling Rose, which is wonderful, and your J Pear after dinner drink which is superb.

MS: The J Brut Rose sparkling wine is about 65% Pinot Noir and the balance is mostly Chardonnay a little bit of Meunier as well. We’ve just put it in a new package; it’s a sexy little package - clear glass with a swoopy J on the front. It’s a sexy wine, a brilliant, nice pink color. It’s a wine that’s really vivid in strawberry, grapefruit, very crisp, very light, and I think a perfect summer wine.

NJ: You have little bubbles, and that’s one thing when you’re looking for a good champagne or sparkling, you want little bubbles bubbling up to the top and that is what J does.

MS: Right, it’s got what we call formability. It’s got little bubbles and that’s a good thing and it’s not too fruity and really not too sweet either. And that’s the thing with wine; it can be fruit forward without being sweet. And the Pinot Noir is, for me mostly plum and cherry, a little bit of tobacco, just a kiss of rustic-ness. I love Pinot Noir and have been making it for many many years.

NJ: It’s very popular right now too and I think California Pinot Noir has more substance than when you think of a light Pinot Noir of days gone by.

MS: Yeah, especially in the Russian River Valley- that Pinot Noir is a little more brooding, it’s darker fruit - it’s more of a Cabernet wine drinker’s Pinot.

NJ: What else would you say regarding J Vineyards and the wines that you produce and being a woman owned vineyard and a woman winemaker? That also is an exceptional thing.

Judy Jordan, J Founder & President

MS: Well, Judy’s a cool lady. She has owned the winery for 25 years, which is amazing to me. She founded the brand when she was 25 years old and I think back to when I was 25 years old and I can’t imagine being mature enough to do that. She’s a neat lady and I feel very proud to make wine for her.

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Cheers,

J Vineyards & Winery

Melissa Stackhouse Presents J Harvest News, May 25, 2012

We are anywhere between 25%-75% through flowering in Bow Tie Vineyard...similar for Nicole's Vineyard. Since these are the warmest of our estate sites, they bloom first.

 

Bow Tie Vineyard

 

Robert Thomas, Nonny’s, and River Road Vineyards are also showing signs of flowering though. Up until this point, the weather has been ideal for flowering.

 

Robert Thomas Vineyard

 

Yesterday was a bit of a hiccup, since that intensity of wind could have an effect on bloom and subsequent set, as well as contribute to shoot damage. A bit of rain in Friday's forecast may also have an effect. Too soon to tell, all factors contribute to the quality and yield of the 2012 vintage.

 

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Cheers,

Melissa Stackhouse, J Vineyards & Winery