The unusually cool, wet Spring has finally given way to the heart of the growing season in the North Coast wine country of California. We’re working out in the vineyard nearly every day, busy with tasks from shoot thinning and vine training, to weeding, spraying, and irrigation system maintenance. This is the ninth growing season for KFV syrah and the second for the grenache. John has been documenting the winegrowing process in his farming Blog; he enjoys writing about it and the blog has received some good feedback.

Many of you know by now that our ewe, Agnes, was not pregnant after all. But the absence of sheep born here led to our purchasing a ram lamb from friends. So now we not only have a beautiful, black, 4-month old babydoll lamb, we also have our new flock sire. Meet Jackie!

On the home winemaking front, we’re currently enjoying the 2009 Rosé that was bottled in April, and we’ve been happily consuming bottles of our estate syrah-cabernet blend, The Odyssey, from 2005-2007, with an occasional sampling of the 2008. Our first “reserve” wine, also from 2008, is still in barrel, but will be bottled in July after 21 months of aging.

For Kiger syrah made by our winery partners, check out the Wines page. We hear through “the grapevine” that Miller Wine Works will be be running a July 4 week special: $150/case on all his wines! 

Summer has historically brought plenty of friends and family to visit KFV. We hope this one will be no different. We love sharing the love! Yes, we get by with a little help from our friends. Come on over!

Finally, there are some new snapshots of Kiger critters. Check out the album in the photo journal section. Enjoy!

Cheers, L’chaim, and Salute,

Deb and John