Without a Care

The Power of Cover Crops

In this guest blog post, Viticulturist Aaron Fishleder talks cover crops—one of an organic farmer’s most important tools!

Come springtime, there are more than grapes growing in our vineyards. In fact, if you’ve got a gardener’s eye, you’ll spot various vegetables and flowering plants growing between the vine rows. More than a source for your next salad or just a pretty view, these plants actually do a lot to get our soils—and vines—ready for a great harvest. Using these cover crops is one of the more important aspects of our organic farming program.

We use these extra crops for a variety of reasons, but the most important is to improve organic matter and nutrition in the soil. Plants such as bell beans, peas, vetch, and barley use seasonal rainfall and nitrogen from the atmosphere to grow and add biomass. Incorporating this blend into the soil adds nutrients important for vine development and increases beneficial microorganisms that help the grapes mine nutrients from the soil that would otherwise be difficult to pull out on their own.

Cover crops are also a great way to control pest problems in the vineyard. White sweet alyssum, California bluebell, and California poppy are three of the more than ten flowering plant species we plant to attract beneficial insects to our blocks. Since we started using this blend in 2007, the populations of problem insects have dropped off significantly. Radish and mustard are used to help control nematodes, a microscopic worm that feeds on grape roots—a common problem in many vineyards. When these plants are mowed and disked into the ground, they act as a biofumigant and release a gas that kills the pests.

So the next time you’re in the valley in spring, take a look around you and know that the bright yellow mustard, red clover, orange poppy and spiky, green barley plants are doing more than adding to the natural beauty of this region—they’re helping keep our vines healthy and resilient. And, as we know, healthy vines produce wonderful wine!

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From Oakville, California, USA to Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Far Niente President Larry Maguire checks in from the road with this guest blog post. Oakville, Ontario, Canada may be across the continent from Oakville, California, USA, but we’ve got the love of fine wine and great food in common!

I love technology and especially the cool program Google Earth. Never was a program written that so addresses my fascination for maps and geography. As a kid in school, cartography was my favorite project. I loved the small details required of map making and had huge boxes of colored pencils so I could get my maps just right. There were occasions when I would take on the effort to create 3D maps from papier mâché. Classmates would give me that sideways smirk, unmistakably accusing me of being the teacher’s pet or a classic brown nose. So when Google Earth was unveiled, I was an early adapter. What better tool could a vintner obsessed with single vineyards find? I could zoom in on my favorite vineyard, fly over its knolls and into its canyons. I could even see if the vineyard we were interested in buying was actually healthy. Very cool.

As a vintner involved in making wine from 7 different vineyards in Oakville, you can imagine how many times I have typed “Oakville, Ca.” into the search bar on Google Earth. Nearly every time I search, I seem to forget that there is also an Oakville in Ontario, Canada. Predictably I get a roundtrip, transcontinental flyover as I head east and then back west after amending my search to Oakville, California.

But this week something remarkably different happened: I actually flew to Toronto, Canada and drove the 45 minutes southwest to the shores of Lake Ontario, to Oakville, to conduct a wine dinner at the remarkable restaurant, Jonathans. This charming town is graced with some of the most beautiful lakeside homes you will ever see and a sophisticated main street that I would like to bring home to Napa Valley. I must say that the real surprise with this visit was the incredible food prepared by Chef Michael Spudowski. While I have been a vintner now for 36 years, I suspect an argument could be made that I am also a professional eater. I can assure you that a deconstructed peanut butter and jelly sandwich made with pain perdu and topped with foie gras was about the most spectacular food paring that I have ever had with our classic, late harvest gem, Dolce. Wow.

So, the next time I'm on Google Earth and mistakenly search for vineyards in “Oakville, Ca.,” I'll stop for a moment to once again cruise the streets of Oakville, Canada before "flying" back to Napa Valley. I suspect I'll pause for a minute to recall my taste memory of that extraordinary meal.

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Pebble Beach Food&Wine 2011

This past weekend we were down in Pebble Beach for the annual wine and food extravaganza. It’s a fantastic event! Not only do we get to pour wine with our neighbors from the Napa Valley (and beyond), we get to see old friends of Far Niente—and make new ones! We poured our 2009 Chardonnay and 2008 Cabernet alongside 2006 Dolce and several Cabernets from our sister winery, Nickel & Nickel. Introducing people to the 2009 EnRoute Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, was a special treat. (This is EnRoute’s third vintage, and the wine is quickly gaining a loyal following.)

Not only did event guests “suffer” from choosing what to taste among a stunning array of wines, they also bore the heavy task of savoring bites from star chefs—including local chefs Michael Chiarello, Ken Frank and Christopher Kostow. Our table was across from Chef Ray Garcia’s station which offered “Bacon wrapped bacon”—a very popular destination judging by the crowds.

If you didn’t make it to Pebble Beach Food & Wine this year, put it on the top of your “must do” list for 2012—and be sure to stop by our table and say hi!

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Just Released: 2009 EnRoute Pinot Noir

As you know, we here at Far Niente focus on making just two wines: Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. But just because we love Cab and Chard, it doesn’t mean we don’t have room in our hearts for great Pinot Noir.

What luck, then, that our sister winery EnRoutecelebrated the official release of the 2009 EnRoute Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, “Les Pommiers”, just last Saturday. This is the third vintage for EnRoute, and each vintage just seems to be getting better and better.

EnRoute Winemaker Andrew Delos

Guests gathered at EnRoute’s Amber Ridge Vineyard in Russian River Valleyand were treated to tastes of the 2008 and 2009 vintages as well as barrel samples of the 2010 EnRoute Pinot Noir, poured by Winemaker Andrew Delos. And just our luck: the weather cooperated beautifully, with clear skies and highs in the upper 60s.

Viticulturist Aaron Fishleder led guests on vineyard tours

Just what goes into making great Pinot Noir? Viticulturist Aaron Fishleder answered that question with vineyard tours at the top each hour, describing everything from farming methods to the advantages of growing Pinot Noir in the Russian River Valley. (And here’s a bit of trivia for you: Did you know bok choy could be used as a cover crop?)

Thanks to everyone who joined in the festivities Saturday!

PS: If you aren't a fan already click on over to the EnRoute Facebook page and click "like"! Also, check out more pictures from the EnRoute release event here.

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A Classic Pairing

Wine and cheese could very well be the most classic of pairings, and as the days grow longer—and warmer—we’ve been turning to a pairing featured here at the winery: Abbaye de Belloc and our 2009 Far Niente Chardonnay.

The lightly caramelized flavor of this lush and mildly fruity cheese complements the bright acidity and fresh, tropical fruit notes in the wine. The effect is immensely refreshing–perfect for a late afternoon nosh!

PS—Check out full tasting notes for the 2009 Chardonnay here.

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