Summer 2005 Newsletter

What a long strange trip this spring and early summer has been. Rain, unusually cool temperatures and more rain have marked the time from bud break to the end of June. Unlike the local cherry crop, the grape vines have loved the weather. They have been growing by leaps and bounds with the tendrils from vines in one row reaching across to grasp the tendrils of vines in the next row making passage down the rows seem like a trip through the Amazon. To keep the canopy under control we have been busy positioning shoots between the catch wires, trimming any out-of-control canes and leaf pulling. Doing so insures light and air movement on and around the now pea size berries. Canopy control work going on in the vineyards now promotes the highest quality fruit possible at harvest.

2005 Wine Competition Results:

The 29th annual Orange County Fair Wine Competition Judging was held the weekend of June 4th and 5th. This year, 3191 wines were judged by 92 professional wine makers and/or winery principals. We are pleased to be able to announce that our '04 Oui and our '02 Syrah each took bronze medals at this prestigious competition while our '04 Sauvignon Blanc was awarded a silver medal.

The '04 Sauvignon Blanc has gone on to win both a Bronze at the 2005 Amador County Fair and a Gold at the 2005 El Dorado County Fair. Our '02 Petite Sirah Reserve won a bronze at the Amador County Fair as did the '02 Syrah.

Our 2002 Syrah also earned a silver medal at the 2005 California State Fair Commercial Wine competition.

Summer Wine Tasting Events

An Affaire to Remember

When: Saturday, July 16th, 2005
Hours: 5 to 9 PM
Where: Loomis Park on King Road
Cost: $20
Sponsored by: Loomis Basin Chamber of Commerce
What's happening: Auction and Wine Tasting
Call: (916) 652-7252 for tickets or more information. Tickets may also be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce @ 5911 King Rd. in Loomis.
Wineries: Secret Ravine, Pescatore and Ophir

A Taste Of Placer

When: Saturday, July 23rd, 2005
Hours: 4 to 8 PM
Where: Placer County fairgrounds in Roseville
Cost: $20 in advance, $30 at the door
Purchase Tickets: http://www.tasteofplacer.com/tickets.html
For more information: (916) 625-9054 or http://www.tasteofplacer.com/
What's Happening: An Elegant Evening of Food and Fun
Featuring food, beer and wine tastings as well as live musical entertainment. There will be a silent auction featuring dining, gifts, and travel. Souvenir wine glasses for the first 250 people.
2005 Event Beneficiaries: Pet Play Day, Inc and FieldHaven Feline Rescue.

August 2005 Placer Winery Tour

Following up on the huge success of the Springtime Placer Winery Tour, eight of Placer County's wineries have hopped onboard and will be participating in the August Winery Tour.

When: Saturday, August 6th, 2005
Hours: Noon to 5 PM
Wine Tasting in the Gold Country! Eight of Placer County's commercial wineries are holding open houses on this date. Come and spend a late summer afternoon with us in the foothills of Placer county and taste the award-winning wines that are being produced in here.
For more information visit: http://www.placerhillswinetour.com

It is nice to hear we are on the right track

Recently, while pouring our wines at the Grape Escape in Sacramento, one of our guests was a women from Spain. Upon tasting the Oui, she commented that it reminded her of the Rosatos so popular in her homeland. As many of you know, Oui is a labor of love here at Ophir as we try to bring a taste from our sister climate in Europe to Placer County. We now have one European's confirmation that we are on the right track. The next time you are having a BBQ on a warm evening or a picnic lunch uncork a bottle of Oui and imagine you are with your family in an olive grove on the Spanish coast.

A votre sante
Paul, Mike and Craig