Here’s our take on the state of grape growing, winemaking, and wine drinking in Mendocino County and around the world. It’s all about the wine!
2024 Wine Competition results
Husch Vineyards, Roederer Estate, Barra of Mendocino, and Pleiades win top honors at the 2024 Mendocino wine competition
On Saturday, Aug. 17, nearly 100 wine enthusiasts gathered for the first-ever People’s Choice Mendocino County wine competition. The afternoon began with a welcome rain shower as members of the public arrived to take on the role of wine judge. Thirty-one wineries… Read the rest
Life on Mendocino Ridge: Steve Alden’s journey from photographer to winegrower
By Roger Coryell. 8/9/24.
Bears, mud, and midnight tractor rides
Bears. Fast, agile, hungry, smart bears. Mud. Snow. Hornets. Mountain lions and wild boars. Mildew. Driving a tractor between steep sloping muddy rows in the dark. Mendocino Ridge is not an easy place to farm. Steve Alden, co-owner of Perli Vineyard in the Mendocino Ridge AVA and the creator of… Read the rest
Farm bill implications for Mendocino County wine industry
Mendocino County winegrowers and winemakers face a pivotal moment as the 2024 farm bill takes shape.
Climate change prompting earlier growing seasons for Mendocino winegrowers
.title-banner {
text-shadow: 2px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
}
A new study reveals that climate change is expected to shift the growing season and harvest times earlier for wine grapes in Mendocino County. This significant change in the timing of biological events means that local winegrowers will need to adapt their practices to maintain sustainable production.
Published in… Read the rest
Wine Enthusiast spotlights regenerative farming in Mendocino County
Regenerative farming is gaining traction in Mendocino County, where family-owned vineyards are leading the way with sustainable agricultural practices. At Pennyroyal Farm, the Bennett family integrates organic and biodynamic methods with holistic grazing techniques to enhance soil health and biodiversity. Similarly, the Dooling family at Mariah Vineyards focuses on building a resilient ecosystem by employing practices that improve soil structure… Read the rest
Study reveals shifts in alcohol consumption since COVID-19
Mendocino County’s wine industry is experiencing shifts in consumer drinking habits influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic. A recent study highlights significant changes, driven by health and wellness concerns. Younger generations, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, are favoring non-alcoholic options, while older consumers maintain a preference for wine, valuing its sophistication and quality.
For Mendocino winegrowers, adapting to these trends is… Read the rest
Interview with Hope Nastri of Twomey Cellars
Hope Nastri, associate winemaker at Twomey Cellars’ Anderson Valley estate in Philo, shares her journey from math teacher to winemaker, her minimalist winemaking philosophy, and the sustainable practices that define Twomey’s commitment to producing distinctive pinot noirs.
Hope Nastri
Roger Coryell: Hope, can you start by telling us about your role at Twomey Cellars and within the company?
Hope Nastri:… Read the rest
Frey Vineyards: blending tradition with innovation
A harmonious blend of old and new
Wandering through the newly reconstructed Frey Vineyards winery in Mendocino County’s Redwood Valley, one can’t help but marvel at the synergy between state-of-the-art technology and age-old winemaking traditions. Jonathan and Katrina Frey, pioneers in organic and biodynamic wine, have cultivated more than just grapes; they’ve nurtured a philosophy. “Our customers are looking for… Read the rest
2023 Mendo Wine Competition Results
body section.banner.hide-mts div.banner-caption div {color:black;background-color:#ffffff!important}
The 44th annual wine competition held at the Mendocino County Fair has awarded five different wineries with the prestigious “Best of Show” winners title. The fair, which took place in Hopland, saw 195 wines from 36 wineries submitting entries to the competition.
Among these, Boonville’s Pennyroyal Farm stood out, winning two of the Best of… Read the rest
From Forgotten Gardens to Organic Wines: The Campovida Story
In the oak-covered foothills of Hopland, in eastern Mendocino County, you'll find a unique property called Campovida. This farm and winery isn't just a place; it's a testament to vision, resilience, and community.
Paul Dolan: A Visionary’s Legacy in Mendocino County’s Wine Landscape
The wine industry of Mendocino County, and indeed the broader Northern California region, has lost one of its most influential figures. Paul Egan Dolan III, a trailblazer in sustainable winemaking, passed away on June 26, 2023, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to shape the region’s viticulture for generations to come.
Born in Oakland, California, in 1950, Dolan’s roots… Read the rest
Grey Water Recycling in America’s Greenest Wine Region
Water is a precious and finite natural resource, less than 3% of all water on Earth is fresh water. In this video, Mendocino Wine Co. owner Tim Thornhill demonstrates his commercial-scale gray water recycling system that conserves and recycles this precious resource. At the Mendocino Wine Co. they believe everyone has the opportunity to leave the world better than they… Read the rest
Zac Robinson Awarded Winegrower of the Year Award
The Zeni Award is a perpetual trophy given to the winegrower of the year representing outstanding stewardship of the land, community service, and producing the highest quality wine grape in Mendocino County.
Zac Robinson of Husch Vineyards was awarded the Zeni Winegrower of the Year Award at the MWI 2019 Harvest Party. Glenn McGourty, UCCE Farm Advisor for Mendocino County,… Read the rest
Mendocino Wines Rock Whole Foods Market
Were we interested and could MWI help facilitate the program? Needless to say… this is totally in line with MWI’s mission “to promote the quality and image of Mendocino County grapes and wine with three target audiences:
Decision makers who buy grapes
press and trade groups who write about, sell, or recommend wine, and
consumers who buy wine.”
And, a… Read the rest
Making Sense of Mendocino
Mendocino is a county with two faces. One face, the softer side, is well known. This is the coastal half that contains Anderson Valley, where delicate Pinot Noir and exceptional sparkling wines are enjoying increasing, and deserving, renown. The other face of Mendocino resides further east, in the cache of old vines that sprawl across the Redwood Valley appellation and… Read the rest
2019 Mendocino County Fair Wine Competition Awards
41st Annual Mendocino County Fair Wine Competition Awards
Congratulations to all the award winners!
After tasting a record number of entries the judges have made their pronouncements:
Best of Show Red: 2017 Foursight Clone 05 Pinot Noir
Best of Show White: 2018 Navarro Vineyards Edelzwicker
Best of Show Sparkling: NV McFadden Sparkling Cuvee Brut Rose
Best of Show Rose’: 2018… Read the rest
