<![CDATA[ R A N C H O A Z U L Y O R O

<![CDATA[ R A N C H O A Z U L Y O R O - Rancho Blog]]>Fri, 18 May 2012 11:36:52 -0800Weebly<![CDATA["All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of yesterday." ~ Proverb]]>Fri, 04 May 2012 13:02:09 -0800http://ranchoazulyoro.com/4/post/2012/05/all-the-flowers-of-tomorrow-are-in-the-seeds-of-yesterday-proverb.html

The 2012 Zinfandel

Everything is in full bloom at the ranch and the year is filled with promise. The vines are bursting forth with growth and getting ready to flower. The olive trees are nearly groaning with the weight of the flowers. For now, the lavender is quiet, but that can only last so long.

While all that is planted is doing its part for this year's harvest, the ranchers are already looking toward harvest and attempting to devise some better grinding appartus to eliminate the nights in blinding rainstorms kicking the olive crushing equipment across the driveway; shoring up winemaking equations that vexed us in the prior year; researching better yeasts; tasting and racking last year's wine and standing watch over it, vowing that it will continue forward on a successfu path.

Along with springtime comes a crush of work -- excuse the pun -- in the vineyard. The Zinyard was rototilled and weeding was done between all vines and all lower shoots were removed. Some clusters were also removed to permit robust growth of those clusters that are in the correct position.

The report on the 2011 vintage remains good. What has been most interesting is the change in the wine's character on each visit. They are constantly growing and changing. We are optimistic that the 2011 vintage is one which we got right -- finally. Only been six years, right? Our goal is for improvement with each vintage.

Also with springtime comes the unpleasant reminder that that not only are the plants awakening from their winter hibernation, but so are the rattlesnakes. An encounter two weeks ago with two large snakes still sends chills up the spine of yours truly, but fortunately, our neighbor saved the day and a car full of friends, as well as myself, and to him, we are forever grateful. Another snake was discovered near the cattle corral yesterday and a turkey vulture was feasting on one in the road. The same brave neighbor reported a three-footer on the driveway.

So while we are busy tending to all of this year's newbies, while remaining ever watchful of what is ahead of us and remembering what is behind and beneath us, we are headed out to enjoy the glorious springtime weather!

Cheers!

]]><![CDATA[“There is no creation without tradition; the 'new' is an inflection on a preceeding form; novelty is always a variation on the past." ~ Carlos Fuentes ~]]>Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:04:27 -0800http://ranchoazulyoro.com/4/post/2012/03/there-is-no-creation-without-tradition-the-new-is-an-inflection-on-a-preceeding-form-novelty-is-always-a-variation-on-the-past-carlos-fuentes.html

The time of year has come which finds not only spring upon us -- sort of -- but another celebration at the ranch.   As the ranch has evolved and grown, so have many of us -- some, from infants to now almost teens, and yet, there is much at a ranch and in a family that seems similar, but perhaps that is just a perception.

The grapevines are pruned every January, but is pruning the same when they are a year old versus when they are six years old? The grapevines bud and blossom every year, but do those blossoms actually mature into grapes and make the final cut into wine every year? The harvest occurs every year, but is it a good harvest one year and not so good the next? The farm and ranch year ends every winter, but a winter without storms may appear dull to some, and to others, it may provide an opportunity to enjoy what that season has to offer.

So, too, with celebrations. One cannot help but wondering, are similar celebrations of milestones considered traditions or an attempt to exasperate family with lack of creativity in planning? Who could ever forget the year that the preparer of family feasts went wild and put lavender in the applesauce in an attempt to introduce some flair into a holiday tradition?   The notion was met with spirited debate and the lavender uprising was solidly quashed.   Are such vociferous objections to change due to actually disliking the new offering or because, while bland, the customary offering is tradition and people look forward to tradition?   Do people actually enjoy dragging a tree into one's house, spending hours untangling lights, hanging objects on the tree that can crash to the floor and shatter, and then having to undo all that weeks later? One could view the entire exercise as needless work and have their home look the same all year long. Clean, yes, but boring. Others could look at it as a symbol of the spirit of the season -- light, hope, warmth, joy, and celebration.

Just as with harvests and vintages, a great deal of time can be spent in planning and executing celebrations, and yet, the final product may appear repetitive and stale to some, and to others, it may be the first or the best ever. Could one become discouraged in attempting to please everyone and seemingly not please anyone? Of course. Similarly, would it be wiser to not torment one's self year after year in attempting to create the perfect wine that, perhaps, only its creators will ever enjoy? Of course.   Is it possible that no one will ever understand our vision?   Is this all an exercise in futility? Absolutely.

In the end, it is constancy that matters, and while constancy may seem boring to some, it may be what is required to bring in that one amazing harvest, achieve that long-sought after goal, or to continue to provide a foundation for traditions to continue, whether or not we're here or the ranch is here or lavender goes into the applesauce. So it is with those thoughts that we sign out with the words of a former British Prime Minister and novelist, Benjamin Disraeli:

“The secret of success is constancy of purpose.”

]]><![CDATA[An optimist is the human personification of spring ~ Susan J. Bissonette ]]>Sat, 10 Mar 2012 16:02:16 -0800http://ranchoazulyoro.com/4/post/2012/03/an-optimist-is-the-human-personification-of-spring-susan-j-bissonette.html

Bud break on the table grapes

When last the ranchers drove off into the sunset, the native grasses were still gray in color and dormancy still dominated the landscape. A mere two weeks later and the temperatures have soared into the 80s, and upon arising yesterday, the occupants were greeted with bud break on the table grapes and on the olive trees.   While it gladdens one's heart to see such demonstrations of the resiliency of Springtime, it also recalls to mind last year, when bud break occurred on the table grapes and olives at the end of March, and on April 8th and 9th, snow and hail decimated the newly budded plants and the crop for the year. The joyous weather and hopeful optimism of Spring could cause one to skip happily down the sidewalk, but history reminds one that happily skipping must be tempered with caution, since Mother Nature appears to be the world's great mischief maker.

Be that as it may, after all the skipping down the sidewalk was completed, these ranchers got down to business to complete as much of Winter's To Do List as possible, since Spring has its own daunting list.   First on the list was to test all the wines to see how they were progressing. One of the lessons learned from past years is that benchmarks must be set and tests run somewhat frequently so that it would be possible to adjust the result appropriately and keep detailed records. It is with pleasure that this author reports that not only were the results received, but the winemaker actually understood the numbers well enough to know something was wrong with the numbers. A quick phone call confirmed that the mistake was not, indeed, the vintners' (as it usually is), but that it was a lab error. Now, to the average Joe (or Jane), this may not seem like a major milestone requiring celebration, but if Joe or Jane were aware of the math skill set with which this vintner was working, Joe or Jane might feel compelled to petition the Nobel Committee for a special award for said vintner.

The numbers  confirmed  what was suspected, that malolactic fermentation was completed on the Zinfandel and that it was time for the sloppy task of racking all the wines, adding a bit of protection against bacteria, and doing any required adjustments. More math.   After some stressful moments, some tutoring from the math wizard in this operation, consultation with a winemaking app, some highly spirited debate as to why our answer was wrong, the conclusion was that not even the math wizard had the decimal placed correctly. It appeared that the lab results came in g/100 ml and the winemaking app was using percentages. Always something. It might be a worthwhile time to point out that it was the mathematically challenged part of the team that came up with the solution, but one must be honest, it was not by doing the math correctly. The correct answer was achieved by working backward from the answer. Nonetheless, one must take one's victories when one can.

The plan was to rack and make SO2 adjustments to the 2011 Zinfandel, the 2011 Petite Sirah, and the 2010 Cab, with an additional adjustment on the Petite Sirah. Racking could take, what, a couple hours? With the new pump, yes, it was speedy. What tripped the team up was the cellar rat chores of washing, scrubbing, and sanitizing all those barrels, carboys, bungs, and hoses -- and yes, the hoses are actually scrubbed by inserting a tiny little brush all the way through the hose. While we had planned to be sipping highly chilled martinis in town by 6:00 p.m., again reality did not match perceptions. It was after 8:00 p.m. that the last light in the barn was extinguished and the purple-stained, sticky ranchers returned to the house, too tired to eat.

A frequently asked question is, "Why do you put yourselves through all this, especially when it's been six years and you don't have one bottle of wine to show for your efforts?" So frequently is this asked that placing it as the first question on the FAQ page is being considered. Here's the reason: Nothing can match the exhilaration when the vineyard team gets it right, the "A-ha" moments, the small victories, with that elusive prize always at the end of the rainbow, that there will one day be a wine the rancho is proud enough to serve. While our past efforts have received critical acclaim, none can be more critical than the assessment of the producers.

Last year, when the ranchers headed to the State Fair in Sacramento to receive an honor for the ranch's wine and vinegar label, they were accompanied by two of the youngest ranchers. Upon returning to their seats after receiving the medals, the youngins' eagerly greeted them, took possession of the medals, and commented, "Now let's see you win it for the wine next year." Nothing levels one's success more than a youthful challenge to do better.

So it is with pleasure that we can report that as of this moment, the 2011 vintage is actually a wine we hope to bottle and serve. Will it beat out Saxum at the S.F. International Wine Competition? Maybe not this year. However, we remain focused on improving step by step, correcting past mistakes, not repeating them, improving vineyard practices, eradicating gophers once and for all (yes, I know, we reach for the stars), continuing to learn more every day, and one day getting it right -- and not just right, very right. Perhaps vintners always believe next year's wine will be the best. Perhaps it requires boundless optimism to be a vintner, but when it all pulls together, there is no better feeling.

Cheers!

The Jolly Ranchers

]]><![CDATA[“He who wants milk should not sit in the middle of a field and wait for a cow to back up to him” - Proverb]]>Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:31:22 -0800http://ranchoazulyoro.com/4/post/2012/02/he-who-wants-milk-should-not-sit-in-the-middle-of-a-field-and-wait-for-a-cow-to-back-up-to-him-proverb.html

Daniel Boone has got nothing on these ranchers. Upon arrival this visit, truck tracks were noted just in front of the Wine Barn. Further investigation provided additional clues. The gate leading to the north portion of our property was closed. Over a sporty little cocktail, facts were reviewed and a conclusion reached . . . the cattle had finally departed. Ranchers and farmers are fully cognizant that one should not become too attached to the herd, especially when they are meat cattle, but it becomes difficult not to establish a rapport when a particularly gregarious steer follows one's every move around the property, and like a dog, begins to beg for food and nearly perform tricks, even with 80 acres of new green grass at its disposal.

Such was the case with the young steer pictured. While only a calf last summer, he was the only of the cattle to sprout horns.  Perhaps this lent a presence to him. Perhaps he was just a born leader. However, he was clearly the leader of the pack and the most friendly of the group. A guess was made that someday he could become a longhorn.   Then, one day, whilest thinning shoots and repositioning the vines and nestled in the very precarious area behind the cabernet and the barb wire fence, this aspiring vintner was fully focused on the most important task of anyone stepping foot on to the rancho -- watching so that a rattlesnake did not creep up from behind. However, in focusing all eyes on feet and the ground, the proverbial forrest was missed for the trees and a gentle nudge was offered through the fence and delivered to the back side of the unsuspecting worker.   While no serious injury occurred, it was certainly enough of a nudge to gain one's attention. The offending youngster merely stood back, and if cattle can grin, it is certain that this one was grinning.

So when the reality had struck the other evening that the cattle had departed, despite the conviviality of cocktail hour, spirits were dampened a bit.  The disappointment was salved with phrases such as, "This is a part of having a ranch," and "It is all a part of the cycle of the seasons," and the ever popular, "For everything turn, turn, turn." A Bob Dylan song could not be far off, so the waxing and waning poetic was disrupted midstream.

There is nothing a sunset cannot fix, so to the patio this correspondent headed to view nature's resplendent closing act. Seated with a playful glass of Zinfandel, a noise was heard beyond the horizon. It sounded like the pitter patter of little feet - well, actually, the thunder of hooves, at which time, guess who came gracelessly sprinting up the hill, silhouetted against the sun setting in the west and bringing the stampeding herd and resulting dust with him -- yes, our herd leader.  After a long, happy reunion, a conclusion was reached that the truck must have just moved the youngsters to the southern portion of the property and that they would continue to grace the landscape of the rancho for another few months, but more importantly, they would be regular visitors at the back passageway.

What was plainly visible, however, even to a casual observer, was that this was no longer a calf, at some point, he's doubled in size and so have his horns. Not being an expert in bovine affairs, the thought came to mind that research might prove useful, so here are some of the fun facts gleaned:
1. "The horns of the average Longhorn cow reach 50% of their eventual
tip-to-tip measurement a little later, at about 15 months of age, and they
reach 95% between five and six years of age. They continue to grow, but usually
slow down considerably with age."
2. "They can and do use their horns to manipulate objects and to scratch
their bodies, so reasonable care should be exercised around the cattle to avoid
accidental contact with the horns. "
So, of what use can this information be to a person at the rancho? Well, that this youngin's horns will probably double in size in the next few years, depending how long he continues to graze at the rancho, and secondly, hugs are probably out; one will need the Cabernet vines as a shield against Junior's horns not too far down the road. It's probably a better idea just not to turn one's back, which is sage advice, since one never knows what is just around the corner here.
Happy Trails!
The Accidental Rancher

]]><![CDATA["Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, others transform a yellow spot into the sun." Pablo Picasso ]]>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:32:16 -0800http://ranchoazulyoro.com/4/post/2012/02/some-painters-transform-the-sun-into-a-yellow-spot-others-transform-a-yellow-spot-into-the-sun-pablo-picasso.html

The rancho is going solar. The photo to the left is the future home of 39 solar panels.   This author has wondered aloud how all those panels will mesh with the quiet majesty of nature at the rancho, but will apparently find out soon, because the engineers will be out to stake out the site over President's Weekend and then the engineering and permitting will begin, with some estimates placing installation as early as March 23rd. Some coordination and inspection with PG & E will be necessary in order for their approval of said project, at which time, the rancho will be given the go ahead to flip said switch.

While the ultimate goal was clean energy independence and self-sufficiency, the basic hope is that when we flip a light switch, the lights go on and the well continues to pump water to the house.   Air conditioning in summer would be a close runner up.

It would be a happy day, indeed, to be able to report that this phase of planning and building at the rancho will conclude the numerous projects that were within the grand five-year plan. It has come to the attention of one of the ranchers that the other thrives on planning and building things, and that while this very post is being composed, plans are being contemplated to build an annex to the tool shed -- yes, yes, you heard that correctly. It was suggested that, perhaps, a pre-made tool shed from Lowe's might suffice. A faint guffaw was heard in response.   "No, no," he was heard to say, "One must be constructed," and off he walked, into the sunset, muttering something about joists and lumber and nails.   That evening, over a glass of wine, it was revealed that the Grand Plan has been expanded. Perhaps merely installing drawers in the closet and redoing the master bathroom would not be adequate. Knocking out the front portion of the house by the master bedroom might provide the desired result.

Could it be that Mrs. Winchester has been reincarnated into this industrious rancher who never seems to stop building? Is it the vast horizons that are visible at the rancho that motivate a person to be ever expanding over the horizon? What drives a person to demonstrate such a level of work ethic, perseverence, and schpilkas? There is a suspicion that it is hereditary, as well as environmental. I will leave the reader with a quote by one of the geniuses of this world, which may shed some insight on a person who possesses this indomitable spirit to achieve:

"I was obliged to be industrious. Whoever is equally industrious will succeed equally well."
Johannes Sebastian Bach

]]><![CDATA[The Thyme has Come]]>Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:26:34 -0800http://ranchoazulyoro.com/4/post/2012/01/the-thyme-has-come.html

The nonstop crop

The casual oberserver may be thinking to themselves, "Seriously, you cannot still be picking lavender." Sadly, the answer is yes, the rancho is currently picking lavender. In fact, a lavender grower recently visited the ranch and said it was the darnedest thing ever seen. It never stops growing.

Fortunately, though, for these ranchers, other things have stopped growing and given them the much needed year-end break, and they've caught their breath, gotten a little rest (which has made a small dent in the crabbiness factor), and reached a previously sought-after equillibrium, in which the work at the ranch is being accomplished more quickly and proficiently, leaving the ranchers time to actually get out and enjoy some of the things their guests rave about, but which the ranchers never have time to experience, because they've always been entertaining and racing to get the ranch work done once the guests have departed.

Consequently, all vines have now been pruned and retied -- and this time, with agri-lock, so that the vine ties will not break midseason, requiring more tying. All wines have been tested by our chemist extraordinaire. The Petite Sirah has completed MLF. The Zin is nearly done. We'll give it until March. The Cab probably won't get busy until it warms up in spring. It's MLF didn't have a chance to begin before the serious cold set in. This tasting, the Zin's star is shining. It was petulant and difficult all through fermentation, so it was a pleasant surprise that it didn't rise up to smack one in the face while tasting. The Petite Sirah continues to be good, but there is a suspicion that improvement could be achieved with a bit of adjustment. The Cab, flat out, needs MLF and an adjustment and aging. A refinement of the number at which the grapes will be picked next year has also been accomplished.

All olives have been rebrined; and incredibly, the herbs that have been hanging to dry have now been destemmed and chopped, and finally, the little herb jars which have been sitting on top of the dryer for months have now been moved and fresh herbs have been placed in them. All weeds have been sprayed. The garage is being cleaned out, and slowly, but surely, items are being given to the thrift shop or taken to the trash. The tots' toys have again been sanitized and organized. Plans for an additional equipment shed are in the offing, so all tools and equipment from the garage will be placed there. The bikes and golf clubs will eventually be hung on walls. The window company has been out to diagnose the problem with the fairly new picture window in the kitchen. The news is as expected, it has failed and needs to be replaced, but thankfully, it will be covered under warranty.

All this has been accomplished, and yet, two rounds of golf were squeezed in by one of the ranchers and two 13-mile bike rides were squeezed in by the other, as well as an afternoon of championship-level loping, and some great glasses of wine by the fire. The lesson that is emerging is that this is what had been envisioned all along, a place to which one could escape to get off the merry-go-round, work with the vines, the olives, the land, but yet, have some time to rest, engage in favorite recreational activities, and return home with batteries charged.

And so it is with renewed energy that all calendars have been reviewed and business trips placed on the calendar, all vacations and traditional yearly get-togethers have been placed on the calendar, all ranch work that is time sensitive has been placed on the calendar, harvest season has been blocked off, and essentially, our 2012 is planned up to and including January 1, 2013, and we are adamant that we will not overschedule, because we enjoy having the time to catch our breath and enjoy life a little, just like everyone else.

So it is with a renewed sense of optimism that we sign off with the words of T. S. Eliot:
"For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning."

]]><![CDATA[“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”]]>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:01:49 -0800http://ranchoazulyoro.com/4/post/2012/01/first-post.htmlMuch of our time during a year is spent planning, but January provides us the blank canvas of endless possibilities. The opportunity to do things better. The chance to correct past mistakes. We came away from last year exhausted, but with a bit of R & R, we are resolved, again, that we will do it better, and maybe a little smarter in 2012, and definitely with less wear and tear on us. We are also going to be stringently guarding the calendar more carefully, saying "No" more frequently, and not over-scheduling, which results in overtired, unhappy, and grumpy ranchers. We also plan to spend a bit more time having fun -- yes, I know, it's hard to imagine.

As far as plans for the ranch, the list is endless, but for starters, a new year presents a chance to prune better, the chance for a year without storms or frosts; a year for perfect heat; the chance to shoot position and thin early in the season; the chance to get ahead of the pests; the chance to bottle previous year's vintages; the chance to create a really outstanding vintage; the chance to streamline the olive oil process, so it's not always occurring in a blinding rainstorm at 2:00 a.m., when it's 40 degrees; essentially, a new opportunity to care for the grapes, olives and lavender -- as well as ourselves -- better.

So it is with high hopes that we head into 2012. For us, we truly believe the best is yet to be.

And to all of you, we wish a very happy, healthy 2012!

Slainte!

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