As euphoric an experience as wine tasting usually is, it can be daunting for some, especially the more casual wine appreciators. The good news is you don’t have to be a sommelier to taste wine like a pro. It just takes a little basic knowledge and perspective.
For nearly as long as humans have been making and drinking wine, it has been considered to have medicinal properties. In ancient Rome, Pliny the Elder wrote of the anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties of wine, while in ancient Egypt, wines were a critical component of many medicines. More recently, scientific studies have uncovered some of the remarkable health benefits of moderate wine consumption, giving us valuable insight into how wine can be an integral part of a healthy lifestyle.
As spring approaches, our attention naturally turns to the vineyard, which is preparing to awaken from its winter slumber. In the winery, however, spring brings an additional rush of activity: the selection of new oak barrels, a critical component of properly aging many wine varietals. Choosing the right barrels isn’t a simple matter, though. It’s actually a surprisingly complex task that requires both data gathering and experimentation to make careful, thoughtful decisions.
If you’ve spent any time browsing wine lists or shopping for wine, there’s a good chance you’ve come across the term “natural wine” at some point. But what exactly is “natural wine”? As a concept, it’s pretty simple—bottle only that which the vineyard produces naturally—but what exactly does that mean, how does that criterion differ from other wines, and how does 2Hawk fit into this category?
With the 2019 harvest completed, the holiday season flurry behind us, and the grapevines gently slumbering in the vineyard, one might be tempted to think life takes on a slower pace at 2Hawk after the new year. In reality, winter at 2Hawk is a change of pace, but it’s anything but slow!
2019 is drawing to a close, and it has been a remarkable year for 2Hawk Vineyard & Winery! Looking back over the past twelve months, we have a lot to celebrate, from noteworthy accolades to entertaining events. Before we turn our attention to making the next year even better, we’d like to share some of our favorite moments from 2019.
As 2019 winds down, another outstanding vintage has come to a close at 2Hawk Vineyard & Winery. Harvest began on September 20 with Early Muscat and culminated November 5, with Malbec being picked last. The special terroir of the Rogue Valley means every year presents its own unique challenges and opportunities.
Fall in the vineyard brings the bustling activity of the harvest as the growing season draws to an end. At 2Hawk, fall is special for an additional reason: our semiannual wine club release.
Nearly a year after harvest, our 2018 vintage wines are each on their own paths to greatness. Several are still aging, some will be ready to enjoy soon, and others are ready to be savored now. Let’s peek in on the status of these wines and explore why we’re especially excited about our 2018 vintage.
Properly aging wine is a critical aspect of winemaking. Without some measure of aging, most wines would be rough around the edges and fall far short of their full potential. Aging wine is a complex enterprise, with different wines requiring different materials, techniques, and lengths of time to arrive at their peak. In this post, we’ll explore how a wine progresses from the end of fermentation to bottling and, at last, enjoyment.