Late summer and fall represent a magical time in the vineyard, with row after row of vines brimming with fruit slowly approaching ripeness. But how do we know when it’s the perfect time to harvest the grapes? It’s a harder question than it may seem, with weather, variety, desired wine style, and even the winemaker’s personal preferences and experiences each playing a role. Like most aspects of the winemaking process, it’s a combination of science, experience, and intuition.
One of the oldest human traditions, winemaking spans the entirety of recorded history and likely existed long before we got the idea to record history. The finer details of how wine is made have evolved over the millennia, but the basic process remains the same: grapes are harvested, their juice is fermented, and the result is wine. The particulars would fill a library, but we’ll examine the basic steps of winemaking for starters.
Coming face to face with a wall of wines at your local shop can be an intimidating experience. Should you select by price? Favorite varietal? Prettiest label? With so many options and just the shelf talkers to go on, you may feel paralyzed by the possibilities.
Sulfites. You’ve probably heard the term used in regards to wine … but what are they? Do 2Hawk wines contain them? Why are there sulfites in wine, anyway? A natural byproduct of fermentation, sulfites are present in all wines to a degree. More than just a byproduct, they’re a powerful, natural preservative and essential to the winemaking process.
“What are tannins, and can you taste them in wine?” We get questions like this fairly often in the 2Hawk Vineyard & Winery tasting room. Found naturally in grapes, tannins are antioxidant polyphenols that impart dryness, astringency, and mouthfeel to wines. They play a crucial role in the winemaking process, starting at harvest and continuing on even as wines age in the bottle.
Boasting 180 vineyards spanning over 4,000 acres, Southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley is home to more than 70 different varieties, totaling some 10,000 tons of grapes each year. But what makes the Rogue Valley so special, and why do so many wineries call this region home? Just like a great wine, it’s a careful balance of the right factors.
The pursuit of excellence drives our work at 2Hawk. In the winery this time of year, we’re focused on bottling. That means finishing our early-to-bottle white wines from the previous vintage—in this case, 2017—our middle-length barrel-aged reds from 2016, and our final red from 2015. The red wines were blended and returned to barrel over a year ago, so the aromas and flavors have integrated. They are ready for bottling.
January is a special time in the vineyard. The lull of December begins to give way to the next growing season. It is a time to reflect on the prior season and a time to contemplate the upcoming season.
2Hawk Vineyard and Winery experienced an incredible shift in 2017. Our growth and momentum has set the stage for even greater things to come in 2018. From continued implementation of cutting-edge technologies in the vineyard, winery, and tasting room to Tesla charging stations, a new website, and ever-improving facilities for our guests, 2017 proved that 2Hawk is indeed soaring.
Another harvest is over. All of the new wines are in barrel, and it’s time to reflect on how the vintage has taken shape and to give thanks for what Mother Nature provided. One of the most frequent questions I’m asked this time of year is, “What wine pairs well with a special holiday meal?”