August 11, 2010
Eleventh Spray
Pristine = 10.5 oz per acre (front block only)
Also checked the stats on the Viognier and wow we are WAY ahead of schedule, but from talking to our colleagues around the region everyone seems to be anywhere from 10 to 30 days ahead of normal harvest time.
Brix = 20.1
pH = 3.00
Flavor profile = still green but developing well
By contrast on 30-Aug-2009 the brix was only at 18.4 with pH of 3.14. This year is definitely whacked...
Posted by Stephen at 9:31 PM
August 9, 2010
The Cove
Last night Shannon and I rented arguably the most disturbing movie we've seen in a long time, perhaps ever. "The Cove" is a documentary focused on the horrifying truth behind the dolphin trade i.e. what really happens to the dolphins that end up in aquariums, and more terrifying what actually happens to those that aren't selected. Set mainly in Taiji, Japan, an incredibly courageous team of environmentalists and film makers pulled off the most amazing expose we've ever seen. And the footage they capture is beyond comprehension.
A must rent for anyone concerned about the environment, animal rights, or just humanity in general. Here's the synopsis:
Academy Award® Winner for Best Documentary of 2009, THE COVE follows an elite team of activists, filmmakers and freedivers as they embark on a covert mission to penetrate a remote and hidden cove in Taiji, Japan, shining a light on a dark and deadly secret. Utilizing state-of-the-art techniques, including hidden microphones and cameras in fake rocks, the team uncovers how this small seaside village serves as a horrifying microcosm of massive ecological crimes happening worldwide. The result is a provocative mix of investigative journalism, eco-adventure and arresting imagery, adding up to an unforgettable story that has inspired audiences worldwide to action.
THE COVE is directed by Louie Psihoyos and produced by Paula DuPré Pesmen and Fisher Stevens. The film is written by Mark Monroe. The executive producer is Jim Clark and the co-producer is Olivia Ahnemann.
The full website is here:
http://www.thecovemovie.com/
Posted by Stephen at 12:15 PM
August 7, 2010
"Salsavino" Coming to Notaviva!
AUGUST 14 12:00 PM TO 6:00 PM
Ever been to a wine and salsa pairing???
Guest Chef Chuck Cardamon will be on hand promoting his new book "Salsavino" which features gourmet salsas created with local Loudoun wines. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and you will have the opportunity to meet Chuck and learn more about his book! You can also visit Chuck on Facebook here.
These are the wineries/wines to be poured as part of the event:
Notaviva-2008 Celtico Chambourcin
Breaux-2008 Jen's Jambayala
Sunset Hills-2009 Viognier
North Gate-2008 Petit Verdot & 2009 Apple wine
Maggie Malick-2006 Maggie Malick Barefoot Bordeaux
Event Schedule:
12:00-6:00 Wine and Salsa tastings.
There will be a table with six (6) new salsas made to pair with each wine and a big bowl of tortilla chips.
Posted by Stephen at 9:12 AM
July 26, 2010
Tenth Spray
Been a light spray season this year due to the heat (record number of 90+ degree days) but given the ridiculous storms and rain we had yesterday, it's time to get back at it.
FRONT BLOCK
Quintec = 3oz per acre (powdery mildew)
Ziram = 3lb per acre (black rot)
Prophyt = 2 pints per acre (downy mildew)
REAR BLOCK
Microthiol Disperss = 4 lb per acre
Ziram = 3lb per acre (black rot)
Prophyt = 2 pints per acre (downy mildew)
Posted by Stephen at 3:07 PM
July 25, 2010
2010 State Fair Competition Results
We are thrilled to announce we received four awards at the 2010 Virginia State Fair Wine Competition!!! We won three awards for our wines, and another for a label design.
GOLD - 2008 "Cantabile" Cabernet Franc
GOLD - 2009 "Calor" Chardonnay
SILVER - 2009 "Verano" Vidal Blanc
3rd Place in the "Best Use of Whimsy on a Label" category for the 2008 "Cantabile" Cabernet Franc
Many thanks to Steven Brown of Indian Springs Vineyards, who grew our Chardonnay and Vidal Blanc, and special thank of course to all of our family, friends and customers who continue to enjoy and support our wines and efforts!
Complete results are available for download here.
Posted by Stephen at 8:45 AM
July 11, 2010
Ninth Spray
Was not excited about having to spray the vineyard tonight, but with the impending storms approaching this week wanted to ensure that we stay clean. Got the established 3 acres done and will finish the new plantings tomorrow. The Viognier and Cabernet Franc are looking great (leaf pulling, hedging, row herbicide all caught up) and the new 3 acres are disease-free but definitely need some training. Will get to that this week and next!
Microthiol Disperss - 4 lb per acre
Prophyt - 2 pints per acre
Carbaryl 4L - 2 quarts per acre
Posted by Stephen at 8:54 PM
July 7, 2010
2010 Wine & Music Pairing Results Posted!
I've put together the collated results from the 2010 wine and music pairing event we hosted on 26-June-2010. As with last year most of the wines had a very clear favorite track. Most interesting is that what we believe the best pairing to be (and put on the back label) was either first or second! Pretty awesome!
This year, in order to help people understand the concept better, I put together a short video from interviews recorded during the event. Check it out:
You can download the results here:
"Ottantotto" Viognier 2009
http://www.NotavivaVineyards.com/pdf/2010WineMusicPairing-2009Ottantotto.pdf
"Calor" Chardonnay 2009
http://www.NotavivaVineyards.com/pdf/2010WineMusicPairing-2009Calor.pdf
"Verano" Vidal Blanc 2009
http://www.NotavivaVineyards.com/pdf/2010WineMusicPairing-2009Verano.pdf
"Cantabile" Cabernet Franc 2008
http://www.NotavivaVineyards.com/pdf/2010WineMusicPairing-2008Cantabile.pdf
"Celtico" Chambourcin 2009
http://www.NotavivaVineyards.com/pdf/2010WineMusicPairing-2009Celtico.pdf
Posted by Stephen at 12:12 PM
June 30, 2010
Eighth Spray
Microthiol Disperss - 4 lb per acre
Manzate ProStick - 4 lb per acre
Posted by Stephen at 12:00 PM
June 23, 2010
Seventh Spray
Microthiol Disperss - 4 lb per acre
Manzate ProStick - 4 lb per acre
Posted by Stephen at 4:19 PM
June 13, 2010
The Great 2010 Facelift
Can't believe this house is over three years old! The outside was starting to look a bit weathered, and it was overdue for some siding repair and stain. I got a quote from a painter, and they wanted $12,000 to paint the whole outside - ouch. So being about $12,000 short of $12,000 I decided to do it myself. Rented a 60' articulated man lift from Rentals Unlimited for about $1,500 delivered both ways, and about $400 in semi-solid Cabot siding stain. Add to that about 70 hours over six days in the bucket of the man lift and it is done!
Still have to finish up the timber frame under the front porch and a few spots of blue, but the high-wire act is finished. We also added a great new element to the west wall, a 5' wide silver star to greet customers coming up from the parking lot. Come on out and see the results!
Posted by Stephen at 11:29 AM
June 10, 2010
Sixth Spray
Applied the sixth spray of the season, went for the good stuff this time around:
Pristine - 10.5 oz per acre
Vineyard (knock on wood) is perfectly disease-free at the moment, and the frost damage in the 2009 plantings (30% loss) is recovering nicely - seeing a lot of new growth peeking up out of the tops of the grow tubes. Still need to get down an herbicide spray on the front block, and begin catch wires on the rear block, but all-in-all we're in really great shape!!!
Posted by Stephen at 8:36 AM
June 8, 2010
Washington Post Mentions
We received two AWESOME mentions in the Washington Post this week. Check them out!!!
Spend a Day in the (Wine) Country
Posted by Stephen at 10:11 AM
May 29, 2010
Fifth Spray
Applied the fifth spray of the season:
Microthiol Disperss - 4 lb per acre
Manzate ProStick - 4 lb per acre
Posted by Stephen at 12:52 PM
May 21, 2010
Fourth Spray
Applied the fourth spray of the season:
Microthiol Disperss - 3 lb per acre
Manzate ProStick - 3 lb per acre
Posted by Stephen at 9:51 PM
May 20, 2010
May Bottlings
Today we completed the second round of May bottling! Last week we bottled the 2009 "Celtico" Chambourcin (our first unfiltered dry red) and the 2009 "Ottantotto" barrel-fermented Viognier.
Today we bottled the 2009 "Calor" Chardonnay (barrel-fermented 1% R.S.) and our newest creation, the 2009 "Verano" Vidal Blanc (barrel-fermented 1% R.S.)
All the wines are showing superbly and will be available starting this weekend!!!
Posted by Stephen at 9:01 PM
May 16, 2010
Third Spray
Applied the third spray of the season:
Microthiol Disperss - 3 lb per acre
Manzate ProStick - 3 lb per acre
Posted by Stephen at 8:59 PM
May 10, 2010
Second Spray
Applied the second spray of the season:
Microthiol Disperss - 3 lb per acre
Manzate ProStick - 3 lb per acre
Posted by Stephen at 8:57 PM
May 2, 2010
Second Annual Wine & Music Pairing Event Announced!!!
SPECIAL EVENT - The Notaviva Experience
To celebrate our second anniversary, we are pleased to announce our second annual wine & music pairing event!!!
The Notaviva Experience
Saturday - June 26, 2010
7 pm - 10 pm
Admission $35 per person - Reservations Required
RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW
For the second time, a select group of wine and music enthusiasts can participate in a live experiment based on experiential sensory pairings. The event has been designed to ensure an unbiased forum for the consideration of the complex ways in which auditory stimuli can influence the perception of wines. The event shall proceed as follows:
- Five wines will be individually presented (4 oz blind tasting)
- Each wine will be accompanied by ten 30-second clips of music from widely varying genres with a 5-second silent pause between clips
- Tasters will have evaluation materials available to rate each clip according to the current wine being tasted
- Evaluation materials will be collected at the end of the evening and loaded into a research database for graphical presentation on the Web - See the results from 2009!!!
7:00 pm - Winemaker welcome, experiment overview and tasting tips
7:20 pm - Wine 1 presented
7:40 pm - Wine 2 presented
8:00 pm - Wine 3 presented
8:20 pm - Wine 4 presented
8:40 pm - Wine 5 presented
9:00 pm - Winemaker wrap-up, open discussion and group social
Heavy hors d'oeuvres, gourmet cheeses, fresh breads and desserts will be served. Don't miss this unique experiential opportunity!
Posted by Stephen at 9:08 AM
April 29, 2010
First Spray of the Season
OK it's on. Put down the first spray of the season tonight!
Microthiol Disperss - 3 pounds per acre
Captan - 2 pounds per acre
Only did one pass per row, and only with one nozzle low and one nozzle high and still got great coverage.
One crazy side note - as I pulled out a bag of Microthiol (micronized sulfur fungicide) left over from last year I noticed some of those %*^&^* marmorated stink bugs down in the powder - ALIVE! Sure, they were completely covered in full strength chemical powder doing the backstroke. I think those things could live in nuclear waste... >:-[
Posted by Stephen at 10:15 PM
April 22, 2010
Dream House Archive
DIY has finally posted on-demand archives of all our shows! Somehow they edited down the original 8 episodes into 7 but whatever. Here are the links - Enjoy!!!
Episode 1 - "Meet the Mackeys"
http://www.diynetwork.com/videos/meet-the-mackeys/50386.html
Episode 2 - "A Foundation and a Harvest"
http://www.diynetwork.com/videos/a-foundation-and-a-harvest/50387.html
Episode 3 - "Timber Frame and a Name"
http://www.diynetwork.com/videos/timber-frame-and-a-name/50388.html
Episode 4 - "Busting Budgets and Timelines"
http://www.diynetwork.com/videos/busting-budgets-and-timelines/50390.html
Episode 5 - "The Pressure is Mounting"
http://www.diynetwork.com/videos/the-pressure-is-mounting/50391.html
Episode 6 - "Desperately Seeking Solutions"
http://www.diynetwork.com/videos/desperately-seeking-solutions/50392.html
Episode 7 - "Making it Move-in Ready"
http://www.diynetwork.com/videos/making-it-move-in-ready/50393.html
Posted by Stephen at 7:02 AM
Trellis Update
All the posts are done! Three new acres of posts are complete, pounding that is. I've installed about half the cordon wires, and am heading out now to continue the rest. Crew is on the way here and they'll be training vines today, Saturday and likely one day next week. Will start on bracing and catch wires in the next few weeks, but the critical job is behind us. Going to be a great day to be working out in the vineyard!
Posted by Stephen at 6:32 AM
April 15, 2010
Grape Spray Guide
Anyone interested in learning more about vineyard pest management practices should check out this guide published by Virginia Tech. Very useful information!
http://www.virginiafruit.ento.vt.edu/SprayGuide/GrapeSprays.html
Posted by Stephen at 10:11 AM
Trellis Update
Enjoying the last bit of the morning coffee before heading out to the vineyard to begin installing cordon wire on the new trellis. The crew was out pounding posts all day yesterday and got about an acre done. We bought one of those silly little Kodak HD video cameras so I'll try to upload a video for you all to check this nonsense out.
It is so cool to stand at the peak of the vineyard hill by Sagle Road and look the whole way across the newly completed rows, perfectly aligned with the old rows. Have to make a quick repair to the spinning jenny to pay out the wire, then it will be time to bang in about 3,000 or so fencing nails over the next few weeks.
Thus I am typing this morning because I likely won't physically be able to for some time. Hey look, how about another cup of coffee [stalling...]
Posted by Stephen at 7:33 AM
April 14, 2010
Winery Chores
Spent the day in the winery, which is always a good thing. Checked every red barrel and am very excited about the development. The Chambourcin is holding true to its intended design, a wonderful light-bodied, medium tannin approach. I topped up all the barrels with a Petit Verdot / Cab Sauv mix to add in some dark fruit and weight. Will be bottling the 2009 Celtico on May 6th.
Also ran through all the Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, and Petit Verdot and the wines are showing beautifully. Two barrels of the Merlot needed a splash-racking to burn off some H2S and settled back in to the barrel successfully. Interesting to note the Cab Franc is showing some more pronounced varietal characteristics than in previous years - interesting black pepper notes and a fuller body. Likely due to vine maturity and less aggressive leaf-pulling than in years past, but also made a few changes during fermentation (Opti-Red and different yeast selections) so am very pleased with the results.
One last topping for the whites, which will be bottled on May 6/7 along with the Celtico. "Ottantotto" barrel Viognier, "Calor" barrel Chardonnay and the new "Verano" barrel Vidal Blanc all showing round silky mouthfeel, hints of oak and gorgeous golden color. I had set aside four 5-gallon carboys of the Chardonnay in late fall after a racking (never want half-filled barrels) and used these to top. It was interesting to compare the bouquet differences between the carboy Chard and the barrel - I think the carboys will add in a nice fruity element to the nose of the finished wine.
Stay tuned for bottling updates and release dates!
Posted by Stephen at 5:23 PM
April 10, 2010
Trellis Post Delivery
Yesterday the new trellis posts were dropped off in the vineyard, and today the crew spent several hours placing the posts. They'll start the pounding on Monday. Can't believe it has been five years since the first time we saw this process, after planting the first acre of Cabernet Franc and the first acre of Viognier in April '05.
Check out the pic of the post pounding monster:
http://www.notavivavineyards.com/weblog/archives/postPounder.html
Posted by Stephen at 6:15 PM
April 6, 2010
Uh Oh, Bud Break Already...?
Hmmm - a very worrisome development has occurred. We've already had bud break, which is about three weeks earlier than is typical. Looks like the unseasonably warm weather has fooled the vines into thinking it is time to emerge from dormancy. Have no idea what the net effect of this will be on the growing season i.e. will we be harvesting three weeks early as well, or will we get the added benefit of a longer ripening season? Time will tell.
The thing that is going to keep me up at night though is now knowing we have an additional three weeks of frost danger to content with. A hard frost would be devastating to the new shoots, with huge potential crop losses. Let's all keep our fingers crossed. Welcome to agriculture in Virginia...
Posted by Stephen at 11:23 AM
March 30, 2010
Pruning Complete
Finished up the pruning of the established three acre block. Went really well, as it seems that pruning established vines goes a bit quicker than pruning & training young vines. I'm guessing that is because you can stay on your feet and move along a bit more efficiently. Three acres, total man-hours = 110 which is right on target.
Posted by Stephen at 9:20 PM
February 4, 2010
Governor's Cup Medals
We are pleased to announce both wines we entered in the Virginia Governor's Cup received medals! The 2008 "Celtico" Chambourcin won silver, and the 2008 "Cantabile" Cabernet Franc won bronze. "Celtico" is a blend of 85% Chambourcin, 10% Tannat, and 5% Petit Verdot. "Cantabile" is a blend of 86% Cabernet Franc, and 14% Petit Verdot. Both are notable in that they are the first two wines we made by ourselves here in our winery.
Many thanks to our winemaking consultant Doug Fabbioli for his continued guidance, as well as to Mark and Vicki Fedor of North Gate Vineyard, all of whom continue to win awards with their wines as well.
Posted by Stephen at 7:53 PM
December 31, 2009
Blog Catch-up
Got quite behind on a lot of tasks during harvest, and am now trying to get caught up. Posted two new photo galleries from a couple projects at the end of the summer. Enjoy!
Posted by Stephen at 1:17 PM
December 13, 2009
2010 Calendar Released!
Just finished editing the last photo for the new 2010 Notaviva Vineyards wall calendar. You can purchase a copy here!
Posted by Stephen at 5:06 PM
November 7, 2009
New Tasting Room Milestone
Wow. What a crazy day! We set our new tasting room record with 260 tastings in a single day. Many thanks to Beth, Shayna, Mary Beth, and our newest recruit Lucinda who all hung in there through a very challenging afternoon.
In addition, we also had a wedding proposal at the tasting bar right in the middle of the madness. It's so great to be part of people's lives, and wish them the best!
Posted by Stephen at 12:05 PM
October 10, 2009
Inaugural Folk Festival
Today was our first Folk Music Festival! Although the day started out pretty dreary, and we had to cancel the first several activities, it cleared up around 11 AM in time for the opening acts, and by the end of the day it was gorgeous. It did get a little cold after the sun fell behind the house and Steve DeVries went on, but being the total pro he just went for it, frozen fingers and all. The lineup for the day was:
Jake and the Burtones
The Polka Dots
Stoney Creek Bluegrass Band
Andrew McKnight
The Woodshedders
Steve DeVries
Enjoy the pics!
Posted by Stephen at 7:31 PM
October 8, 2009
Seventeenth (and last) Spray of the Season
Just to be safe I wanted to put on a little Oxidate into the Cabernet Franc as we've been having some rain here and there. The fruit is looking great, and it would be a tragedy to have any mildew show up now with only a few days before harvest. Looking like next Wednesday!
Oxidate - 1/2 gallon per 50 gallons
Posted by Stephen at 9:46 PM
September 14, 2009
Holiday Party Booking Discounts
We've announced a "discount competition" for booking holiday parties here in the tasting room as follows:
The first booking gets the venue rental for $100!
The second booking gets the venue rental for $200!
The third booking gets the venue rental for $300!
And so on up until we reach our normal booking rate, which depends on day of the week, time of day and other factors.
Discounts do not include wine, live entertainment or catering. Party must be booked prior to December 31, 2009. Other restrictions apply, call us at 540-668-6756 for more details!
Posted by Stephen at 9:55 PM
September 11, 2009
Sixteenth Spray
This morning I hit the Viognier with some botrytis protection:
Elevate - 1 pound per acre
Prophyte - 2 pints per acre
Posted by Stephen at 9:52 PM
September 8, 2009
Fifteenth Spray
Today I hit the Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and the new plantings with:
Microthiol Disperss - 4 pounds per acre
Captan - 2 pounds per acre
Posted by Stephen at 9:50 PM
September 4, 2009
Ramp Construction
While we were in construction mode we decided to go ahead and finish the west deck handicap ramp. Not required by code, but definitely the right thing to do. Enjoyed quite a bit of assistance from my "assistants" !
Enjoy the pics.
Posted by Stephen at 1:13 PM
September 2, 2009
Virginia Wine Gazette
Shannon and I were on the cover of last quarter's Virginia Wine Gazette. Our story is in this issue, but that hasn't been released online yet, but you can check out the previous cover!
Posted by Stephen at 8:32 PM
August 31, 2009
Fourteenth Spray
Put down some Elevate on the Viognier to fend off some botrytis that was starting to show on a damaged cluster here and there. Basically we had a bit of sun scald and some bee damage which opens the berry skin and the botrytis gets inside. But no longer!
Elevate - 1 lb per acre
Posted by Stephen at 8:30 PM
Winery Upgrade Construction
So our current winery setup was NOT going to be able to handle the 2009 crush and production plan. Our temporary case storage we built last year got us through 2008 but now we're out of room again. So to maximize the height of our building (16' ceiling) I opted to build a mezzanine under which we would be able to double our barrel storage capacity.
The key to whole project would be insulating the entire building, not just a portion of it. Thus construction progress through two very miserably hot weeks in late August. Of course many of you will remember people saying "2009 really hasn't been a very hot summer..." UNTIL I go to pick up a hammer. Then the temps were sure to shoot right back up. Very nice.
Posted by Stephen at 9:35 AM
August 30, 2009
Viognier Brix Check
Checked out the Viognier this morning. Starting to see a little Botrytis due to all the rain we had last week, but the Pristine is holding everything else off really well. Might do a botrytis-specific spray before applying the last Pristine spray (for the Viognier) of the season.
Brix = 18.4
pH = 3.14
Looking like harvest will fall somewhere around September 17th or so. Now begins the sleepless nights, agonizing over spray pre-harvest intervals, sugar development, acid retention, weather patterns, equipment allocation, lug allocation, crew shortages but most of all FLAVOR DEVELOPMENT in the fruit. It's gotta be right!!!
Posted by Stephen at 11:46 AM
August 22, 2009
End Of Summer Case Discounts
Just announced, now through the end of August we're offering 20% off of any case purchase, including mixed cases And if you are ordering online, we'll also extend a 10% discount on shipping and handling!
Posted by Stephen at 9:34 AM
TalkLoudoun.com Article
Wanted to introduce you all to a member of our team, Ed Reeve, who grows our Chambourcin and our 2009 addition Cabernet Sauvignon. Ed was featured in a recent TalkLoudoun article and we were asked to drop by to take some pics. TalkLoudoun CEO and Publisher Miriam Nasuti was on hand to direct the shoot. Ed is doing an awesome job with his vineyard, and we had a great time walking the rows, tasting the fruit and letting the kids run around.
If you want to pick up a few bottles of our Ed-grown "Celtico" Chambourcin, visit the online store!
Posted by Stephen at 9:21 AM
August 20, 2009
Thirteenth Spray
Pristine 10.5 oz per acre
I prefer holding off on the expensive strobulurins (like Pristine) until the very end of the season. That way I can rely on the sulfur-based compounds until about a month out from harvest, then stop using them to ensure there are no sulfur residues on the fruit going into the winemaking process. Prevailing theory is that any additional sulfur can cause excess off-aromas and undesirable compound formation during the fermentation. So now that we're just under a month out from harvest I can plan two Pristine sprays and we're picking nice clean fruit.
Also, because I knew we were supposed to be getting lots of rain the next two days it was critical to get a spray down, so I ended up having to spray at night. Creepy stuff - check out this pic taken from the cab of the tractor (sorry so blurry, will turn off the engine next time...)
Checked the brix on the Viognier yesterday, we're at 15.6 so looking like harvest somewhere in the Sept 10-15th range. Fruit is looking great!!!
Posted by Stephen at 9:12 PM
