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2007, our third year of owning Bells Echo Vineyard proved to be a year of excitement and encouragement for the future. The growing season was near perfect, sales of grapes improved, as did prices. All good news as we continue to cultivate new and old friendships. We sold grapes to repeat clients and we established some very exciting new relationships in California and diversified to other growing wine regions in the United States. We are looking forward more than ever to the 2008 farming season. We continue to practice the sustainable farming practices we established when we first acquired Bells Echo Vineyard in 2005. Now into our fourth season we are certainly seeing the benefits of a more natural, organic farming process. We continue to use cover crops, organic compost, and soil amendment program. We continued the organic program for 10 acres of Merlot and 5 acres of Petit Verdot. Pat Rogers, our vineyard manager, has put together an organic program that we expect will further increase the quality and flavors of the Merlot and Petit Verdot fruit. These blocks will be certified organic for the 2009 Harvest. The vines have responded and we have received many favorable responses and comments as to the increase of flavors of the fruit we are producing. Our 2007 production matched our 2006 production, averaging a low yield of three and a half tons per acre. The quality of the fruit was exceptional. A near perfect growing season and a warm dry fall, after some early rains and cool weather allowed for great hang time and beautiful ripe fruit. Our buyers were able to select picking dates and the ripeness they desired for their grapes. The results were intense flavors, deep rich color, and very clean fruit. From a sales standpoint it was very gratifying that winemakers who purchased grapes in 2005 and 2006 liked the quality and consistence of our fruit and purchased again in 2007. We also had some great unexpected new winemakers approach us and purchase fruit. These winemakers were from diverse areas of the country. Some were local Mendocino wineries, as well as some highly regarded Sonoma wineries. We also were fortunate to have buyers from Ohio and Colorado find us and buy fruit to ship to their out-of-state wineries. The most exciting happening of 2007 was to see the release of Bells Echo Vineyard designated wines. Which we believe is a true testament to the quality of fruit we are producing. Milano Family Winery bottled three Bells Echo Vineyard designates: 2004 Bells Echo Vineyard Petit Verdot, 2005 Bells Echo Vineyard Malbec, and 2005 Bells Echo Vineyard “Echo,” a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Spot On Cellars of Sonoma released two 2006 Bells Echo Vineyard Syrahs, “Spot on Syrah ,” and “Ink Spot.” Sutton Cellars of Sonoma bottled a 2006 Bells Echo Vineyard Syrah. Most exciting, J. Cole Wines of Sonoma released a 2004 Bells Echo Vineyard Syrah that was a Gold Medal Winner in the San Francisco Chronicle’s 2008 wine competition. |
For 2008 we definitely see market conditions improving as the quality of our grapes improves and as more vineyard designated bottles from Bells Echo Vineyard are released. The future looks promising. We are eager to continue our sustainable farming practices and our organic program. We are very enthusiastic about continuing our established relationships and meeting new people interested in producing quality wines from Bells Echo Vineyard fruit.
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