Brandborg Wines

Terry & Sue in Miami

Took off before Christmas, had great 2 weeks traveling around South Florida…drove down the Keys…explored the Everglades (wanted to see them before they disappear)!

Enjoyed the Blue Moon over Miami on our last evening before flying home…outdoor folk concert, absolutely gorgeous!!!

Sean & Nial

Winemakers Dinner @ Porta in North Bend, June 7, 2009

My son Sean and girlfriend, Nial, joined us from Wyoming for the dinner.  Sean celebrated his 30th Birthday!!

Owners Alex & Kiza did a beautiful job with the dinner.  One of the highlights for me was Porcini mushroom “Love Letters” with celery root, fresh thyme, garlic and creme fraiche.  Paired with our Bench Lands Pinot Noir.  The presentation was gorgeous!  Fun was had by all

After pruning in the wind and rain all day, I came into the house and played Terry a few games of cribbage (of course he beat me).  The sun decided to show itself, it was incredibly beautiful!!

view from our kitchen table

Attended our monthly Oregon Winegrowers Meeting last p.m.  It was held at one of our Wine Partners Bed & Breakfast.  Proprietors Jay & Sherry Couron have remodeled an Historic 1909 home. If you ever need accomadations while in Roseburg, Oregon, you won’t want to miss this B&B. Check them out at www.chbaileyhouse.com.  Warm, friendly, inviting, it just doesn’t get better than this!

Jay & Sherry Couron, Proprietors

What in the world is this???

This morning in Elkton, we had a new bridge dedication (the final stages of a two year project).  This is the most unique bridge that you will see anywhere!!  There are four pylons that are being sculpted.  They look like logs, but carved into them are salmon, osprey, grapes…amazing!!  Rumor has it that they are also going to be painted after completion.  Why not pay Elkton a visit and view the progress.  You could enjoy breakfast or lunch at Tomaselli’s and then come on over to the winery and taste our Brandborg wines!

Well…it has been 9 days since I blogged.  Not sure where to start with getting up to speed!

We harvested the Ferris Wheel Estate Vineyard on October 24, ten days later than the two years prior.  We harvested 4 1/2 tons (same amount as 2005).  We knew it was considerably less.  The fruit is in excellent condition and we are excited that it may be the best vintage for our little vineyard.  The brix came in at 23 degrees, Ph and TA look really good as well.

Ferris Wheel Vineyard 10/24/08

Our isolated hilltop

Joan at the picking bin

Our neighbor, Boyd, loaded the bins and delivered our fruit safely to the winery

Pickers! All 35 of them! 1 /12 hours until completion of our 5 acres!

Driving around the vineyard after harvest is kind of sentimental for me.  After seeing the grapes hanging and changing all season, to see them bare of the fruit is bittersweet…on to the next exciting step…

More bright faces...Sherman, our sales rep from Arizona, paid us a visit with his family. What a nice visit we had with them, even though brief.

Today has been a heavy white juice day! We are at approximately 150 plus tons of total grapes, will give you exact numbers when we are completely done.

Joan in the tasting room...our employees wear alot of different hats! What would we do without them? I hate to think....

Bobby Lees, our Cellar Master

Sunrise from the Brandborg Estate

I’m being called upon to get outside and help on the crush pad…nice visiting with you!

Beautiful Indian Summer here in Oregon.  Rained a bit this am, but forecast is for 10 days of sunshine (can we really believe that)??

Wayne Parker, Melrose Vineyards

Wayne is standing in this picture with his new purchase!  Up until 2 years ago, all our wines were pressed using two of these Italian bladder presses…what can I say…it is bittersweet, like losing an old friend.

Visitors came by the winery last Wed. Cyndi and Lenora from Newberg. (Cyndi is a wine buyer from Fred Meyer and Lenora works for Oak Knoll, they both do many other things in addition to that).  If you get a chance to meet these two, you will be in for a wonderful surprise (and lots of fun).  Thanks for lightening us up!

Cheers to our new friends, Cyndi & Lenora

Terry...are you...stuck?

Since Elkton is so small, (240 Population), folks kind of wander in….

Marty Tomaselli from our local restaurant, stopping by to share words of wisdom!

The plan (as of today), is to harvest the Ferris Wheel
Estate Vineyard on Friday.  So…I need to get my act together and get a crew put together to help me raise the bird netting.  In the meantime… more and more grapes.

Please check out our new web design, it is not completely finished, but getting there!

brandborgwine.com

CHEERS!

Terry relaxing...

North Umpqua River

Relaxing at the Steamboat Inn..our first day off in however long I can remember.

Vintage is shaping up to be fruit delivered all at once….warm day today, keep bringing them on!  Off to get a sample of our own 5 acres Estate (Ferris Wheel Vineyard), pinot noir. Last checked it was at 19 brix… Will report tomorrow what it is currently.

Umpqua River from Elkton

Terry is taking me to the North Umpqua to the steamboat Inn for a Birthday celebration ( a sales call as well)…will update you with details  (maybe not all of them )