Copernicus Crater

Greetings Earthlings.

I'm curious to know whether or not flat-earthers believe in a heliocentric solar system. As you will read below, the head honcho in charge of naming moon craters was publicly a geocentrist, but secretly a supporter of Copernicus' idea of heliocentrism. Flat-earthers by the way, are also known by a relatively modern colloquialism applicable also to anti-vaxxers: bat shit crazy.

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Copernicus Crater is named after the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. Like many of the craters on the Moon's near side, it was given its name by Giovanni Riccioli, whose 1651 nomenclature system has become standardized. Riccioli awarded Copernicus a prominent crater despite the fact that, as an Italian Jesuit, he conformed with church doctrine in publicly opposing Copernicus's heliocentric system. Riccioli justified the name by noting that he had symbolically thrown all the heliocentrist astronomers into the Ocean of Storms. However, astronomical historian Ewan Whitaker suspects that the prominence of Copernicus crater is a sign that Riccioli secretly supported the heliocentric system and was ensuring that Nicolaus Copernicus would receive a worthy legacy for future generations.

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In other news, today I dug up and moved a culvert. 

 

Jan 30, 2019 at 8:11 PM Permalink

Bottle up and Go

Everything is fine.

Apparently our satellite office in Philadelphia was concerned about the lack of a Wednesday blog this morning. So, instead of just waiting for it, they ignited their warning beacon. You know what happens with warning beacons, right? Once you light one, the whole chain from coast to coast goes aglow and then the rumours spread about my being kidnapped by a guild of wine-thirsty water nymphs.

The beacon was lit in Philadelphia and rapidly spread to New Jersey, the DC Metro Area, NYC and all of the 5 boroughs, William S. Burroughs (he wrote a dirty poem about my absence), Detroit, Bay City, Grand Rapids and Traverse City, all set their beacons a-burnin'.

"The water Nymphs, m'Lord. They must have taken him asunder! Fire the Beacons!"

Chicago set their torches to the sky, Milwaukee, St. Louis, on down to Atlanta, Nashville, Chattanooga and Memphis - they all had their damn beacons blazing. The BBQ pits of Texas were hoisted skyward in Houston, Austin, Dallas and San Antonio. The meditative Cairns in Arizona were stacked heavenward getting the attention of Paramahansa Yogananda's desciples at the SRF Center in San Diego. From there (as these things go), the emergency response system blazed up the spine of California and to the home office here in Paso Robles. Of course I couldn't stop the chain reaction, so now the greater populations of the Santa Cruz area are taking precautionary bong-hits and San Francisco has gone clothing non-optional. They are going fully nude only - until the wine conjurer is accounted for.

It goes on from there, but I'll not bother you with the international debacle this has grown into.

So, hello, yes, I forgot to post the blog yesterday. Cool yer damn jets. 

We bottled some 500 cases of new wines. They taste awesome. 

Now, can I get back to my water nymphs?

They are thirsty.
 

Jan 24, 2019 at 10:30 AM Permalink

Tomorrow, Tomorrow

Tomorrow, Tomorrow
We bottle, tomorrow
You're always a day away...

Man, what a depressing damn song. In the song Tomorrow from Annie, the said "sun" is going to come out "tomorrow", but tomorrow, you see, is ALWAYS a day away. Give me a break. 

Not in our case, no Siree Bob! Tomorrow is bottling day and while it will be gray and rainy (hooray!), the sun will be shining in our hearts.

Alrighty then. 

Here are all of the juicy details:

WINES:

2016 Ledge Grenache, Rolph Family Vineyard
Paso Robles, Adelaida District
15% ABV

This Grenache is farmed on a beautiful south facing slope at the Rolph Family Vineyard, which Neighbors Halter Ranch in the Adelaida District. It was destemmed into a stainless steel tank, where it cold soaked for a few days until the onset of wild fermentation. The juice was pumped over the skins directly and via delestage, ultimately punching down, pressing and barreling down once dry. The wine went dry in tank (primary fermentation) and went through malolcatic fermentation in barrel in February 2017. Both fermentations were wild.

The barrels used were once used Atelier and Ermitage Barrels.

Estimated production: 240 cases

2016 Ledge Blend, MCA Cuvée
Paso Robles 
15.6 ABV

Coming from the Adams Ranch, James Berry Vineyard, G2 Vineyard, Adelaida Vineyard and Rolph Family Vineyard, this is the only wine in the Ledge lineup that is a blend of vineyards. It consists of Zinfandel (30%), Petite Sirah (25%), Syrah (15%), Tannat (15%) and Cinsaut (15%). It was partially whole bunch and partially destemmed into stainless tanks and 2 ton poly fermenters. They cold soaked for a few days until the onset of wild fermentation. The juice was pumped over the skins directly and via delestage, ultimately punching down, pressing and barreling down once dry. The wine went dry in tank (primary fermentation) and went through malolcatic fermentation in barrel in March 2017. Both fermentations were wild.

The barrels used were new and used Rousseau, Meyrieux, Taransaud and Ermitage barrels, most of which were 400 liter vessels.

Estimated production: 270 cases 


Ciera bottling our first commercial vintage, the
2009 Ledge Syrah, Adams Ranch Vineyard in 2011.


In parting we will leave you with this Carter Family verse: 

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
Keep on the sunny side of life.
It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,
If we keep on the sunny side of life.

Jan 16, 2019 at 2:53 PM Permalink

Revolution 9

Today is the 9th day of January 2019.

We're getting the calendar dialed in with bottling dates, vineyard tasks and a wide variety of events. The rest of January sees the bottling of two new releases, both of which have been barrel aged for over 27 months, as opposed to our ordinary 18-24.  More on that next week.

We will begin to transplant our nursery vines (Counoise, Cinsaut, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir and Syrah) into our vineyards and give the irrigation system an upgrade for the purpose of injecting worm tea into the drip line for our baby vines. Worm tea is an organic liquid fertilizer derived from worm castings, and is a powerful soil nutrient.

We will fill you in on our busier, latter half of the month next week, but for now we are enjoying all of this glorious rain.  Ciera got me a sous-vide pressure cooking rig for Christmas, so we are enjoying some cozy slow cooked meals along with lots of music and family time. We hope your January is going well, please feel free to drop us a line with questions or comments about the wines (or anything else) any time.

Below is an old photo of Dad showing me the ropes as he and I glue up some PVC and install the original irrigation system in 2005. Thanks Dad!

See you next week,

MCA


 

Jan 9, 2019 at 8:09 PM Permalink

Hey Nineteen

Hey (Twenty) Nineteen & Happy New Year everyone! 

We are as excited as ever for the happenings at Ledge Vineyards and the Adams Ranch. We will be bottling two new wines on the 17th of this month and are dialing in new blocks in the vineyard. We look forward to meeting and tasting with those of you who have joined our lists. We will have a pick up party and concert to announce very soon.

I found the below both humorous and inspirational. They are "New Years Rulin's" from the notebook of the late great Woodie Guthrie.

Enjoy & we hope to see you soon.

Jan 2, 2019 at 6:00 PM Permalink