From: Info [mailto:info@sfwineassociation.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 9:36 AM
To: 'Info'
Subject: Bartz-Allen Winery, Kindred Wines and Wait Cellars join the San Francisco Wine Association
For Immediate Release
Contact:
San Francisco Wine Association
John D. Tarabini, President
415-695-0221
john@sfwineassociation.com
Bartz-Allen Winery, Kindred Wines and Wait Cellars
join the San Francisco Wine Association
Noted boutique wineries join growing alliance of elite urban wineries
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (June 24, 2009) – The San Francisco Wine Association announced today that Bartz-Allen Winery, Kindred Wines and Wait Cellars, three leading California boutique wineries, have joined as members of the growing organization. The SFWA, which promotes and sells first-rate, hand-crafted wines that are produced in San Francisco, now boasts 20 of the nation's premier vintners as members.
"These outstanding wineries, which produce incredible, hand-crafted vintages in San Francisco, are a natural fit for the SFWA," said John Tarabini, president. "They represent the new face of modern winemaking and will certainly help expand the market for boutique wines," he added.
Rather than spend lavish sums on large chateaus, sparkling waterfalls and fancy tasting rooms, SFWA member wineries invest in the finest grapes, cutting-edge equipment, outstanding winemakers and the time needed to develop small lots of exceptional wine. In what many consider a natural extension of the sustainability movement, these wines are produced locally by passionate vintners focused not on quantity, but quality.
SFWA member wineries secure superb fruit from some of the best-known vineyards in California, Oregon, and Washington. They employ outstanding winemakers. But their goal is not to turn out massive amounts of product. Instead, SFWA members crush, barrel, blend, and bottle small quantities of premium wines in San Francisco, not far from the bridges and cable cars that made the city famous.
Newest members
Proprietors Tim Allen and Rachel Bartz Allen created Bartz-Allen Winery to share their love of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast appellation. Tim has a twenty-year career in luxury wine, and Rachel brings her lifetime of culinary experience to the wines.
Kindred Wines is a new kind of winery; one without walls, vineyards, or dogs to greet you. It strives to source the best possible grapes, combines down-and-dirty hard work with 2.0 technology, and shares the results with passionate consumers.
Wait Cellars was founded in 2004 by Robert Wait, a San Francisco resident and owner of The Page. He focuses on producing small amounts of refined, elegant Pinot Noir from the finest local (Sonoma, Mendocino, Santa Cruz) fruit.
About the San Francisco Wine Association
The San Francisco Wine Association is a consortium of 20 boutique, family-owned wineries that produce small lots of fine wine in San Francisco. SFWA member wines are available at http://www.sfwineassociation.com/, and the association often pours at events in the San Francisco Bay Area. Bookings are now being accepted for events throughout California and in other states. Contact John Tarabini by email or at 415-695-0221 for more details.
SFWA member wineries include Aver Family Vineyards, Bartz-Allen Winery, Canine Wines, Connor Brennan Cellars, Damian Rae Winery, Due Cani Cellars, Flying Wine Cellars, Guy Riedel Wines, Jazz Cellars, Joelle Wine Company, Kindred Wines, Mark Moretti Winery, Milliarium Cellars, PerryMoore Wine, Pug Wine, Ricardus Corculum, Seawind Wines, Think Tank Wine Company, Townley Wines and Wait Cellars. For more information, visit http://www.sfwineassociation.com/.
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Looking north over Sebastopol from the 828 block on Gold Ridge. Weather's been steady, grapes look great; since last week the median brix has risen 1 degree to 18.1. Am anticipating harvesting around 24 brix; flavors, weather, and pH will be other big considerations. (I don't have a great way to measure TA in the field, but may also be taking samples in to the lab in SF).
Next week Stan will be going through the block and dropping green clusters like those pictured here. He will likely be cutting the water to these guys in the next week or so. (This "deficit irrigation" approach is pretty standard for premium fruit).
I'm not the only one enthused by this fruit; note the damage done by uninvited beaks on this cluster (which measured 20 brix -- can the birds sense which clusters are sweeter?). 
