Winter Arrives with Rain and Cold... Last Event of 2009

On Monday, the second rain of the season brought another 1.5 inches adding to the 5.5 inches gifted at the end of our harvest. More rain is expected this weekend making this a great start for the season. Our first frosty nights arrived in October, but yesterday the temps dipped into the mid-20's leaving a blanket of frost that covered our entire valley.

Our very last special tasting event will be at Monterey Street Wine Co. in San Luis Obispo on the 18th (Friday) from 5 till close. Frankly, this will be more of a party, the venue is great and improving everyday, and the tasting will be a selection sparkling wines and Toucan Wines. They'll feature gourmet foods, wines to taste and wines by the glass. This will be the perfect chance to enjoy some great wine and select a few last minute holidays gifts.

Plus, I'll be pouring our wines at Lund's in the village of Arroyo Grande every Saturday from 1-5pm through the end of the year.

Vineyard and Home Projects, plus New Events...

Our December newsletter is now available, amazing how quickly this year flew by. Now that winter has arrived, were starting work on a new patio in back of our home with a fire pit and a retaining wall. We're also doing some changes in the vineyard. This winter we'll raise the drip line and wire, used for tying vines in summer, and shorten the drip line to water between the vines instead of on top of the vine.

The vineyard looks beautiful this time of year, as seen in this photograph taken this week. We've had one terrific rain storm that offered over 5 inches and our next rainfall is expected next week.

We also have a number of new events coming up - this Friday I'll be in Atascadero for the evening pouring outside of Endless Summer Jewelry as a part of the Wine and Art Walk in that town. On Friday the 18th, I'll be again at Monterey Street Wines in San Luis Obispo from 5-8pm - this is a great event and I encourage all locals to come and enjoy a good time and evening out. And of course every Saturday through the rest of the year I'll be pouring at Lund's in the village of Arroyo Grande.

Finally, we ask that you order your gifts of wine from Toucan Wines via the website or simply by called us directly.

Happy Holidays!

Wines for the Holidays...

Don't worry - I'll be pouring our latest releases as well and some library wines at Lund's in the village of Arroyo Grande every Saturday through the holidays. Currently available from the winery are the 05' and 06' Estate Zinfandel and our dessert wine Estate Toucanet.

Holiday gifts will be shipped from the winery to your friends and family and we even have a couple of magnums of Estate Zinfandel for special gifts.

Petite Sirah - Too Shy to Show at It's Own Party...

That's right - I've withdrawn the 2007 Estate Petite Sirah release and locked it back in the winery bottle cellar until it screams for release!

Yesterday, our release party at Lund's was a lot of fun and thanks to everyone who came to visit and try the wines - our 2004 and 2006 Estate Petite Sirah showed very well, as did the dessert wine Estate Toucanet and the Sunset Ridge Vineyards 07' Petite Sirah - but the Toucan Wines 07's Estate Petite Sirah was still very tightly wound and shy to unfold into the beautiful wine hiding behind the label. Frankly, it just didn't show up for the party!

As with all of our wines, I've tried to release them at a point that they can be enjoyed relatively immediately. But our Petite Sirah has a history of being a slow starter, beginning with our 2004. This first release of Petite Sirah, the 2004 vintage, is now in full bloom and drinking beautifully (as enjoyed yesterday). The 2006 was also released too early and was very closed upon release, and now just beginning to show it's inner beauty. Both of these wines are sold out at the winery, but our 2006 in available locally at a few fine wine shops and restaurants. Email me if you're looking for this wine in SLO county and take a look at our location guide on the website. You'll find our 06' Estate Petite Sirah in several fine restaurants in the NY/NJ areas as well.

So, the Toucan Wines 2007 Estate Petite Sirah will remain tucked away in the winery bottle cellar until sometime next year. If you enjoyed the wine yesterday and want to reserve your own supply - please email me directly and I'll hold your order until released (again). In the mean time, enjoy the other offerings from Toucan Wines including our 2006 Estate Zinfandel (a blend that includes 19% Estate Petite Sirah), our new sweet dessert wine - Estate Toucanet, and still available for the holidays is a limited amount of library wines - our 04' and 05' Estate Zinfandel.

Thank you for your continued support. I promise that eventually our 07' Estate Petite Sirah will reward each of us with it's inner beauty - but obviously on it's terms, in it's own time and only when it's ready.

Terrific Event and Another this Saturday...

We enjoyed a great wine pouring event at Monterey Street Wine Co. this past Friday evening. A terrific crowd showed up and the party was on. Five of our wines on the bar and every one was showing well, also joining me was Sunset Ridge Vineyards showing their 2007 Petite Sirah produced from estate fruit grown on their small family vineyard. Pictured is Patrick, owner of Monterey Street Wines and a picture of Darrel and me sitting at the MSW bar. Darrel is the vineyard manager of Sunset Ridge as well as other premium vineyards in the region.

Our next big event is this Saturday at Lund's in the village of Arroyo Grande. This is our 2007 Estate Petite Sirah release party - we'll be pouring new and older vintages of Toucan Wines Petite Sirah, we'll have some snacks, chocolate, a jewelry show of Margareta Lund's hand crafted artisan jewelry, and once again Sunset Ridge Vineyards will be joining me and pouring their Petite Sirah. Come see us from 1-6pm this Saturday!!

Estate Petite Sirah Release Party

On the 21st of this month we release our latest limited production estate wine, our 2007 Estate Petite Sirah. Only 35 case produced, you won't find this wine (or any of our wines for that matter) at Costco or Trader Joe's.

You will find his wine and me on Saturday the 21st at Lund's in the village of Arroyo Grande, I'll be pouring samples of this new release and older releases as well. Read all about our 2007 Estate Petite Sirah and after the 21st order online or find it at your local fine wine shop.

Also, take a look at our online slideshow featuring photos of our life on the farm and the wine making of Toucan Wines.

Events and Beautiful Weather...

This past weekend we poured our wines along side some great food at Woodstone Marketplace. We met new friends and shared a glass with several vineyard volunteers and friends who attended.

And we have some other exciting events coming up over the the next week and over the holidays, please take a look at our events page to see if you can join us in the coming weeks.

The weather has been mild and it truly is a beautiful fall here on the central coast of California. If vacationing in the area, please consider attending one of our tasting events and better get to know us.

Finally, if you have the need to send gifts this holiday season - consider a gift of Toucan Wines! We can ship to your friends and clients to your specifications even using your own holiday cards or notes. Contact us at the winery if we can help this holiday season.

Ten Questions with Lynn Diehl - asked of Doug Timewell of Toucan Wines

Lynn Diehl recently did a casual interview with me at the winery and the result published in a regional paper. See Lynn's other work supporting the local food and wine industry at The Tolosa Press and Wine Region News.

2009 Toucan Wines tucked away in barrels...

It's been a weird growing year - first the continuing draught and then just when we thought everything might be lost to heat, the weather and the fruit cooperated and turned out a lovely crop. Further, the weather then turned cold at night slowing down harvest (just a little) and definitely helping by cooling down the winery at night. As our harvest was coming to a natural end, the gift of 5.5 inches of rain put any hope for a second crop harvest to bed.

Overall our estate vineyard yield was down but the quality was there and that's what really counts. We sincerely thank all our friends, volunteers, family and supporters for all the help this year - another year where your help really counted!!

As you can see in this picture, the recent rain has already turned the vineyard green (at least for now).

First Rain of the Season...

On the central coast we are receiving our first real rain of the season, this storm will deliver as much as 6 inches of rain fall.

Fortunately, we spent yesterday morning pulling in the last of the ripe fruit from the our small estate vineyard. Overall quantity from our 3 1/2 in going to be down from previous vintages, but the quality is terrific.

Thank you to those who attended our Estate Toucanet release party at Lund's in Arroyo Grande. If you'd like to taste our latest releases, including our new Dessert Wine, see our Event schedule for an opportunity to taste our wine and say hello. Our next event is this Thursday in Pismo Beach...