2007 Estate Petite Sirah Released... and New TW Events

After sixteen months in new oak and thirteen months in the bottle, our 2007 Estate Petite Sirah has finally been released and is available on the TW website. The 35 cases we separately produced from the great 2007 vintage is definitely worth a try. Find it at Lund's in the village of Arroyo Grande and soon at local wine shops and wine bars.

As promised, I'm getting lots of time with new and existing customers this year, here's a sampling of the Toucan Wines featured events coming up: Mach 27th: vertical TW Estate Zinfandel tasting at Monterey St. Wines - April 3rd: TW featured at Tastes of the Valleys in Solvang - April 10th: TW featured at Morro Bay Wine Sellers - April 25th: TW pouring (not featured) at A Taste of Huntington Beach. Of course, every Saturday afternoon you can taste our latest at Lund's in Arroyo Grande. Please visit our events page and please join us soon at one or more of the upcoming events.

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That's right - I've withdrawn the 2007 Estate Petite Sirah release and locked it back in the winery bottle cellar until it screams for release!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

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.

Shipping Wine Again and Harvest Begins...

We’re back to shipping wine this week – the weather is cool and that means we’re shipping any outstanding orders and new orders received today and tomorrow morning – feel free to call me at the winery for available wines and visit the website http://www.toucanwines.com/order.htm

Yesterday we harvested the Estate Petite Sirah, our first crush of the season. The Estate Zinfandel is still a couple of weeks away from harvest - and were looking forward to a warming trend starting later this week. Thanks to all our volunteers who helped out this weekend!

Early September in the Vineyard and Winery...

Having survived the heat wave of late August, we're waiting for the Estate Zinfandel and Petite Sirah to come into full ripeness. We might be able to harvest a small quantity this weekend and then wait and see.

Last Friday, Terrie helped me rack the 08' wines and I must say they are very special - a vintage worth waiting for.

The first of the 08' wines to release will be 150 cases of the "Old Vine" Evangelho Vineyard Carignane - which I hope make available during the upcoming winter holidays. We'll be able to offer, from the 08' vintage, a typical sized offering of Estate Zinfandel - blending with 11% Estate Petite Sirah and currently resting in 80% new French and Hungarian oak barrels. I expect this wine to release in early 2011; And for our Petite Sirah lovers, a mere 24 cases of 08' Petite Sirah will be available, very similar in style to our 2006, the 08' Estate Petite Sirah will sure to please. Also from the 08' vintage, we'll bring back the Toucan Cuvee, up to 50 cases of the Toucan Cuvee will find it's way to our customers in 2010.