Harvest Newsletter & Notes
By Jesse & Catalina
August 2024
“Since when can weathermen predict the weather, let alone the future?”
Yes,
it’s that time again, we are going Back to the Futures. Last
year’s weather made harvest quite a challenge here at the winery.
However, this year has brought us back to some of the consistency we
have seen here in Dry Creek Valley. According to multiple sources, Dry
Creek Valley got 56 in. of rain between October 2023 and April 2024.
“Great Scott!”, that is a lot of rain, and the grapes have
certainly benefited from it. We are looking at a pretty
“heavy” yield, and Block 4 has some of the biggest clusters
we have seen in years. Needless to say, there is a huge sense of
excitement about this year’s harvest. 2024 Pre-Harvest Futures
Are Still Being Offered
Even though harvest has officially
started, we will be continuing to take pre-harvest orders for the 2024
vintage, and if you place your order by August 31, 2024, you will be
able to remain a Futures Club member and receive all members' benefits
and discounts over the course of the next year.
After August
31st, we will extend the 2024 futures offer, but we are moving over to
a new sales platform and the procedure for ordering will be somewhat
different, with a new way of applying discounts. If you have not
already placed an order or wish to order more of the 2024 vintage, just
log into your online account with us at https://david-
coffaro-winery.myshopify.com/collections/futures. Then choose 2024
under the "Vintage" dropdown list near the top of the page, where you
can complete an order by making your selections of 24 or more bottles
of 2024 futures.
Luminaire fans- we have some news! Dave has decided
that for this year’s vintage, he is not going to blend our unique
white grapes together, but instead make varietal wines, each with a
different aging profile, giving us more diversity in our white wine
program. Did you order futures of 2024 Luminare? If so, we would like
to offer you a rare opportunity to choose your replacement at time of
pick-up/shipment from our entire white wine list. This includes past
vintages of Luminaire, Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Muscat Blanc & soon to
be more! Let us know your preferences, and we will go from there!
Futures Club New & Noteworthy
2024 Wines
Chardonnay
Nebbiolo
Gewurztraminer
The Ultimate Cuvée-Super
Tuscan
Viognier
Sauvignon Blanc
Did you miss our August Release Party?
We have you covered –
Let
us put together a case of the best sellers from the weekend 12-pk Club
Special on 2024 New releases and a side by side of Terre Melange
$228.
Featured New Futures and Some Changes for 2024
2024 Chardonnay
We’re
not sure if Dave is trying to keep the ladies at the winery happy- or
if we were just due for an oaky, buttery Chard. The buzz around here is
that this will be the first time we have ever made a Chardonnay. It
will be 75% Chard and 25% Sauvignon Blanc aged for 10 months in French
oak. With the warm temperatures this summer gave us, we are expecting
ripe fruit flavors like apple, pear, or peach & can’t wait to
see how it turns out. It sounds like the perfect paring for a grilled
Salmon or buttered popcorn.
2024 Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo, famously
known for its role in Dave’s favorites, -Italian Barolo &
Barbarescos,- has found a new home on our estate in Dry Creek Valley.
While it’s a grape variety known to require specific conditions,
Catarino and his crew have successfully adapted it to our unique
terroir. Unlike its Italian counterparts, our Nebbiolo brings a lighter
body, with softer tannins & slightly higher acidity. Our warmer
climate seems to produce Nebbiolo with more pronounced fruit flavors
like raspberry, strawberry & cherry, making this a perfect
summertime red. If the 2024 is as floral and fruity as the ’23 in
the barrel, it is sure to be an amazing wine! Overall, our version is
an exciting addition to our diverse line-up and offers a fresh
perspective on the classic grape, showcasing the versatility of the
variety while maintaining its true identity. Think lighter pasta dishes
with fresh tomatoes, creamy mushroom sauces, grilled pork tenderloin-
or roasted turkey as pairing suggestions.
2024 Ultimate Cuvée
The
Ultimate Cuvée is traditionally a blend of Dave’s
favorites, and for this vintage, Dave is mixing it up a bit by trying
his hand at a new Super Tuscan. The 2024 Ultimate Cuvée will be
a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet, and possibly either Merlot or Cab
Franc. The exact grapes and percentages will be determined at time of
harvest. As “Super Tuscan” is a term used to describe red
wines from Tuscany that defy traditional regional winemaking rules,
we’re kind of surprised it took Dave this long! We’re
envisioning this year’s Ultimate Cuvée paired with roasted
red meats & rich long cooked pasta sauces.
2024 DC Fusion
Ask,
and you shall receive! This will be the second vintage of our highly
requested lower in alcohol wine. The 2023 vintage premiered at our
August 10th Release Event to rave reviews for those who prefer wines a
little lighter in style and alcohol every once in a while. This is a
blend that can be sipped and enjoyed with or without food and can be
chilled down when the occasion calls for a refreshing change of pace.
We expect to blend Sagrantino, Grenache, and Petite Sirah in the 2024
vintage, and hope to keep the alcohol between 12 and 13%. If you decide
to drink DC Fusion with your dinner, we recommend having it alongside a
tomato bruchetta, or a traditional Greek Gyro with lots of feta!