Only The Rhonely

Wow. UC Farm Advisers Recommend Winter Irrigation

2012-01-12T10:52:00.000-08:00

I guess we wished to hard for the rain to stop back in October. After over 5 inches of rain early that month we have received less than one inch in total since.

Our local UC Farm Adviser, Lynn Wunderlich, writes that this dormant drought can cause "poor and irregular shoot growth, drought induced nutritional deficiencies such as Boron, and even flower primordial abortion can occur in drought stressed vines." This is totally new to me. I just learned how too much rain can ruin grapes on the vine first hand. I'm tired of lessons...

The entire bulletin can be read here:
http://cecentralsierra.ucanr.org/newsletters/Foothill_Vineyard_News41806.pdf
And some pictures showing potential damage can be found here:
http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6483

The long, long range forecast looks good for rain. Let's hope it holds.
http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/placerville-ca/95667/january-weather/331995

HH Grenache and the Press Bistro in Comstock's

2012-01-03T08:43:00.000-08:00

Thank you Press Bistro for pairing your Mushroom Pappardelle with our Grenache Noir in the current issue of Comstock's Magazine!

The Press Bistro is a beautiful restaurant in Midtown Sacramento.

http://www.comstocksmag.com/TheCellar/0112_Holly-s-HIll-Vineyards-2009-El-Dorado-Grenach.aspx

Harvest is over!

2011-11-19T14:43:00.000-08:00

Last wines of the 2011 harvest were pressed today. No sad, teary eyes here. Yosemite here we come!

Check out the Fall Color at Holly's Before the Snow Knocks Off all the Leaves!

2011-11-18T09:12:00.000-08:00

Spring...I mean Fall Wild Flowers in the Vineyard

2011-11-17T08:42:00.000-08:00

Goumet Cheese & Wine Pairing this Weekend

2011-11-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

Holly's Holiday Cheese & WineNovember 12th & 13th, 11am-4:00pm

Featuring a five course Cheese and Wine Pairing expertly put on by

Dedrick's Cheese Shop.

Pick up some wine for the holidays and your winter wine club release (if you're a member).
No cost for club members (four tickets per membership),
$5 per person for the public, no reservations needed

Cheeses sampled will be available for sale.

Wines to be paired are:
2003 Sparkling Viognier w/ Midnight Moon
2010 Counoise w/ Lingot d' Argental
2009 Patriarche w/ Mahon

2009 Petite Sirah w The Grand Ewe
Late Harvest Mourvedre/Syrah w/ Mountian Gorgonzola

It's cold outside

2011-11-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

CO2 steam coming from an early morning press.

Well, it was freezing last night. Ice on the stairs and windshield this morning. We were hoping for a couple more weeks of hang time on the Mourvedre and Fenaughty Syrah but that might no be possible now. We may be picking with no leaves on the vines...Can you say Ice Wine?!

An open letter to the powers at be

2011-11-01T10:24:00.000-07:00

Dear TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau)

This years harvest is extremely late and it appears that we might not be able to pick all of this year's fruit before the end of the year. If we do put off harvesting some fruit until January can we still label the wine with the "2011" vintage? If not could we perhaps use "2011 and a half" or maybe "2011*"?

Sincerely,
Holly's Hill Vineyards
CA Bonded Winery 6354

In no time flat

2011-10-27T07:34:00.000-07:00

Beautiful color of just pressed East Slope Syrah.

I got a flat tire from a broken valve stem on the grape spreader yesterday afternoon in the vineyard. The good news is the tractor has a forklift on the back....no jack needed. BigO Tires of Placerville fixed it at no cost! I was back and spreading in less than two hours.

Piking Grenache and Counoise today.

Did anyone feel the earthquake last night or was that just a crushing aftershock?
http://www.kcra.com/news/29599742/detail.html

Picky Picky

2011-10-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

Ever dreamt of being a winemaker?...Qualified candidates needed for tank cleaning.

Six tons of Grenache came in yesterday along with a bit of Counoise. We have a big pick (about 10 tons) on Friday!

Rot so fast

2011-10-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

Pressing Wylie Syrah while the girls look on.

Well, the five inches of rain that we got earlier this month are starting to show in the vineyards with lots of rot. So far we have lost half our Grenache Blanc and nearly all our Petite Sirah...farming. The good news is after this week almost all our (good) fruit will be picked.

Above the fog this morning

2011-10-19T08:43:00.000-07:00

So far everything that has come in has tasted great with perfect numbers. A few more weeks of this warm weather is welcome.

Harvest is well under way!

2011-10-16T12:53:00.000-07:00

Mouvedre from the Lotus Vineyard came in today. Estate Viognier, Roussanne and Wylie Syrah tomorrow.

The Pond at Holly's Hill

2011-09-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

The pond at Holly's Hill (not in the public area) still has water in it! It usually dries up in early July. It's cool to see ducks swimming and deer wading. Best yet, the foxes seem to be leaving the drip line in the vineyard alone (see "Bite Me)...easier to take a big drink from the pond I guess.

Other than porcupines, the most interesting animal to see there is the Western Pond Turtle. It's a threatened reptile due to reduced habitat, the non-native bull frog and pet-released painted turtles. It turns out that seasonal ponds like ours make good habitat because the bull frog needs year round water.

Our resident turtle came just in time too. Carrie was considering getting a pet turtle but now we don't have to...we have a wild one living right outside our house.

Veraison 2011

2011-08-15T10:43:00.000-07:00

First signs of veraison in the Mourvedre just below the tasting room. For an explanation of veraison see last year's post. Veraison is about 10 days later than last year and last year's harvest was one month later than normal. So hang on...it looks like this year could be the latest ever.

Hello Picpoul

2011-06-29T12:20:00.000-07:00

A new variety for us here at Holly's Hill. Picpoul is a white Rhone variety brought to the US from the Chateau de Beaucastel winery in Chateauneuf du Pape. We have grafted enough of this variety to use in our white blend Patriarche Blanc. It is known for its floral aromatics and acidity. Look for the first crop in 2012.

http://www.rhonerangers.org/grapes/white.php for more on this and the other Rhone varieties.

El Dorado's Tour de Mourvedre This Week!

2011-06-28T11:21:00.000-07:00

Wednesday nite - the kickoff for Tour de Mourvedre! El Dorado Hills Welcome Center (under Chili's) from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. 11 El Dorado wineries pouring the Rhone's finest grape! no charge. Then, visit the producers over the long weekend for Mourvedre specials.

Holly's Hill we be pouring the Double Gold 2004 Mourvedre with Dubliner Irish Cheddar, 2009 Mourvedre Classique & 2009 Mourvedre Estate Wed. night and all Fourth of July Weekend!

http://www.tourdemourvedre.com/wp/

Happy Birthday Holly's Hill (10 Years)

2011-06-27T12:27:00.000-07:00

After Party

Thanks to everyone who came out to help us celebrate 10 Years. And thanks also to all those that couldn't make it but have supported us over the years.

The parking lot was busting at the seams. The weather was perfect. Good food and wine... Oh and thanks to the Continental Winders for rocking the party all weekend.

Continental Winders

Did you see Holly's Hill in Sunset Magazine?

2011-06-24T11:42:00.000-07:00

Sunset Magazine, July 2011

"We netted 5 favorite pairings for wild salmon, plus a simple recipe you can use to test our findings at home...Viognier: This rich white Rhone has the heft to stand up to meaty salmon, and its flamboyant flowers and stone fruit aid and abet the fish's wild side...Holly's Hill 2010 Viognier...Long and bright, with white peach, tart apricot, Asian pear, honeysuckle, and lime... "

Here's the recipe http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/wild-salmon-with-corn-relish-50400000113881/

Thanks Sara Schneider.

HH in SF Chronicle

2011-06-23T08:38:00.000-07:00

SF Chronicle highlights our vineyard manager, Ron Mansfield; Foothill Rhones and our 2010 Viognier

A new Mother Lode: vintners rediscover Sierra foothills
"...2010 Holly's Hill El Dorado Viognier ($20, 14.5%): This Placerville property has a deft hand with whites, including a Viognier that signals all the hoped-for nuance of that grape. Reserved and pretty, with lots of lemon zest and bite, capped by the subtle floral accent so often overblown with Viognier..."

Read more here http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/19/FD2S1JUGHI.DTL

Holly's in Washington Post

2011-06-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

Snow, cold and heavy rain leaves California grape growers shaking heads at unusual season

"Wild spring weather across California’s wine country has been enough to drive a vintner to drink...It’s snow, not rain, that caused problems in mountainous El Dorado County, where leafing vineyards have been hit by the same spring snow storms that have some ski resorts dreaming of remaining open through July 4.

“There’s nothing we can do about it, and we don’t even know the outcome yet,” said Josh Bendick, winemaker at Holly’s Hill in the Sierra-Nevada foothills, where 4 inches accumulated May 15 on 6-inch shoots of viognier, an early blooming white wine-grape..."

Read the entire article here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/snow-cold-and-heavy-rain-leaves-california-grape-growers-shaking-heads-at-unusual-season/2011/06/10/AGIOnLOH_story.html

Holly's Hill and Rhone Rangers in DC

2011-06-10T15:19:00.000-07:00

Josh and Carrie at the Smithsonian's Sustainable Wine & Seafood Conference.

The Rhone Rangers was a sponsor and only Rhone Ranger winery members were pouring wine. Wow, this was a fun event. It was so fun to try so many great Virginia Viogniers. Seafood and chefs from all over the country were flown in for the food and wine tasting. The food was amazing. My favorite dish was the Seared Day Boat Scallop with Sweet Corn Sauce; Corn, Bacon, Fava Bean Ragout, and Corn Nuts prepared by Willow Restaurant from Fairfax, VA. Oysters from all over the country were being sampled. Hog Island was my favorite, of course.

Ted Danson was there too, signing copies of his book, "Oceana, our endangered oceans and what we can do to save them." I bored him with talk of wine, the Rhone Rangers and bla bla bla. He was still nice enough to sign my copy.

Good to be back in California. DC was 100 degrees with about 90% humidity. Not good grape growing or people living weather.

Good news/Bad News

2011-06-03T13:05:00.000-07:00

Counoise Sold Out after 3 Weeks

Sorry to those that didn't get any. We'll try to make more next year!

Rocks & Rhones

2011-05-16T11:03:00.000-07:00

May 28 or 29, 2011 11am - 4pm
Visit the Pleasant Valley Wineries for a great weekend of food and wine pairings, new releases, wine club specials, and barrel tastings. Local farms and artists will be highlighted showcasing the flavors, talent and diversity of Pleasant Valley and El Dorado County.

The event is held at all four wineries
$30 per person in advance online, $35 per person at the door.

Get details and buy tickets at www.rocksandrhones.com

May Snow

2011-05-15T06:32:00.000-07:00

Three inches of snow this morning and it's still coming down.

HH heads for DC/Smithsonian

2011-05-12T12:22:00.000-07:00

Sac Bee highlights Holly's Hill and Crystal Basin at the Smithsonian:

"Billed as "sustainable, biodynamic American Rhônes," the sold-out event features two dozen wineries from across the country. The bulk come from California, especially Paso Robles and the Central Coast, though El Dorado County's reputation continues to grow as a sweet spot for Rhône varietals, like a bit of southern France in the Sierra Foothills.

Read the entire article here:http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/11/3616484/el-dorado-to-shine-in-dc.html

First Counoise Bottling To Be Released Next Week!

2011-05-05T09:59:00.000-07:00

What's Counoise? Counoise is one of the Rhone varieties permitted in the famed Chateauneuf du Pape wines. It is almost always used in blends. But now, after growing it since 2000, it gets to be enjoyed on its own. So what's it like? Well, it's kind of like Grenache but it plays more toward cherries rather than Grenache's strawberries. It also often has a very pleasant white pepper spice. I've only had this variety a hand full of times from other wineries on its own and this may be the first Sierra Foothills Counoise.

Look for it in the tasting room starting May 14!

2010 Rosé Released Today!

2011-04-07T10:08:00.000-07:00

2010 Grenache Rosé just in time for spring! Who cares that it's snowing right now...it just makes it easier to chill the wine...yeah that's it....easier to chill the wine.

Library Wine Tasting & Sale This Weekend!

2011-04-05T14:38:00.000-07:00

April 9 & 10, 11am - 4pm

We will be cleaning out the basement and parting with some classics and bargains.
Free! for club members (4 entries / membership), $5 per person for the public
Some oldies will be opened and poured, appetizers will be available

No need for reservations or advance tickets.

call or email for more info

530.344.0227
winery@hollyshill.com

Some of the wines that will be available include:

2004 East Slope Syrah, 2006 Grenache, 2005 Cabernet-Syrah, 2006 & 2007 Viognier, 2006 Mourvedre Classique, 2002 Cabernet Syrah, 2003 Grenache Rose, 2001 Mourvedre, 2005 Grenache & 2000 Syrah...

http://hollyshill.com/events/library/library.html

Barrels are a Fountain of Inspiration

2011-04-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

Check out what Tom Tankersley of Iron Willow just installed behind the tasting room. Reused barrel hoops make for a great winery inspired water feature.

Water will be spilling out of the three iron pipes in time for our 10 year anniversary party this summer!

http://ironwillow.com/

Rhone Rangers in SF this weekend!

2011-03-21T10:57:00.000-07:00

@RhoneRangers SF tasting this weekend! March 26 & 27
Grand Tasting on Sunday just $45
Sat Seminars: Green Rangers & Mourvedre on the Move
Sat Winemaker Dinner
Sun Seminar: Wild Wines
Come to one or buy the weekend package
http://www.rhonerangers.org/calendar/sf_grand_tasting.php

El Dorado Passport Weekend

2011-03-09T08:33:00.000-08:00

There are a few tickets left for Passport Weekend!

El Dorado County's Passport Weekends are coming up quick: March 26-27 & April 2-3! Holly's Hill, along with 24 other wineries, are gearing up for the big event and a few tickets are still available for both weekends. Come Taste Winemaking at a Higher Level!

Get tickets here http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1095565867?ref=ebtn
or more info at http://eldoradowines.org/

Holly's in Sac Mag

2011-03-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

Holly's Hill 2008 Mourvedre-Syrah mentioned in the March Sacramento Magazine.
"Full, amped-up ripe fruit from an El Dorado hilltop location, with warm oak spice and a bit of rosemary. Perfect hearty winter-fare pairing or, believe it or not, a 70 percent chocolate."

Just a few cases of this wine left in the tasting room!

Thanks Tracy Wipple and Catherine Warmerdam.

Abalone Spring Release!

2011-03-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

Abalone and More!
Spring Release

March 19 & 20, 11am-4pm

After some time off...Josh's grilled abalone is back paired perfectly with Holly's Hill wine.
Grilled Abalone
-Paired with the 2010 Viognier
Rillettes de Tour Pate on Baguette
-Paired with the 2010 Grenache Rose
Grilled rib-eye steak, truffle french fries (steak frites)
-Paired with the 2008 Cabernet Syrah

Club Members$20 per person, $15 per person for non-abalone option (four discounted tickets per club membership)
General Public
$25 per person, $20 per person for non-abalone optionhttp://hollyshill.com/events/abaloneevent/abaloneevent.htmlor call 530.344.0227 email winery@hollyshillcom

Wax the new plastic sled or the vintgage wooden sled?

2011-02-23T16:09:00.000-08:00

The National Weather Service is predicting a possibility of 3 feet of snow over the next few days at our location. Forecast here: http://tinyurl.com/4gsj93l

Shall we go with the brand new 4' plastic sled or the old school 10' with bent wood?
150 vertical' from the tasting room to the bottom of the vineyard!

The hard part is walking back up the hill through the snow.

#Syrah Day or Snow Day?

2011-02-16T14:03:00.000-08:00

Schools were postponed by one hour this morning. More on its way according to National Weather Service.

#Syrah Day is Here! Looking forward to tonight

2011-02-16T10:02:00.000-08:00

Free tasting of over 15 wineries producing mountain grown Syrah tonight in El Dorado Hills.

Details Here http://tinyurl.com/6hgrbk7

See you at the California Welcome Center at 6:00

If you can't make it, open a Syrah at home and join the facebook/twitter conversation

http://www.facebook.com/hollyshill

http://twitter.com/hollyshill

Here is how the rest of the world is celebrating:

http://www.hospicedurhone.org/happenings/syrah-day.php

Inside Looking Out

2011-02-16T09:24:00.000-08:00

One of the less than glamorous jobs of winemaking is cleaning out tanks. It's essential to climb on in and scrub away after fermenting reds...especially when we're going to start putting whites in them. Here is a pic of what it looks like from the inside looking out. What the picture doesn't show is the laborious time consuming chore that gives you plenty of time to think about everything but cleaning out the inside of a tank.

Anyone looking for a winery internship?

Valentine Weekend: Sunday Tickets Still Available

2011-02-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

February 12 & 13
11am - 4pm
Valentine's Weekend Food & Wine Pairing with Live Music by
Elements of Style
Menu
Grilled Shrimp and Sausage Skewers with Smoky Paprika Glaze
Paired with 2009 RoussanneBeef filet kabayaki rolls
Paired with 2009 Grenache NoirCurried sweet potato soup
Paired with 2009 Mourvedre ClassiqueLamb chops with roasted beet sauce
Paired with 2007 Wylie-Fenaughty SyrahSugar cookies with goat cheese & fig orange jam
Paired with 2009 Late Harvest Roussanne

$20 per person, $25 at the door
Saturday Tickets Are Now Sold OutPlease purchase discounted tickets by 2/7 here
call 530.344.0227 or winery@hollyshill.com with any questions

Ground Hog May Have Been Right

2011-02-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

The first blossoms are out on our plum tree that sits next to the tasting room deck. We've had a few weeks of beautifully sunny weather after taking a pounding of rain late last year. Gosh darn ground hog.

Bring on more rain and snow even if it means we lose our plum crop.

Josh Bendick on KFBK Radio 1/24/11

2011-01-31T17:04:00.000-08:00

Catch Josh LIVE on the Radio Tomorrow!

2011-01-26T16:15:00.000-08:00

Josh Bendick

Co-winemaker, Josh Bendick, will be on Sacramento's KFBK 1530 AM Afternoon News on January 27th at 6:30 pm. He will be leading an on air wine tasting promoting El Dorado County's big Bring Out the Barrel event this weekend. Listen in...did I mention it's LIVE!

Out of the area? Listen online.

Menu finalized for Valentine Food & Wine Pairing

2011-01-18T13:58:00.000-08:00

Josh will be cooking as usual...

Grilled Shrimp and Sausage Skewers with Smoky Paprika Glaze
Paired with 2009 RoussanneBeef filet kabayaki rolls
Paired with 2009 Grenache NoirCurried sweet potato soup
Paired with 2009 Mourvedre ClassiqueLamb chops with roasted beet sauce
Paired with 2007 Wylie-Fenaughty SyrahSugar cookies with goat cheese & fig orange jam
Paired with 2009 Late Harvest Roussanne

February 12 & 13

Valentine's Weekend Food & Wine Pairing with Live Music by
Elements of Style

More at www.hollyshill.com

2011 Rhone Rangers San Francisco Grand Tasting, Seminar & Winemaker Dinner

2011-01-13T10:49:00.000-08:00

Saturday, March 26 at 1:00pm at Fort Mason, San Francisco

Fans of American Rhone wines have a reason to cheer. The 14th Annual Rhone Rangers San Francisco Tasting is set to take place March 26th and 27th at Fort Mason’s Festival Pavilion. The Rhone Rangers will ride into San Francisco for the fourteenth consecutive year of the largest American Rhone wine event in the country. Over 2,000 consumers and members of the trade are expected to attend for the opportunity to taste over 500 of the best American Rhone wines from at least 100 Rhone Rangers member wineries.

The public is invited to purchase tickets for the Saturday Seminars ($45/ticket), Winemaker Dinner ($125/ticket) and Sunday Seminar & Grand Tasting (combined ticket $100/ticket includes early VIP entry to the Grand Tasting). Grand Tasting tickets are $40/each through February 25, 2011 and $45 thereafter. New this year, a $150 weekend pass includes all three seminars and VIP admission to the Grand Tasting. Weekend pass does not include the Winemaker Dinner.

Tickets are now on sale at WWW.RHONERANGERS.ORG.

Patriarche Barrel Tasting This Weekend

2011-01-10T11:11:00.000-08:00

Jan 15 & 16, 11am-4pm

Carrie and I will guide you through the 2010 Patriarche components (Mourvedre, Syrah, Grenache and Counoise) from the barrel and the 2009 Patriarche (bottled).
Futures of the 2009 and 2010 will be offered as well as light appetizers.
Four free tickets for club members. $5.00 per person for the general public.

Free to those who have already bought futures of either of these vintages.
No reservations or advance tickets required.

The Patriarche is a blend of only the highest quality estate Rhone wines of the vintage. The enthusiasm for this blend stems from the first tasting of a Chateauneuf du Pape shared by Holly and her husband, the family's patriarch, on their honeymoon.

You like the sediment?

2011-01-06T06:11:00.000-08:00

A Spanish chef has invented a sediment capturing wine bottle.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jan/03/spanish-chef-wine-bottle-invention

Noted wine blogger, Alder Yarrow, of vinography.com says "Let's here if for chunky wine!"

Such a ringing endorsement of the chunk might be a little too soon after all our New Year slimming resolutions but give it another week and I'll be on board.

What do you think?

Bringing our work home

2011-01-05T06:20:00.000-08:00

We are working on food/wine pairings for our Valentine's Weekend event:
Sweet potato curry soup with 2009 Mourvedre Classique...spot on.
Beef filet kabayaki rolls with 2009 Grenache Noir...close, the rolls need a little more acid or less sugar to make the pairing perfect.
Looks like another night of hard work to get it right.

New Year Sierra Rhone Tour

2011-01-04T08:49:00.000-08:00

Wine blogger William Allen of simplehedonisms.com toured the Sierra Foothills Rhone Rangers for the new year.

"Day 1 of the El Dorado Wine Country The Rhone Rangers tour begins. Today's lineup: Lava Cap Winery, Synapse Wines, David Girard Vineyards and La Clarine. Can't wait!

Day 2 of El Dorado The Rhone Rangers tour commences; Holly's Hill Vineyards, Terre Rouge and Easton Wines, Cedarville Vineyard & Sobon Family Wines - a great day!"

What are your must visit Rhone Rangers in the Sierra???

Wine for Santa?

2010-12-24T07:58:00.000-08:00

What else would he crave where the juice of the vine is the fave?
He'll soon get bored of the milk and cookie smorgasbord.
But what wine for the big guy?
Red or white and then what type?
I'll put it by the tree to be paired with some biscotti.
Only a little or he may get stuck back up our tiny chimney duct.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Holly's Hill night.

Flooded

2010-12-20T12:15:00.000-08:00

3 1/2 inches of rain over the weekend. No fancy rain gauge needed here though. The basement under the tasting room filled up quite accurately.

Last of the 2008 Mourvedre, 1/3 off until its gone!

2010-12-16T10:21:00.000-08:00

Act fast. The 2008 Mourvedre Classique is nearly gone. Take 1/3 off 12 bottles or more.
This wine received a Double Gold Medal at the El Dorado County Fair.

Plus, we pay shipping through December on 12 or more bottles.

530.344.0227
winery@hollyshill.com
hollyshill.com

Yea for local meats: Smokey Ridge Charcuterie

2010-12-07T10:47:00.000-08:00

Check out El Dorado County's new Charcuterie

http://www.smokeyridgecharcuterie.com

They are located in Apple Hill and also have a club.

Charcuterie Club. The club is year round, with a package every other month corresponding as much as possible with major holidays. For those who don't want to join the year round club, there is an option to purchase just the Christmas Package which makes a great gift. Included is 1 lb boudin blanc, 1 lb fresh kielbasa, 2 legs duck confit, 2 lb breakfast sausage, 2 lb dry cured bacon, braised spiced cabbage and hand-made mustard for $70. The deadline to order the Christmas Package is Dec. 10th.

Free Shipping, Happy Holly Days

2010-11-29T10:38:00.000-08:00

Holly's pays for shipping on 12 bottles or more for a limited time only. Stock up for your holiday parties.
Check out our list of available wines at hollyshill.com and order online.
Or call/email 530.344.0227 winery@hollyshill.com

$5 off Christmas tree/wine

2010-11-25T06:43:00.000-08:00

Dixie Lee Christmas Tree Farm & Holly's Hill Deck the Halls

Buy a bottle of Holly's Hill Wine and get $5 off your Christmas Tree (That makes the tree only $20) or

Buy a Christmas Tree at Dixie Lee and take $5 off one bottle of wine at Holly's Hill

Proof of purchase required.

Dixie Lee is in Pleasant Valley about 5 miles from the winery on Starkes Grade Road

All trees are "free range," Open Friday-Sunday 9am-5pm

First Snow of the Year

2010-11-20T07:17:00.000-08:00

First snow of the year to hit the El Dorado wine country and the earliest I've ever seen. We got about four inches. The power is back on, the snow is melting fast and the sun has just started to rise over the snow covered pines to the east. It's going to be a spectacular day for wine tasting.

Get Your Holiday Wine This Weekend, bring your boots

2010-11-19T09:30:00.000-08:00

Great weekend to grab your holiday wine. And come up Sunday for a great chance to see a little bit of snow.
1/3 off full cases of Grenache for club members too.,

Join us in Tahoe Tonight

2010-11-18T06:09:00.000-08:00

Work tomorrow? Bla, bla, bla.
Join Josh at Lake Tahoe's Blue Angel Cafe tonight from 6-8 with Chef Michael's appetizers. Just $10

See you there.

To Cork or Not to Cork

2010-11-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

A cork sales representative visited me yesterday, coincidentally, while I’ve noticed quite a lot of corked wines lately. Not that our percentage of corked wines have increased. I think it’s more of “when it rains it pours.” I asked him, “can you guarantee zero corked wines?’ Of course he can’t, at least not with natural cork. The industry standard for bad corks (corks tainted with TCA) is about 5%. Is that acceptable? I wonder how many of our customers even know when they have a corked wine or if they just feel that the wine is not that good or not what they remember it being after sampling it in the tasting room.

Have you noticed corked wines?

Do you care if your wine bottle has real cork in it or do you just need to have something to pull out with your favorite corkscrew?

The cork industry can guarantee no corked wines with conglomerate corks made up of tiny bits of washed cork that are glued together. There is a new “cork” on the market that is a play on this type of closure but that uses silicone as the “glue.” There are also plastic, screw caps and even glass closures.

Natural cork is traditional, sustainable, recyclable, degradable, functional and yet flawed in this one way. What to do?

Thanks for a cheesy weekend at Holly's

2010-11-16T09:29:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to help make this past weekend super cheesy.

And thanks to Dedrick's Cheese Shop for bringing out some delicious fermented milk.

The pairings were:

Seahive Cheddar w/ 2009 El Dorado Roussanne

Mountain Gorgonzola w/ 2009 El Dorado Grenache Noir

Delice Mon Sire Brie w/ 2009 El Dorado Fenaughty Syrah, Old Vines

Brebirousse d' Argental w/ 2008 El Dorado Patriarche

Humboldt Fog & Purple Haze w/ 2009 El Dorado Late Harvest Roussanne

If you made it, what was your favorite pairing?

If you didn't, which pairing makes you wish you had come?

And then there were none

2010-11-15T10:34:00.000-08:00

Our 11th harvest is officially over today with our final press load of Petite Sirah. Harvest began Sept. 22 this year. Our latest start ever.

The quality looks great and your first opportunity to taste the vintage will be Jan 15 & 16 at our annual Winter Barrel Tasting.

We'll celebrate with bubbly tonight.

: )

Pneumonia's Last Syrah

2010-11-12T11:27:00.000-08:00

It's World Pneumonia day. Buy a case of Syrah all month and save a child's life.

http://palatepress.com/2010/11/a-case-for-a-case-curing-pneumonia-one-syrah-at-a-time/

Cheese & Wine This Weekend

2010-11-11T06:14:00.000-08:00

Holly's Holiday Cheese & Wine
November 13th & 14th, 11am-4:00pm

Featuring a five course Cheese and Wine Pairing expertly put on by

Dedrick's Cheese Shop.

Pick up some wine for the holidays and your winter wine club release (if you're a member).
No cost for club members (four tickets per membership), $5 per person for the public, no reservations needed

Cheeses sampled will be available for sale.

Bonus this year: Get a jump start on your holiday shopping!
Local artisans will be on hand selling great gift items.

Wines to be paired are:
2009 Roussanne
2009 Grenache Noir
2009 Fenaughty Syrah, Old Vines
2008 Patriarche
2009 Late Harvest Roussanne

No need to make reservations.

Special Holiday Discounts will be offered.

Cheese and Wine Pairings expertly produced by 'Dedricks Main Street Cheese, Placerville.

"Have you ever noticed..."

2010-11-10T08:56:00.000-08:00

In my best whiny Andy Rooney voice, "Have you ever noticed that wine rarely smells or tastes like grapes?" Every other fruit yes. Grapes no. Peaches, yes. Cherries, yes. Strawberries, yes. etc.

"Do you put strawberries in the wine?" We've all been there.

Holly's in SF Tuesday Night (11/9)

2010-11-08T06:40:00.000-08:00

Join Josh and 20 other Rhone Rangers wineries. We will all be pouring American Syrahs.

Your admission fee of $30 can vaccinate three children against the world’s deadliest childhood disease!

Follow the link below for $5 off your ticket too!
https://everychild.gavialliance.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=465

November 9, 2010 // 6–9 pm

Dogpatch Studios

991 Tennessee Street, San Francisco, CA

It costs just $10 to vaccinate a child against pneumonia, the world's most deadly killer of children in the world's poorest countries.

Each winery will donate $10 per case of syrah sold in the month of November to help the GAVI alliance stamp out pneumonia.

What’s the difference between a case of syrah and a case of pneumonia?

2010-11-07T08:26:00.000-08:00

Pneumonia is the world’s leading killer of children.

Buy a Case, Stop a Case
Recognizing that pneumonia can be stopped by a vaccine that costs $10, members of the Rhone Rangers invite you to celebrate their commitment to donate $10 for each case of American Syrah sold to consumers in the month of November.

Plus, Holly’s Hilll will give you $10 back if you buy a case of any Syrah.

A Little Background
A recent article by Eric Asimov in the New York Times began “There’s a joke going around West Coast wine circles: What’s the difference between a case of syrah and a case of pneumonia? You can get rid of the pneumonia.” As America's leading organization dedicated to the promotion of American Rhone varieties (of which Syrah is the most widely planted) Asimov's article, and the response on Huffington Postby pneumonia expert Dr. Orin Levine of Johns Hopkins Medical Center, got our attention.

Get more here http://www.rhonerangers.org/calendar/pneumoniaslastsyrah.php

Special Weather Statement

2010-11-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

Holly's in Saveur Magazine

2010-11-04T07:01:00.000-07:00

Saveur Magazine The New California Wine

"Whatever "rules" there were to California winemaking...are today being thrown to the wind. ...Here are our new California favorites:

Holly's Hill Roussanne
2009 ($18)
Peony, fennel, and chamomile in a crisp Rhône-style blend."

View the entire article

http://www.saveur.com/article/Wine-and-Drink/California-Wines-to-Drink-Now

Last Grapes on Friday

2010-11-02T08:49:00.000-07:00

The last grapes of the 2010 harvest (2 tons of Petite Sirah from the Granite Hill Vineyard) are scheduled to come in on Friday!

VINEYARD FIRE! Now that's scary

2010-10-29T10:51:00.000-07:00

A neighbor's burn pile turned into a rapidly growing grass fire yesterday fueled by powerful gusts of wind. The fire actually spread into the vineyard catching a few Roussanne vines on fire at the base and melting some irrigation hose. Quick acting neighbors with shovels and a call to 911 bringing out some 28 fire personnel from three different departments put it out quickly without any major damage or injury.

Thanks fire fighters!

Holly's giving True Blood a run for its money

2010-10-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween Sneak Peak: 2008 Petite Sirah

With a color as dark as night and blood-red highlights near the edge of the glass, this wine will stain your teeth purple giving you a jump-start on your Hallow’s Eve costume…if you can take the scary big tannins, that is.

Available only this weekend at the tasting room until it’s official release next year.

Fenaughty Syrah Went Backwards

2010-10-27T08:09:00.000-07:00

The Syrah at the Fenaughty Vineyard is still hanging. Yesterday's sample showed what multiple inches of rain can do. The grapes sucked up so much water that the percentage of sugar went down one whole point. The acid went down though too which is what we've been waiting for!

Looks like harvest will continue into November

2010-10-25T09:32:00.000-07:00

All of our estate vineyards are picked, but we are still waiting on a few other vineyards to come in. Now that the clouds are retreating from that multiple inch rain storm the grapes that are left can continue to ripen...as soon as the ground dries out that is.

Wait for it, wait...

2010-10-21T06:51:00.000-07:00

Mourvedre grapes coming out of the vineyard yesterday as the sun was going down.

We ran out of time and sun so hopefully this afternoon we will be able to get the last of our Mourvedre picked before this weekend's rains.

1/3 off Grenache, Going, Going, Gone

2010-10-19T12:13:00.000-07:00

2008 Grenache Noir is almost gone. Take 1/3 off 12 bottles or more until it's gone.

Call or email

530.344.0227, winery@hollyshill.com

www.hollyshill.com

Boo!

2010-10-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

Patriarche Scarecrow

End in Sight

2010-10-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

The last of our estate fruit is scheduled to be picked on Wed. the 20th! It will be Mourvedre and the Roussanne for late harvest. This wont exactly mark the end as there are a couple vineyards that we purchase from that still aren't quite ready yet. Stay tuned.

1/3 off Cabernet-Syrah this weekend if you buy 6 bottles or more! That's just $12/bottle.

A Break From the Weather

2010-10-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

Intense heat in late September brought in half our crop in just over a week. Another picking day was scheduled until 90 degree days turned to 60 degrees and rain. That slowed down ripening and gave us a break to get caught up in the winery and make room for the rest of the harvest.

It's cold (48 degrees) this morning but the sky is clear and the sun will be up soon. So ripening and harvest will continue. Roussanne and Petite Sirah are scheduled to be picked Monday.

But Wait...There's More...

2010-10-01T05:54:00.000-07:00

We brought in about 15 tons yesterday. In addition to Syrah and Counoise, we started on the Grenache too. And tomorrow will be more than 15 tons. Viognier, the last of the Syrah, more Grenache, the first of the estate Mourvedre and Mourvedre from the Lotus vineyard. The question is do we have enough bins and tanks to ferment it all at the same time? Come by the winery this weekend to find out for yourself. Just don't get too close or we might put you to work.

Let the Good Wines Roll

2010-09-28T06:54:00.000-07:00

This heat is really helping to speed ripening along. Thursday we will be bringing in estate Syrah from both the north and west slopes and Counoise from both vineyards. And Saturday brings Mourvedre from the Lotus vineyard. Here's your chance to see harvest in action.

Better Late Than Never

2010-09-22T07:11:00.000-07:00

Harvest Begins 21 days later than last year. Carrie and I picked some Grenache for Rosé and we also crushed the Wylie vineyard Syrah. The Counoise near the tasting room looks to be getting close and we will be doing some more sampling today to find out what else will be soon.

Mike Dunne's Blog: "Unexpected Grapes from Unexpected Places" ...Patriarche

2010-09-19T10:48:00.000-07:00

San Francisco tasting "More than Napa, More than Chardonnay" brings Mike Dunne back to California Rhone Blends.

"And again, the tastings reinforced my growing belief that the most exciting winemaking in the state today involves blended wines, such as ...the marvelously expressive and elegant Patriarche by Holly's Hill Vineyards at Pleasant Valley in El Dorado County, another mix of black Rhone Valley grapes."

Read the entire blog here.
http://ayearinwine.blogspot.com/2010/09/california-more-than-napa-more-than.html

Hold the Corona and Lime

2010-09-16T07:06:00.000-07:00

Ok, it's Mexican Independence Day. You know you had a good time celebrating our own so why not help our friends to the south celebrate too. But don't worry about the Mexican beer and tequila.

During harvest years ago I stumbled upon an unusual food and wine pairing. I was eating carnitas tacos from our local Taqueria. It was loaded with cilantro and I was sipping it down with Grenache Rose. Wow! It was great. I now search out recipes with cilantro to purposely pair with Grenache. For instance, baked brie with cilantro pesto is great with Genache Noir.

Hey, did you know that Grenache is originally from Spain??? I know we say it's a Rhone...the French have made it their own, kind of like French Fries in America. The Spanish call it Garnacha. What better way to help Mexico thumb its nose at the country it gained its independence from than to drink Spain's most widely planted native wine. Just make sure it's with cilantro. And if you don't like cilantro that's OK...more for me.

A Party Fit For a King, or at least a Patriarche

2010-09-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who came out and partied with us for the 2008 Patriarche Release! The highlight was the huge paella paired with the Patriarche, although, the other three courses were good too.

If you came please send us your event photos. Didn't make it? Try to make next year's event in early September. Oh, and Patrirache futures buyers always get four tickets to this event (that's a $100 value).

Caution: Powdery Mildew Spotted at Your Favorite Wineries

2010-09-09T08:06:00.000-07:00

Never before have I received an advisory from the county. But this summer I received Issue #5 titled "OOPS! I have some mildew. Now what??" Sounds kind of funny but look at the scarring on one of our Grenache canes. Luckily our fruit has made it through unscathed. Why so much threat this year? A wet spring produced lots of shoot growth limiting air flow through vines. And a "cool" summer with some spotty showers produced prime mildew conditions. At its worst, mildew can wipe out entire clusters. Small amounts of mildew on grapes can cause off flavors in wines too. On this 48 degree morning with a wet ground from last night's showers let's hope for harvest to come soon.

Hottest Day of the Year...only 38

2010-08-24T14:04:00.000-07:00

100 degrees sound to hot to you? Try Centigrade. Maybe this is why the rest of the world uses it. Anyway today was our first 38. I finally feels like summer.

Check out the full moon tonight. OK, for you sceince people, the full moon is technically full right now but you wont be able to see it until tonight.

Here's the almost full moon rising over the Mourvedre last night.

"Think this summer is hot?"...not so much

2010-08-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

"Think this summer is hot? Get used to it" is the title of USA Today's article on the nation's summer heat wave. Haven't we had enough heat here on the best (I mean west) coast? Not so much. In fact, Sacramento had the coolest July in years according to the National Weather Service. It's noon here at the winery and it's only 72 degrees on August 11. Typically our high is reached by this time each day.

So what does it mean for the grapes? I don't know. But there is plenty of sunshine and the Mourvedre up at the top of the vineyard near the tasting room are starting to color up nicely. Even though they would usually be at this stage a few weeks earlier.

I tell you what. So far this is the best summer ever. Unless you consider the start of school as the end of summer which is today for our oldest daughter. This was the best summer ever.

Patriarche Vertical Tasting Notes

2010-08-10T11:57:00.000-07:00

We had our annual Patriarche Vertical Tasting last weekend. Thanks to all that attended. This really is the only time Carrie and I taste all the vintages together. It's fun to see how they progress.

We had just about written off the 2002 vintage when we tasted it last year. But this year it has rebounded. In fact, the 2002 was the favorite of many. That vintage has a lot more Grenache than Syrah and is lighter than all the other Patriarches we've made.

2002
Light in color red/orange. Strawberry, cherry, black and white pepper spice, floral and creamy. The fruit tastes a little baked and is OK in the mouth. Beyond prime.

2003
Dark color. Ripe fruit reminiscent of Syrah (plums, black pepper). Dried oregano and a creaminess that develops in the glass. Smooth in the mouth with dried fruit flavor. Rustic.

2004
Nice color. Sweet volatile fruit. Big blackberry fruit. Nice tannins. California Style.

2005
Earthy that opens to pretty raspberry and cherry fruit. Garrigue! Nice acid and soft tannins in the mouth.

2006
Fresh tutti frutti strawberry and cherry fruit. Dried thyme and oregano with a lot of lavender. Soft in the mouth. A nice food wine.

2007
Spicy dill. Cherry/ strawberry and the hallmark lavender. There is a sweetness in the mouth.

2008
Earthy and meaty which opens to cherry and strawberry. Floral lavender with smooth tannins in the mouth.

2009
Complex. Blackberries, strawberries and cherries. Lots of layers of spice and very floral. Medium tannins.

Bite Me!

2010-08-05T18:50:00.000-07:00

Do you Recognize this bite pattern?

The time of year has come when I stop spending my mornings cycling and surfing the internet and instead spend them tromping through the vineyard turning on irrigation blocks and fixing broken lines. Irrigation hose doesn't just spring leaks though. These holes come from animals and they are everywhere. Turning on a small irrigation block of Grenache should have taken just a few minutes this morning but instead took over two hours. I went through some 20-30 couplings and had to replace some 30 feet of hose too.

I'm not sure what animals are doing this but I have spotted raccoon prints in the mud...Bite Me!

Veraison, Mourvedre showing its true color

2010-08-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

I just noticed the first bit of color in the Mourvedre yesterday. Here in America we've adopted the French word "veraison" to mark such an occasion. At this point berries stop developing in size and instead start to ripen. Luckily we still have lots of time before harvest...we have 3000 cases of wine to bottle! Get ready bottling crew.

Counoise What?

2010-07-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

We've been growing Counoise for ten years now. We started out with a half acre. A couple years later we added another half acre. And then a few years back we grafted about one and a half acres of Syrah over to more Counoise. All of it being the Beaucastel Clone. Up until now we have been blending with it...until this year. The 2009 Counoise bottling will only be about 120 cases and should be available in March of 2011. This may perhaps be the first varietal bottling of Counoise from the Sierra Foothills...Something to look forward to.

Viognier, Mike Dunne's Wine of the Week

2010-07-29T17:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks Mike Dunne for the great write up on our Viognier in the Sacramento Bee...

"...They've been doing this for a decade now. Their approach to applying the traditions of the Rhone Valley to grapes grown in upstart California is studious and precise. With energy, elegance and equilibrium, their wines speak profoundly and consistently of the future of Rhone Valley varieties in California. When a method isn't yielding a wine to meet the high standards they've set for themselves, they don't hesitate to tweak it...

The Holly's Hill Vineyards 2009 El Dorado Viognier is an uncommonly refined take on the varietal. It's more sinewy than fat, swapping the grape's frequently heavy-handed viscosity for a more invigorating blend of zestiness and spice. It's dry and persistent, and balances astutely the grape's inherent richness with a leanness and stoniness that speaks clearly to the place where the grapes were grown..."

Check out the entire article here
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/21/2918897/mike-dunnes-wine-of-the-week-2009.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_submitted&qwxq=473646#Comments_Container
and read about how I was starting to "sound nervous as we chatted by phone."

Blend Over Backwards

2010-07-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

After a few days of very tough (ok maybe not so tough) blending trials, we have come up with the 2009 Patriarche Blend. The percentages are...drum roll please...60% Mourvedre, 23% Syrah, 14% Genache & 3% Counoise. This might not mean much to you after all what you want to know is what it tastes like. You can taste if for yourself on August 7 or 8. Shortly after then the wine will be bottled.

In addition to the 2009, every other vintage of Patriarche will also be tasted going back to the first 2002 vintage.

Get Fruit Set, Get Ready

2010-07-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

Wow. As soon as we get fruit set, as we do now, the next harvest starts to sink in and mental checklists start developing. What's fruitset? It's the tiny green grapes that are now the size of peas that form just after bloom. We are about three weeks behind a normal year which makes us think that harvest will probably be a few weeks later than normal too. That puts us toward the end of September to begin harvesting. We normally finish toward the end of October through the start of November. That's when the rains come. So we look forward or I should say we do not look forward to a condensed harvest. The bright side is more time for summer camping!

In the mean time we have lots of blending trials to work on prior to bottling so that we can make room for the 2010 harvest.

More snow: need I say more

2010-04-29T08:50:00.000-07:00

Check out the Sac Bee's article on the "Cold War." Foothill winegrape growing in the spring.

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/04/25/2699526/the-good-life-foothill-grape-growers.html

Spring in a bottle...2009 Grenache Rosé

2010-04-26T14:47:00.000-07:00

Just out in time for...more rain. Ok, after tomorrow's storm enjoy the brand new release of the Grenache Rosé. A perfect warm weather wine and the first taste of the previous vintage long before any reds will be bottled and released. The picture above shows the fervor of bottling with some wine leaping out just prior to being corked.
It's not just pretty to look at. It actually taste good too. Not the sweet pink from decades past. This is much more like the pinks from southern France where it too can get quite warm in the summer. Try this with tapenade on toasts ( a classic pairing...a recipe can be found at hollyshill.com) or carnitas tacos with lots of cilantro (I found this perfect pairing by accident one day during harvest...can be found at your local taqueria).

Watch Josh Live From the SF Rhone Rangers Tasting

2010-04-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

Watch Josh interviewed about the 2008 Grenache Noir from the floor of Fort Mason at the Rhone Rangers San Francisco Grand Tasting.

http://www.brixr.com/tastings/ondemand/29

You can use the "jump to scene" link under "Hollys Hill" to navigate directly to Josh's camera appearance.

You can still order the tasting packs and taste along if you missed the event in person.

More info on the Rhone Rangers can be found at http://www.rhonerangers.org/

Viognier on Ice

2010-03-10T10:37:00.000-08:00

Wow, three more inches of snow today! That must make over four feet total for us this season. Defenitely the most I've seen.

The vines are fine still since they are still dormant, even the Viognier. In the winery, though, we are deliberately freezing the Viognier.

Well, not quite. If it was water it would be frozen. Prior to bottling white wines we lower the temperature in a tank to about 28 degrees F. The wine doesn't freeze at this temperature because of the alcohol. What it does do is lets some tartaric acid crystals settle out of the wine making it "stable" to that temperature. This way you can put your wine in the fridge without having to worry about having any crystals form in the bottom of your bottle. Have you ever had that happen? It doesn't hurt you. It's just not very pretty and considered to be not acceptable for commerical wine. If you put your bottle in the freezer your playing with fire or ice rather and I cannot be help responsible for any tartaric acid crystals that may form. Cheers.

Rhone Rangers in San Francisco or at Your Home!

2010-03-08T13:58:00.000-08:00

The big SF Rhone Rangers tasting is March 28. The weekend culminates with the Grand Tasting, where over 2,000 people are expected to come taste over 500 wines from more than 100 Rhone Rangers wineries. It's such a great tasting from my point of view. All Rhone styled wines plus you can watch boats sail by while your tasting.

Can't make it or just don't want to drive to the city? You can taste from home...or from anywhere for that matter. Brixr is a company that bottles wines in tiny test tube looking things with screw tops. They will be providing 12 samples from the big event in their BrixrPack including our 2008 Grenache Noir.

There will even be a LIVE video tasting on March 28 at 2:30pm PST. We will be broadcasting from the Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason. You can use your BrixrPack to taste wines along with the winemakers, and pick your favorites! There will also be a recorded version of the tasting video available after the event.

Get your tasting pack here http://store.brixr.com/rhone-rangers-grand-tasting-pack.html

Wine Dinner at Gonul's in Sacramento

2010-03-05T20:08:00.000-08:00

Check out the Sacramento Bee's wine writer Chris Macias's blog annoucing the dinner we are doing at Gonul's in Sacramento this month. http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/dining/archives/2010/03/hollys-hill-win.html

Hope you can make it.

Spring at Holly's Hill

2010-03-04T06:27:00.000-08:00

Funny thing...the day I finished this "spring" video we got 5 inches of snow.