By Mark Clarin of McGrail Vineyards & Winery December Vineyard Updates Autumn is a time to reflect and to give back. The leaves of the vine give back their carbohydrates to the vine to be stored in the root system for the winter. It is a very important piece in the cycle of life for […]
December Vineyard Updates 2020 Read More »
By Mark Clarin of McGrail Vineyards & Winery As we continue with our new shelter in place conditions in this country, there are a few fine folks who are working to ensure the 2020 vintage, and vintages beyond, will be spectacular. We recently removed about three acres of our estate Cabernet Sauvignon and put the
By Mark Clarin, Heather McGrail, and Laina Carter of McGrail Vineyards If you’ve ever been to a McGrail Vineyards Release Party or Barrel Tasting Weekend at McGrail, you’ve likely spoken to or seen Mark Clarin. You’ve probably even seen him jamming downtown, at other wineries, or local breweries, in one of the various bands he
Qs and As with Our Winemaker, Mark Clarin Read More »
By Laina Carter and Mark Clarin of McGrail Vineyards February was an incredibly busy month in the vineyards, but unseasonably so, as our vines are currently dormant and February tends to be a pretty uneventful month for our vineyards. There are countless facets to grape growing and external factors affecting grapevines that no year and
FEBRUARY 2020: Vineyard Dormancy, Maintenance, & Weather Read More »
By Laina Carter of McGrail Vineyards If you’re anything like me, you live for spring and summer. Not only do these seasons bless us with incredible fresh fruits and veggies, the warmer weather just makes me feel alive. Still, the best part of spring and summer is that I can finally sip on chilled wine
Spring-Inspired Citrus Salad & Rosé Pairing Read More »
By Laina Carter of McGrail Vineyards Just like the Super Bowl, the Oscars are another pompous American display of money and image, but a slightly more polished one we all so excitedly buzz about in the months leading up to the one-night awards show. If you’ve never watched the Oscars, they are quite a production.
Oscar-Worthy Wine & Hors d’oeuvre Pairings Read More »
By Mark Clarin of McGrail Vineyards The Importance of Pruning It’s that time of year again in the vineyard, when we prune last year’s growth back to the cordon. Our vineyards are currently pruned to two bud spur positions. These positions are kept approximately a fist apart along the cordon in order to keep the
The Importance of Pruning and Vineyard Replacement Read More »
By Laina Carter of McGrail Vineyards Whether you’re rooting for the San Francisco 49ers or the Kansas City Chiefs, or even if you’re just watching the game for the multi-million dollar commercials, every American knows the most important part of any good Super Bowl party is the food and the drinks. Is the game a
Win Over Your Guests with These Super Bowl Appetizer & Wine Pairings Read More »
By Laina Carter of McGrail Vineyards & Winery This Friday, January 17th, 2020, at precisely 12AM, marks 100 years since the Volstead Act was put into effect, making it illegal for the American people to produce, sell, or transport alcoholic beverages. Coincidentally, this date has been named “National Bootlegger’s Day,” but primarily due to the
100 Years Since the Volstead Act in the Livermore Valley Read More »
By Heather McGrail of McGrail Vineyards & Winery Every day something new happens in our exciting and crazy industry. One day, we are examining our vineyard to see how much life is left, deciding when we will rip out parts of the vineyard, and begin the five-year-long journey through replanting until grapes produce again. The
Life at the Winery Read More »
