1-25-06

Dear Colorado Wine Club Member,

Winter Solstice has come and gone.  The days are lengthening by a few minutes each day.  Along with that trend, the air and soil temperatures will be rising.  The soil temperature has the greatest effect on the timing of budbreak, which normally occurs around mid-April.  The buds that are hopefully a long way from breaking out already have microscopic leaves, shoots, and even flowers built into their structure.  All they need is water and warmth and they’ll grow into their fully expanded forms.  If for some reason these primary buds should fail, due to cold or drought, there are secondary and tertiary buds that will grow in their place.  The secondary buds have just a little fruit built into their structure, while the tertiary buds have none.  This amazing, intricate process is happening all over Colorado’s vineyards while most of us are cozy and warm inside our homes, schools, and workplaces, taking care of our own complex lives.

Enclosed are your January Wine Club bottles.  This month’s wines for the Sweet Colorado Wine Club are:

Canyon Wind 2004 Desert Rosé

Here is another fine blush wine from CWC.  This is the unveiling of the 2004 version of what we’ve carried for some time now, the 2003 Desert Rosé.  We sold our last 2003 yesterday, as a matter of fact.  The 2004 is an elegant expression of this popular style, the slightly sweet, not-too-much-pucker wine with a pretty pink color, along the lines of a white zinfandel.  It seems to be a shade more mellow than the 2003, but the beautiful color and scent are still there. 

Stoney Mesa 2005 Gewurztraminer

This delicate, floral wine is a little gem.  It’s just been released and possesses all the traits of a German early harvest Gewurz (Guh verts).  There’s a bit of lively spritz to it, along with the unique, spicy aroma and flavor that distinguishes this grape from all other varieties.  When a wine tastes like the grapes it was made from, we call this “varietal character” and there aren’t any better grapes to demonstrate this important wine appreciation concept.  Enjoy this wine by itself or with mild cheeses before dinner.

As always, enjoy the wines in good health!

Sincerely,

Glenn & Natalie Foster