May 22, 2006

Dear Colorado Wine Club Member,

May is the time of year when irrigation becomes very important.  There can be very hot days this time of year and the vines need moisture to maintain health and growth.  In some circles however, it’s recommended that you don’t water the vines until their growth slows to a rate of roughly 2 inches per week.  This rate is chosen because it takes about 40 inches of vine to make about twenty leaves, and it takes about twenty leaves to ripen two clusters of grapes.  What you want is for the vines to grow to that magical 40 inches tall, stop growing more leaves and start ripening the grapes right around the first of August. 

Enclosed are your Wine Club bottles.  Also enclosed is a summer concert schedule for Grande River Vineyards.  Tickets for the concerts are available here at the shop.  This month’s wines for the Vintner’s Choice Colorado Wine Club are:

Verso Cellars 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon

This Cab won a gold medal at the 2005 Commercial Best of Fest competition at the Colorado Mountain Winefest in Palisade.  It’s a spectacular wine with layers of dark cherry, blackberry and currant.  Serve with beef, lamb, hard cheese and dark chocolate.  This wine is great now if you like a young, powerful Cab, but will continue to develop over the next decade or two.

Holy Cross Abbey Vineyard Sunset

This delicious blush is made primarily from Merlot.  The grapes were crushed and pressed off the skins to give the wine its light, rosy color.  Raspberry and cotton candy in the nose, forward flavors of dark cherry and strawberry with a smooth finish.  Serve chilled with chicken or seafood, or as an aperitif with fruits and cheeses. 

As always, enjoy the wines in good health!

Sincerely,

Glenn & Natalie Foster