Cheers,
Daryle W. Hier
.
August 2014 Newsletter
Leave a reply
Monthly Archives: August 2014
New Malibu AVA – Yes And No
There are many reasons I left the confines of Greater Los Angeles, not the least of which is its traffic, congestion and its multiple pollutions. Another is its Machiavellian politics.
A great achievement in the far western regions of Los Angeles County is Malibu, where many of Southern Californians elite live. From beautiful south facing beaches to grand hilltops, with unencumbered views of much of the urban setting to the east and Pacific Ocean to the south, unveils itself as somewhat removed with its relatively quiet and mostly serene landscape that Malibu offers.
Yes, but no
The supposed accomplishment Malibu attained was its own AVA (American Viticultural Area) in the Santa Monica Mountains – quite a triumph for what seemed an out-of-the-blue feat. Ah, but Los Angeles style politics rears its ugly head often and this time, to the dismay of wine lovers, Malibu may have their own AVA, but they can’t do any growing.
Yes, this twist of fate is not unusual in the Golden State, and really is just another day in the life of Southern California’s gross underbelly. What the County is doing is under the guise of coastal protection and saving water, requiring so many hoops for farmers to jump through, that they won’t be able – or want – to grow grapes for wine consumption.
Without going into this convoluted political world, anyone in the Malibu AVA will have to go through a huge permit system and involves not only the malevolent L.A. County, but also the equally treacherous and unelected Coastal Commission – an autonomous and Anti-American body that has harmed Californians for many decades.
No grapes, but everything else?
Now, the crazy part of this is if you want to grow vegetables or fruit trees, there’s an easier path to gaining permits, but if you grow grapes, well, sorry, go to the end of line buddy – and this is a line that doesn’t move. Realize that most of these other foods require more water than do grapes, especially using drip irrigation, however, that doesn’t matter.
The arguments made against new plantings – and existing ones as well – was based on archaic information, but that matters not at all. Horse ranches are allowed even though they cause erosion while vineyards do the opposite, still facts don’t mean a thing in the Machiavellian world of Los Angeles County style politics.
As the son of a former Los Angeles Fireman, I know that vineyards are routinely suggested as good firebreaks, which is important in the hills around Malibu, as this region is notorious for many giant brushfires over the years. Senseless, is the thinking, or lack thereof, of the political machine in Los Angeles County.
A real head-pounder
Again, if water shortages are the reason for not allowing vineyards, why allow anything else? That is the world of Los Angeles politics and why many of us have left. Does this sound insane? Yes, it is absurdly insane. Yet, insanity runs a muck among those that live in much of Southern California.
If L.A. County ruling holds, the only pictures of Malibu vineyards will be paintings
I feel for Malibu and those that worked so hard for their own AVA. However, there shouldn’t be shock or even dismay at the way the County has intervened and short-circuited the potential for growing great wines.
Vineyards had a long history in Malibu, until Prohibition ended that run. Over the past half century, small vineyards have popped up again, but just like Prohibition, these new regulations might end Malibu’s winemaking history again.
“Politics have no relation to morals.” – Niccolo Machiavelli
Cheers,
Daryle Hier
.
Classic Cars Invade Central Coast – Labor Day Weekend
This is a fun event and adds a lot of class to Paso Robles. A car show at the park is always a treat. Check it out.
Once again, classic cars will grace the city of Paso Robles this Labor Day weekend, with the Paso Robles Classic Car Weekend event scheduled for two days, August 29th and 30th (Friday and Saturday). Net proceeds will go to local charities.
The Golden State Classics Car Club puts on the event with help from the city of Paso Robles. The club was founded in 1986 by nine individuals interested in preserving and enjoying all types of antique classic, and custom cars, and trucks. There are now 120 members in this family-oriented car club organized for the purpose of promoting interest in the preservation, and/or modification of all classic automobiles and trucks. The Chamber of Commerce had helped organize the show in the past, but Golden State Classics Car Club and the city will co-host the event this year.
Friday night, starting at the Paso Robles Event Center from 21st Street…
View original post 92 more words
Yea, Labor Day – Boo, Labor Day
Celebrated on the first Monday of September, this upcoming weekend is Labor Day, which is generally regarded as the final hoorah for summer – a bittersweet even melancholy period of the year, if you ask me.
Yes, I’m a big fan of summer and technically we have almost an entire month of summer to go before fall officially starts. Still, once Labor Day passes, the clock begins to tick around here on the California Central Coast. You start noticing the shadows getting longer and although Septembers in Paso Robles are very capable of being downright hot, there’s also the knowledge that cooler mornings will be with us anytime.
There’s good to be had
Don’t get me wrong, I love Paso Robles and fall brings some of the grandest and most picturesque times of the year. Having come from Los Angeles, where there really aren’t seasons and autumn’s color changes are faint at best, the rich and vibrant transformations in the Paso landscape including the beauty of a turning vineyard are quite spectacular.
However, that also means the end of hot temperatures and these past few years has been a bit of a conundrum. Winter and spring were warmer than normal and that was great and in fact there wasn’t that blustery spring we can get; but, when summer arrived, that perpetual late spring weather of mostly 80s and wind took the, well, summer out of summer.
This year, I’ve been hoping for a last stand by summer to give a shot of 100s, which can happen on Labor Day – that’s a good thing, as far as my opinion is concerned. And that leads us back to Labor Day where we will have plenty of tourists in town, getting one last little vacation in before returning to the rat race that is either the Bay Area or Greater L.A. I so, don’t miss that.
Come on in, comrades
Labor Day (also commemorated in Canada) is an almost Un-American celebration, since it’s dedicated to socialists movements dating back roughly 125 years ago. However, it’s an excuse for folks to stream into the Central Coast looking for wine tasting, a bit of entertainment and maybe even a trip to our beautiful coastline and beaches. Our accommodating and ever-growing hotels will be readied. Overall, it’s a relaxing place to be whether you’re visiting or living here.
College football season is starting which is another good and bad thing all rolled up in one. Like my father mentions during summer, when I remind him that the football season is getting closer, that’s not a good thing because it means the end of summer is coming – he’s a fanatical fan of summer like I am … or probably more so.
With harvest-time here, the final long weekend of the year is nearly upon us and with one last stab, summer will hopefully give everyone in the U.S. a warm and friendly sendoff. Enjoy yourself – I will try to do the same – but the mix of pleasure and surrendering of summer is on my mind.
“Sorrow and scarlet leaf, Sad thoughts and sunny weather. Ah me, this glory and this grief Agree not well together!” – Thomas Parsons
Salootie Patootie,
Daryle Hier
.
Napa Earthquake And Wine Barrels
*Update at bottom
I’ve received some inquires regarding the Napa Earthquake and whether it was affecting us here at Paso Wine Barrels. The short answer is no.
The fallout from the damage which is over a billion dollars so far – mainly concentrated in the south end of Napa County – is still not known, but so far, the Central Coast of California has not been largely affected by the seismic activity north of the Bay Area.
With the damage to so many wine barrels, it has been wondered if there might be a shortage. However, many of the wineries had just recently done bottling to get ready for 2014’s vintage, so they had emptied the wine and most of those empty barrels, don’t appear to be damaged.
Again, reports are all still preliminary and much of what has been reported, doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of what real harm has been done both physically as well as monetarily.
Damage was very localized
Also, those in other parts of the country or overseas speculated as to how the big tremor affected all our wine regions. To be clear, there was significant damage near or at where the epicenter (was not far from the Napa County Airport), but it shook only in the immediate area and was not widely felt. Being just north of San Pablo Bay, except for Vallejo, Sonoma and obviously Napa, not much in the way of damage was incurred. The Central Coast didn’t feel even the slightest whiff of a quake.
Although harvest started early this season, percentage-wise, much of the berries have not been picked yet and that is some consolation for those in Napa. Luckily, a cooler than normal summer helped slow ripening … or we may have had a different story.
We will keep monitoring barrel needs, but it seems for now, there doesn’t appear to be much or any problem. Paso Wine Barrels will keep barreling away. 🙂
*UPDATE: As some had thought, once the devastation could be viewed more clearly, damage is not as bad as it originally was reported. Obviously there’s destruction, but as this story offers, things aren’t as bad as news services first noted.
Cheers,
Daryle Hier
.
Small Multi-Gold Winning Vineyard Available
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” – Thomas A. Edison
The genius of Mr. Edison was right, however what is not made clear sometimes is how often opportunity knocks with grand offers … but is not always taken advantage of. That advantage is front and center.
In the number one wine region in the world sits a tiny but hugely successful vineyard that has produced multiple medals over the last few years including Double Gold at the prestigious International Wine Competition. The man that made this small but powerful vineyard was Luis Nunez who sadly passed away this past Easter Sunday.
The unique if heartbreaking situation has turned into an opportunity of a lifetime for some fortunate person or persons who don’t miss on this grand offer. The widow of Mr. Nunez, Blanca Trujillo Nunez is making available those award-winning grapes to whoever comes along and simply pays her water bill and a nominal fee for the grapes. That’s it, a simple lease and you have in your hands some of the most remarkable Zinfandel grapes … maybe in the world.
The only reason I use such grandiose verbiage is because these vines are still young in the big scope of things and Mr. Nunez wasn’t always able to have ideal circumstances to produce the wine. This was in part due to his lack of funds and being a newcomer to the garagiste winemaking world. In fact, not every vintage made it, with Luis having to occasionally sell his beauties to other winemakers, who happily used the wine to blend with theirs.
The quarter acre sits on a hill with stunning views overlooking Paso Robles and has an ideal terroir. The land is terraced giving each vine excellent light and wind plus the clay-based soil grows incredible plants. I know because of having a successful garden near his beautiful vineyard and can tell you the composition is as good as it gets.
The situation is unusual and a heck of a story, but regardless, if you’re interested, you can contact me and I can give you Blanca’s contact information.
“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Cheers,
Daryle Hier
.
Cooling Slows Early Harvest
“Events will take their course, it is no good of being angry at them; he is happiest who wisely turns them to the best account.” – Euripides
The great Greek writer might not have been talking about wine – or maybe he was – but in any case, the quote may be profound for those vintners in California who have been frantically readying themselves for early pickings. As it appears now, an interesting turn of weather has slowed down the harvest season in wine country.
As we mentioned late last month, veraison – the process of grapes turning color – was happening earlier than it had in quite some time. This was in part due to drought and a warmer than normal spring. In-turn, farmers started moving up vineyard processes like bottling to empty barrels for the early harvest and crush. However, that frantic pace has slowed some, what with a mild summer, especially over the past month or so.
Late Spring forever?
We noticed it here in Paso Robles where it seems we’ve been in a perpetual June-type system with a little marine influence in the mornings, accompanied by clear warm days, but followed by very windy conditions in the afternoon into evening. Normally, August would be a drone of clear warm mornings together with hot, dry, hazy and calm afternoons – offering up temperatures mostly in the 90s and 100s.
Such is not the case and the cooling has slowed grape ripening down to a crawl. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as experts say it’s allowing the grapes to mature, adding quality to what seems is yet, another large harvest. The past two years have brought bigger than normal yields in the vineyards of California and now a third year-in-a-row appears likely.
Whew!
The harvest season is still ahead of schedule but winemakers can catch their breath as the grapes establish their flavors. I’ve talked with some of those winemakers and the harvest is still earlier than normal but with currently more moderate weather, they are easing into the picking season, rather than scrambling.
Maybe Euripides was right and wisdom tells us that everything will happen in due course … so why not be happy. Let’s face it, the end result is more great California wine.
Cheers,
Daryle W. Hier
.
Alzheimer’s Benefit Street Faire
The simple task of getting up on a Saturday morning and readying yourself to enjoy another California Central Coast summer day and stroll through an art and crafts fair seems trouble-free for most of us. And that’s what some of us will do this Saturday on August 23rd. However, for others, that simple pleasure will be ambiguous and confusing.
There are many hideous diseases in the world and saying one is worse than the others is arbitrary at best. With that said, when you are sick with a certain type of ailment, you have the will and mind to figure out how to fight it. That’s not necessarily the case with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
In the simplest context, especially with the late stages of Alzheimer’s your ability to think is essentially gone, as the disease has basically eaten away the brain and made the sufferer incapable of even knowing what’s going on.
Diagnosing dementias are key to knowing how and what to do to make life livable. And everyone should do all they can to find out whether they have any stages of Alzheimer’s. There are treatments and ways to combat the illness although there doesn’t appear to be a cure as yet. Vitamins, supplements, eating a certain way, exercising and keeping your mind alert and working, will all delay or nearly stop this insidious disease. Also, the caregivers along with close family and friends will eventually feel the brunt of this terrible condition.
I’ve been an Advocate for Alzheimer’s for the better part of two decades. I witnessed firsthand the debilitating effects of what dementias can do when my grandparents had differing types of brain diseases. The toll it took on them and the loved ones around them is heartbreaking, yet something folks need to learn about so they can better prepare.
That’s in part why we at Paso Wine Barrels will be taking part in the First Annual Alzheimer’s Benefit Street Faire. Part of our sales proceeds will go to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, which helps raise money for research at finding a cure for Alzheimer’s.
Now would be as good a time as any to help a great cause while getting that wine barrel you’ve always wanted. Come on out to Creston Village at 1919 Creston Road in Paso Robles – the event runs from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday August 23rd.
Additional sources: Alzheimer’s Association
Mahalo,
Daryle W. Hier
.
Olive Festival
It wasn’t that long ago that a small celebration called the Olive Festival began as an annual event at the Downtown City Park in Paso Robles. Yet this year will be marked as the 12th annual for the festivities, which venerate the olive in all its splendor.
The huge event is hosted every August by the Main Street Association and presents everything associated with olives along with a host of typical arts and crafts exhibits. From essential oils to soaps, foods, ice cream and of course olive tastings, there are countless olive related samples available for your enjoyment.
The downtown area in Paso Robles is flooded with gourmet restaurants and tasting rooms, and yet the Olive Festival will also offer up wine tastings in the park as well as beer – get your tickets at the information booth next to the fountain with no water.
Everything olive
The still growing promotional event is to unite support for the fruit, while raising awareness. There are contests and demonstrations of all sorts related to the olive, with many of the region’s producers offering up their inspired tastings.
Olives belong to a long history on the Central Coast and at one time was as popular as or more so than vineyards. There is a resurgence going on now and if you look around the rolling countryside here in Paso Robles, you’re bound to see orchards of olive trees dotting the landscape.
The health benefits of olive oil have become more known thanks in part to events like the Olive Festival. One big reason for this olive renaissance of sorts is the Paso Robles weather – which attracts so many great wines now – the same climate offers excellent conditions for olives.
By the way, I bet you didn’t know that the olive is a relative of jasmine and lilac.
Ranches and orchards once dotted the landscape as much as vineyards do now.
Paso Wine Barrels missed 2014’s event, but has acquired space this year at this extremely popular gathering. And when you look us up on 12th and Spring Street, you’ll notice we also will have essential oils available as well (and wine barrel stave holders for your essential oils). However, don’t be alarmed if you’re in town hoping to come by and purchase one of our barrels – we should have plenty available – but give us a call if you’re concerned. In any case, the festival runs from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday (August 15th in 2015) and is free to the public.
Cheers,
Daryle W. Hier
.
Wine Barrel Tables
Folks ask me all the time how to make a good-looking table out of a wine barrel. Yes, we do offer the Decorative Glasstop Wine Barrel Table, but for the most part, we’re plenty busy with producing these striking decorative barrels and don’t have the time to put together real furniture type products. Still, there are those out there who have many ideas and thoughts on what and how to do-it-yourself.
So, I’ve thrown together several pictures on here with a little bit of information that could help with what should be a great yet simple project. 
Whole Barrels
The whole used wine barrel can offer up more than one piece of furniture that should be the talk of any room. Much like our Glasstop Table, you can purchase one of our barrels and then acquire a glasstop at your local glass shop and voila! You have a simple yet attractive table top. If you already half some bar stools, you’re all set. 
I may have mentioned this before but if you picked two or three used barrels, find a nice table top or if you want to be recycle-crazy and go all the way, obtain a used door and sit it on top of the barrels. This is quite eclectic but would make for a great barroom or patio table. If you wish, you can place a large tablecloth over it to give it an elegant look. Either way, it will present a relatively inexpensive yet useful while being unique piece of furniture. And likely no one else in your sphere of influence will have one. You can take this idea even farther and create a long bar or table counter either inside or out and set several barrels underneath some flat wood. This offers a countertop in large open areas. Yes, there’s no end to what ideas are available.
Half Barrels
If you’re interested in half barrels, There are a great many ideas including the simplest idea of all – sitting the barrel on its wide end and using the head or cap area (as they’re widely known) as the table top. This is one coffee or end table that will never be knocked over.
You can also do what we mentioned above with the full barrel and that’s to put a glasstop over it. And remember, you can add unusual items underneath the glass such as wine corks. When it comes to these half barrels, you can turn them upside down so-to-speak and place a glasstop over the wide end where the barrel was cut. With an open area underneath the glass, the suggestions are endless. You can place any of many things or nothing at all.
Hope these pictures and ideas help inspire and give you a better overall view and thoughts on how and what you can do with wine barrels as tables. If you have some suggestions, feel free to add them here.
Cheers,
Daryle W. Hier
.
.
Paso Wine Barrels 