Munselle Vineyards

Aloha Maysen Rose!

2011-04-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

We proudly welcome Maysen Rose Munselle to the family. She was born on March 16, 2011 to our brother and sister-in-law, Lance and Amy, on the balmy island of Oahu, where they currently reside. This new, little one is not so little. She weighed nearly 10 lbs. at birth and is a beautiful, thriving bundle of joy!

Bill and Reta flew to Hawaii to meet their 5th granddaughter, but the rest of us will have to wait. Hopefully, they'll be back on the mainland in the next few months. In the meantime, Amy sent this absolutely adorable picture of our niece the other day. She's already joining the family business as our newest poster child...

How sweet is this?! I can't get over it...

Red Tail Hawk Sighting

2011-04-05T15:08:00.001-07:00

The girls and I decided to take advantage of the gorgeous day on Monday and went out for a stroll. About a mile into it, I looked up and spotted a Red Tail Hawk flying overhead. The bird came to rest in the trees above us long enough for me to snap a few photos. Maddie was so excited she jumped out of the stroller while it was still moving to take a peek.

Over lunch, I shared our sighting with Bret and he'd also seen several flying about. We had five tractors going in the fields yesterday to mow and chop down weeds and brush in every other vineyard row, so the hawks were temporarily displaced from their typical resting spot, sitting upon the vineyard wires...

Red Tail Hawk perches overhead.

Sister Love--Bella ambles along while Callie and Maddie walk together holding hands

Our little fashionistas love to pick out their own outfits. Tutus and princess paraphernalia are high on the list!

Hoot! Hoot! Barn Owls Have a New Home at Munselle Vineyards.

2011-04-05T14:36:00.000-07:00

Bret was busy building 10 new owl boxes last week. They were placed in various spots around the ranches, at least 12 ft. high and facing towards the east to avoid the hot afternoon sun. These owl "condos" are made of wood and stand two feet wide, by two feet tall, and one foot deep--perfectly-sized abodes for barn owls.

Why do we want to attract these creatures to the ranch? Barn owls are estimated to consume one field mouse or gopher per night. This helps control the populations of field mice and gophers naturally, and protects the vines' root systems from permanent damage caused by rodents. Besides that, our daughters, Maddie and Callie, are absolutely fascinated by the owls and their eyes are glued to the boxes every time we walk by in hopes of catching a glimpse.

We anticipate each of these boxes will be inhabited within the year. Welcome to your new home barn owls!

Owl Box down by the river on the Home Ranch

* This post is dedicated to MV Family member, Sean Nicholson. We love ya Hootie!

The New Kids on our Block

2011-04-03T21:28:00.000-07:00

Spring has officially arrived at Munselle Vineyards. Two of our goats, Trudy and Loca, have each given birth to twins recently. BeBe is due to deliver at any moment and she is so enormous, we're beginning to wonder if she's carrying triplets! We'll keep you posted of her progress.

Our four-year-old daughter, Maddie, has thoughtfully named each bundle of joy--Alice, Wonder, Lip Gloss, and Welcome to China, (don't ask!) which we've nicknamed simply, "China". With these new additions, our goat herd comes to 14 and counting ...

Maddie cuddles Lip Gloss

Lip Gloss and China, born just a few minutes earlier.

Where it all started- 1894

2010-10-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

This is one of our favorite pictures and pieces of history to share. This picture was taken in 1894 at Red Winery. If you are familiar with Alexander Valley at all, you most likely have driven on Red Winery Road. The road was named after this winery. The picture was taken looking up at the Pine Flat area. If you look closely you can see a little girl on a horse in the far left. That little girl is Reta Frellson Osbourn at 6 years old. She is Reta Munselles grandmother.

Bret in the News. . .

2010-10-01T10:27:00.001-07:00

A love of the land

Farmer honored for his 'passion,' commitment to grape growing

CHRISTOPHER CHUNG/ PD

Bret Munselle, of Munselle Vineyards, picks up grape clusters missed by a vineyard crew during harvest in Geyserville on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010.

By ROBERT DIGITALE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Friday, October 1, 2010 at 9:19 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, October 1, 2010 at 9:19 a.m.

Bret Munselle’s family has owned and worked their Alexander Valley acreage for more than 130 years.

That heritage helps explain why a discussion about estate taxes a few years ago got him so stirred up. His dad had warned that someday they might have to shed some land to pay the tax.

“If we ever sell one piece of this place, I’ll spend the rest of my life getting it back,” Munselle countered.

His father, Bill Munselle, thinks that story cuts to the heart of the 34-year-old grape grower, who has been selected as this year’s Outstanding Young Farmer by the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.

Those who know Munselle describe him as a man who loves his family and the land they farm north of Healdsburg. Curious and driven, he has learned the business of growing and selling grapes. In recent years, he has led the family’s fledgling winemaking business.

“Brett is a total student. He’s always wanting to learn,” said Corey Beck, winemaker at Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Alexander Valley.

Beck purchases Munselle family grapes, which he said are consistently among the best the winery buys. He said Munselle represents the next generation, a farmer who is “taking a lead and taking it to the next level.”

Growing up, Munselle helped on his family farm north of Healdsburg, the same land a great-grandfather once tended with horse and plow. Bill Munselle said he attached wooden blocks to the clutch pedals so his three young boys could drive the farm’s tractors.

Munselle graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture business from UC Davis, taking all the viticulture classes they offered. After college, he went to work appraising farms for American Ag Credit’s Santa Rosa office.

That three-year experience boosted his self-confidence, he said, allowing him the chance to succeed outside the family business. It also provided a look at key farm records, including the ways growers and wineries structure grape contracts.

“I was always really curious, so I read a lot of them,” Munselle said.

A dozen years ago, he left appraisal work to join the family business. He and his father farm about 225 acres of vineyards and manage 25 acres for nearby Stryker Sonoma winery and vineyards.

“He certainly has a lot of passion for farming, and he has a lot of pride in being part of a multi-generational farming family,” said Nick Frey, president of Sonoma County Winegrape Commission.

That family includes grandparents Fred and Ruby Wasson, parents Bill and Reta Munselle, wife Kristen and daughters Maddie and Callie.

Mutual friends introduced Munselle to his future wife while she was living in Southern California. She soon realized that the farm and his family were “his world.”

“I knew he would not be happy anywhere else,” she said.

Munselle’s ancestors produced wine after they first arrived in the valley in 1876. But subsequent generations switched to dairy cattle, prunes, orchards and, in 1972, back to grapes.

The family began producing wine again in 2006 under the Munselle Vineyards label, with the wine made at Stryker Sonoma. Their first vintage of cabernet sauvignon won a gold medal this year in Harvest Fair judging

Bill Munselle calls his son the driving force behind the family winery. “He kind of made that whole thing happen,” he said.

The winery produces about 1,000 cases a year. As the family seeks to build its brand, Munselle is usually the face that greets retail buyers, wholesalers and restaurateurs.

Virtually every bottle of wine he sells involves “a hello and a handshake,” he said.

The new endeavor has opened his eyes to the challenges faced by wineries and has improved his interactions as a grape grower with winery staff.

“It gives a whole new language to talk with the winemakers,” he said.

Guy Eck, Munselle’s former boss and the branch manager at American Ag Credit, said Munselle is the kind of young man you want your daughter to marry: bright, hard-working, considerate, optimistic and personable.

“People just enjoy talking with him because he enjoys people,” Eck said.

You can reach Staff Writer Robert Digitale at 521-5285 or robert.digitale@pressdemocrat.com.

Harvest Fair Awards gala

2010-10-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

A truly memorable evening for Munselle Vineyards. . .

Bret being announced as the Outstanding Young Farmer of 2010!

Bret leaving the stage

Our table set-up.

Five generations of grape growers in those family photo's on the right.

Oh, and there is our GOLD winning cab on the table also!

We hope you will come try it this weekend at the Harvest Fair.

We will be pouring Saturday, October 2nd from 12-5pm and Sunday, October 3rd from 12-5 as well.

Harvest Fair update

2010-09-26T13:44:00.000-07:00

It's Official . . . Bret received his award last night for the Outstanding Young Farmer at the Harvest Fair, and we could not be more proud of him!

Here is a wonderful article featured in the Sonoma County Farm Bureau about Bret, along with a few of the reasons he was singled out for this great honor.

As well as attending the awards ceremony, we were able to share our wines at the Harvest Fair Gala. We all had a great time visiting with the attendees and the other wineries present. To add to the excitement of the night, our 2006 Cabernet won GOLD! Look for us this weekend if you missed the gala and come try our gold medal Cabernet. We will be pouring our wines on Saturday, October 2nd and Sunday, October 3rd at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.

Look for pictures and video to come soon!

Sincerely,

MV

Our Outstanding Farmer

2010-09-22T20:51:00.000-07:00

Bret driving tractor, 12 years old, harvesting Sauv Blanc grapes at the Michalek Ranch.

9-3-87

A letter from Bill

2010-09-20T14:24:00.002-07:00

FALL ON THE FARM

The shadows grow a little longer in the afternoon. The mornings are slightly crisper. The breeze in the afternoon has a different smell. Fall is coming to the farm.

The hay for the winter is stored in the barn; wood is stacked neatly in the wood shed. It is a time of abundance on the farm. The garden is producing like crazy. Would anyone like some Zucchini, Please! This is the time to enjoy the fresh fruits and vegetables and also to put some away for the winter ahead.

Harvest in the vineyards has begun. The bright green, almost neon growth of spring in the vineyards has been replaced by a darker deeper green of maturity. Now if you look deep into the canopy not only do you see this years beautiful crop of grapes, but also the first few yellow leaves of fall.

The vines are beginning to sense it will soon be the end of this years work on the grapes. The anticipation of harvest is making Bill and Fred a little crazy. We can't wait!

We hope that all our friends and family are able to get out and enjoy this beautiful fall season. Enjoy this bountiful time of year. Crisp fall apples, fresh vegetables and amazing fall colors.

From our Farm to you,

Bill

A letter from Bill

2010-09-20T14:24:00.000-07:00

FALL ON THE FARM

The shadows grow a little longer in the afternoon. The mornings are slightly crisper. The breeze in the afternoon has a different smell. Fall is coming to the farm.

The vines are beginning to sense it will soon be the end of this years work on the grapes. The anticipation of harvest is making Bill and Fred a little crazy. We can't wait!

We hope that all our friends and family are able to get out and enjoy this beautiful fall season. Enjoy this bountiful time of year. Crisp fall apples, fresh vegetables and amazing fall colors.

From our Farm to you,

Bill

Bret talks on digital radio!

2010-09-13T15:15:00.000-07:00

Bret Munselle is interviewed at the MacMurray ranch over labor day weekend. He discusses his family's long standing history in the wine business. Also, you will hear about this year's harvest and the Sonoma Wine Country weekend!

Click on the link below to hear it for yourself!
Bret's radio interview

There is a great interview with Kate MacMurray from the MacMurray Ranch that takes place before Bret's interview. Check out their website by clicking here.

If you would like to skip right to Bret's interview you can fast forward to minute 19.

Enjoy!

Green dropping

2010-09-07T14:45:00.000-07:00

On the Osbourne Ranch, Bret discusses one of the last steps to prepare the vineyards for Harvest. He explains "green dropping". Green dropping is necessary for an even maturation of all of the grapes.

In the Vineyard with Bret

2010-08-30T15:26:00.000-07:00

This week on "In the Vineyard with Bret" he discusses another step taken to prepare the vines for Harvest. While in the Osbourne Ranch Zinfandel row, Bret explains the "green dropping" process which is to ensure even ripening. Also, he will talk about the "quality thinning" method he uses to make certain that the grapes on the vine at the time of Harvest are the very best.

Celebration of Lionel Sr.'s 40 years on the ranch

2010-08-25T12:19:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful evening to celebrate the hard work and loyalty of Lionel Mendoza, Sr. He's tended the Wasson and Munselle ranches for 40 years! Crew members and their families all came out for the festivities and enjoyed delicious Mexican food and music. We think all the kids (at least 15 of varying ages) may have had a better time than anyone--they seemed to run around and play until they dropped from sheer exhaustion!

Grandpa Fred and Lionel

kids on Papa Bill's "shaving cow"

In the Vineyards with Bret - Video

2010-08-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

Hello MV family!

This week on In the vineyards with Bret, we learn what the guys have been doing to prepare for Harvest. Getting ready for Harvest has many steps and today Bret discusses "leafing" the vines.

Watch the video to hear what Bret has been doing to protect his crop. Also, he discusses the precautions taken to avoid the grapes being destroyed by "Botrytis". Not sure what this is? Click here to read about this complex disease common to California Vines.

An appreciation of the hard work that goes into making our wines make them taste that much better. Cheers!

We hope you enjoy this week's In the Vineyard video.

Sincerely,

A few of our Favorite things. . .

2010-08-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

Bottle Stopper Wicks-This month's wine club shipment will be delivered with a little gift to light your summer evenings. We use these Bottle Stopper Wicks out on our patio table and have enjoyed them so much that we wanted to share them. Put that empty MV bottle to good use with the instructions below:

1. Start with a dry, empty bottle. Fill 3/4 with water, then the remaining 1/4 of the bottle with lamp oil. NOTE: DO NOT use alcohol or kerosene to fill the bottle.

2. Insert the bottle candle with longer wick end into bottle, and lightly press body of Bottle Candle onto bottle top

3. Adjust wick to desired height (1/2''-1/4'') and let stand in oil 30-60 minutes to allow wick to absorb oil, then light.

Osborn Ranch Zinfandel-Look for our first release this fall! If you’re currently a member of the MV Mix Club or New Release Club, it will be included with your November shipment. If not, please order by phone: 707-857-9988 & online:www.munsellevineyards.com. You won’t want to miss out on this special release (only 150 cases produced)—available exclusively to our MV Family!!

2010 MV Family Picking Party-Mark your calendars for October 23, 2010. More details to come…

We hope you enjoy your recent shipment! Thanks for checking in and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Sincerely,
MV

Wine Country Cellars presents... Munselle Vineyards!

2010-07-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

Hello MV "followers",

Here is the invitation to our tasting next Thursday, July 29th. We hope you will join us! If you would like to RSVP to this event you may do so by leaving a comment on this post or email bobbie@munsellevineyards.com. See you soon!

More than 130 years ago, the Munselle family arrived in the Alexander Valley with a vision of producing fine wines from the rich soils the Valley has become known for. Shadrach Osborn was the proprietor of Alexander Valley's first winery, Lone Pine Cellars, and Broder Frellson, the manager and winemaker for the second, simply called Red Winery.

As generations passed, their family stepped away from winemaking to focus their efforts toward cultivation of the land. Their industry varied from farming grapes to dairy cattle, then prunes and orchards and finally, back to grapes in 1972.

For more than three decades they've produced premium grapes that have contributed to a multitude of award-winning and notable wines. Now, five generations later, Munselle Vineyards has come full circle with a return to winemaking. With every grape and bottle we produce, they honor the vision of their ancestors, and the heritage and hard work of their family.

EVENT DETAILS

WHEN: Thursday July 29th, 5-7pm

WHERE: Tasting Room @ Wine Country
Cellars.

The Munselle Family will be pouring the following wines:

2006 Coyote Crest Cabernet

2007 Shadrach Chardonnay

All wines are also
available for purchase
Click HERE to visit the
Munselle vineyards website

2010 MV BBQ

2010-07-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to share our pictures with those of you who weren't able to make it to our Wine Club Member BBQ. A huge thank you to John and Sue Nelson for taking these pictures and capturing the fun we all had! One of the greatest and most satisfying elements of making wine is seeing our friends and family enjoy it as much as we do. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our love for family, food and WINE!

Cheers!. . . To a great day and to many more like it :)

MV

Healdsburg in the News!

2010-07-09T14:11:00.000-07:00

We really enjoyed this article about Healdsburg found in the Los Angeles Times newspaper. For those of you who are not familiar with Healdsburg, it is about a ten minute drive from our home. It is where we go to do most of our errands. Maddie goes to preschool there, Kristen does her grocery shopping there, and you will even find our wines in some of the most amazing restaurants of Healdsburg. (List accompanied with menu's coming soon) If you have an appreciation for fine food, you will fall fast in love with the charming town of Healdsburg and all it has to offer.

Click below to read the article in its entirety.
Healdsburg: For foodies, a new northern star - Los Angeles Times

Cheers! . . . To a great place to call home.

MV

Bret and Bill's BIG project

2010-06-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

Coin Flip Ranch (which is where the Shadrach block is located as well) in Block 20 is getting a makeover!

It's that time again! . . . Every 25 years or so the vines need a new start so we ripped out our old and are planting the new.

This block has new trellising, irrigation lines, and row spacing. We look forward to the next 25 years being as good as the last!

Arturo on the trencher with three guys behind him laying the sprinkler laterals, with the sprinkler riser, into the trench.

Ricardo putting the sprinkler sub main together, with Chewy helping him in the background.

A taste of MV in Southern CA!

2010-04-29T15:56:00.000-07:00

MV Friends and Family,

We will be in Santa Monica next Wednesday May 5th to share our wine at this event:

"Taste Alexander Valley"

Melisse is delighted to offer a distinctive dinner menu featuring four Sonoma Vineyards on Wednesday, May 5th, in the Olivia Room. The four-course menu paired with wines from the Alexander Valley in Sonoma County is priced at $150(tax and gratuity not included).

Wine makers will be attending and on hand to answer all your questions!

Reservations are required and can be made by calling
310-395-0881.

Seating begins at 6:30pm

We would love for you to join us if possible!
If you can make it, this is what you have to look forward to:

First Course

Maine Lobster
Porcini Mushrooms, Eggplant, Rich Broth

Stryker Sonoma 2007 OZ Vineyard Semillon, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County

Munselle Vineyards 2007 Shadrach Chardonnay, Alexander Valley, SonomaCounty

Second Course

Roasted Stuffed Quail
Forbidden Rice, Kale, Spiced Black Olive Tapenade

Skipstone 2006 Oliver's Blend, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County

Skipstone 2005 Oliver's Blend, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County

Third Course

Rib Eye and Braised Short Ribs
Dijonnaise, Fava Beans, Bordelaise Sauce

Stryker Sonoma 2005 Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley,Sonoma County

Munselle Vineyards 2006 Coyote Crest Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley,Sonoma County

Fourth Course

Reblochon Tart

Souverain 2005 Winemakers Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley,Sonoma County

For more information:

Mélisse Restaurant

1104 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: 310/395-0881
Fax: 310/395-3810
www.melisse.com

Hope to see you there!

In honor of Earth day

2010-04-22T21:46:00.000-07:00

We at Wasson and Munselle Vineyards are always looking for ways to be even more environmentally friendly and responsible. We are always looking for opportunities to lesson our impacts on the land, air, and water, and to improve our stewardship of the vineyards. These resources are our lively hood and passion, and we feel a great responsibility to tend them carefully.

Back in 2004, Bret spent many hours participating in a “Code of Sustainable Agriculture Evaluation”. This made us really think about and reevaluate many of our practices here on the ranch. In the last few years we have under taken many projects as a result of this evaluation.

In 2006, we installed a solar system on the farm shop. This has reduced our reliance on the utility grid and produces clean electric power. This is a long term investment in clean solar power.

In 2008, with the help of the Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District we replace two of our older diesel pump engines with new cleaner running low emissions engines (tier 3 engines). They are the most advanced engines available at this time.

We are now using more cover crops in the vineyards to improve soil structure and improve organic matter content. This will give us healthier soils and reduce the use of non organic fertilizers. Erosion control is a nice bonus of the cover crops.

Installation of a “Time of use” electric meter to one of our vineyards has been a great success. We have been able to fully automate our irrigation system. Now we only irrigate at night cutting down our utility bills and using less water. By irrigating at night we don’t lose any water to evaporation.

We have been very successful with our blue bird, bat and owl house program. By providing boxes and houses for these natural predators we can reduce our use of other insect control methods. Bill builds these in the winter time. A nice side benefit is it keeps Bill out of trouble when he gets house bound.

Using 50% recycled glass in our wine bottles, reusing steel grape stakes, when we replace a field, and installing low flow toilets in all ranch houses are a few other things we have done. Every aspect of our farm is constantly looked at so we can improve our environmental foot print.

In our largest project to date we are working with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to purchase three wind machines. These wind machines will be used for frost protection. This will help us conserve water, we currently use over head sprinklers for frost protection.

When you enjoy a glass of Munselle Vineyards wine with family and friends it’s nice to know these wines come from people who love the land and are dedicated to environmentally sound practices.

Munselle Vineyards is staying Connected

2010-03-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

Hello MV Friends!

We are so happy to tell you about our new endeavor's in Social Media. The MV girls (Reta, Kristen and myself) are in the process of learning how to tweet with Twitter! You may not tweet but we would love to invite you to join and we can learn together :)

Our Twitter name is MunselleWines. Wondering who is doing the tweeting? . . .
Here are the initials you will see after a tweet:

Reta - RM
Kristen - KM
Bobbie - BC

Eventually when/if we get Bret tweeting (he takes a little more persuading) he will be known as BM.

We are going to use Twitter to stay connected and play lots of fun games which means lots of great prizes!
(MV wine, treats, MV accessories and even some passes to upcoming events!)

If you are already signed up on Twitter click on the link below to head straight to our page.
http://twitter.com/MunselleWines

If you are just starting out, click on the link below to create a free Twitter account.
www.twitter.com

Thank you for being loyal friends of Munselle Vineyards.

Happy Tweeting!
-Bobbie Combs

Around the World in 80 Sips

2010-02-28T15:52:00.000-08:00

Bottlenotes’ “Around the World in 80 Sips” was an all-around awesome event! Crushpad’s giant warehouse on 3^rd Street was filled with great energy as hundreds of wine enthusiasts wandered across the concrete floors with wine glasses in hand on Thursday night.

Wineries from as far away as Israel and New Zealand were on site, and the Alexander Valley appellation was well-represented. It was great fun to pour Munselle Vineyards’ wines alongside our friends and neighbors like Kelley Young, Stryker Sonoma, Hawkes, Garden Creek, Stonestreet and more.

The event closed down at 9pm and we were happy to get off our feet. (Five hours on concrete does wonders for the back!) It was a long drive home to Geyserville, but it seemed well worth it.

Where is Munselle Vineyards tonight?

2010-02-25T17:49:00.000-08:00

Mv table is set and ready at Bottlenotes' 80 Sips Around the World tonight in SF

Around the World in 80 Sips by Bottlenotes • February 25th

2010-02-16T11:51:00.000-08:00

Get the opportunity to taste some of the best wines from Italy, France, Austria, Spain, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Washington State, and of course California.

We are so excited to be pouring our wine at this event and representing the Alexander Valley section of Northern California.

Click here for more info if you'd like to enjoy 80+ wines plus food from Bay Area chefs.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Ticket Information:
Early Bird - $45 (limited quantity)
Advanced - $60
At the Door - $75
$10 off for Crushpad followers when the coupon code "CRUSHPAD" is entered!

Location: 2573 Third St, 94107

Start Time: Thu, Feb 25, 6:00 PM

End Time: Thu, Feb 25, 9:00 PM

MV Valentine's day package

2010-02-09T09:52:00.000-08:00

To all of our MV friends,

Not sure what to give for Valentine's day? . . .
We put the "thought" into your thoughtful gift this year!

We paired our Coyote Crest Cabernet with an amazing selection of 16 premium Chocolate Truffles infused with wine grapes from Sonoma County's Finest Grape growing regions.

Enjoy fine wine and specialty chocolate this Valentines day.
Even better, let us do all of the work.

This wine and chocolate package will arrive wrapped and ready to give to your someone special!

If you are unable to hand deliver your Valentine's day gift, simply e-mail us a personal message and we will include it with your gift.

Wine and Chocolate pairingMV 2006 Coyote Crest Cabernet Sauvignon
The ‘06 Coyote Crest Cabernet expresses the characteristics Alexander Valley Cabernet is known for – big, bold flavors.

It’s beautiful to look at and even better to drink! The wine displays a deep, clear color of garnet red in the glass. Notes of earth-ripened cherries and dark chocolate on the nose lead to flavors of blackberry and plum on the palate, before concluding with a satisfyingly smooth finish and feel.

Something for Everyone. This box of 16 Truffles is sure to please with four different tastes of Sonoma County:
Russian River Pinot Noir Truffle
Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Truffle
Knights Valley Merlot Truffle
Chalk Hill Chardonnay Truffle
* A portion of the net proceeds from this chocolate collection benefit Sonoma County’s Vineyard Employee Education Program.

Order now to give this special gift at a discount price of only $75.00
(Retails for $85.00)

*additional discounts available when ordering two or more Valentine's day gift packs, ask for details when placing your order

We look forward to being a part of your Valentine's day this year!

Sincerely,
Bill, Reta, Bret, Kristen, and Bobbie

2010-01-17T20:33:00.000-08:00

Hello All!

I'm sitting here on a rainy Sunday night enjoying a glass of Coyote Crest Cabernet and working on my tasting skills. I had the opportunity to sit in on Bret and Kristen doing the barrel tastings and making their notes of MV's future (and might I say delicious) wines.

The tasting process gives you such an appreciation for the work that goes into this glass of wine. The flavors are meticulously noted and molded into this perfect glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. Earth-ripened cherries and dark chocolate on the nose lead to flavors of black berry and plum on the palate, before concluding with a satisfying smooth finish.

Ok. . .Those aren't my notes. I'm still a work in progress but, I am enjoying every moment and every taste of the learning process. We all have a lot to look forward to with the wines to come from Munselle Vineyards. Whether you are a wine connoisseur or just someone who enjoys a glass once in a while, you will be able to appreciate the tastes to come. I can’t wait to share them with you all!

I hope you are enjoying a glass just as I am or at least enjoying this rainy night.

To get a chance to enjoy the Coyote Crest Cab paired with specialty chocolates on us, post your New Year’s resolution as a comment to this Blog and you could win!!!

-Bobbie

Happy New Year!!!

2010-01-03T21:35:00.000-08:00

Happy New year to our MV family!

This past year has been great for Munselle Vineyards and we are excited to see what the next year may bring. One of our goals for 2010 is to grow as a MV family and get to know one another better.

What is your New Year resolution for 2010?
By sharing your resolution with us you will be entered into a random drawing to win a bottle of our 2006 Coyote Crest Cabernet, perfectly paired with specialty chocolate! (Just in time for Valentine's day) The final drawing will be done on Friday, January 29th. . . So don't wait to get those resolutions posted!

Happy January Birthday to our MV family!
Julia Battenfield
Kyla Brennan
Kyle Murkey
Scott Hafner
Derek Wilson

*Share your birthday with us so we can celebrate with you! email to Bobbie@Munsellevineyards.com

Talk to you all soon! Can't wait to hear those resolutions :)

MV

Baby, it's cold outside!

2009-12-06T20:23:00.000-08:00

Brrrr, temperatures are in the 40's (F), there's rain in the forecast and possible snow. Will it be a white Christmas? Not likely, but the lights are strung outside and the holiday spirit is alive and well at Munselle Vineyards.

We're celebrating the season with family & friends, sipping a lovely glass of '06 MV Cabernet as we sit back and admire the tree, warmed by a crackling fire. We love this time of year. Here's to the holidays!

2009-11-03T19:59:00.000-08:00

Maddie traverses the vineyards in a tutu...what a playground!

If you like truffles...

2009-10-29T20:05:00.001-07:00

MV '06 Cabernet and Memoire Truffle cheese is a pairing I'll never forget...

If you're looking for a unique pairing to share with someone special or a tasty offering that will keep your holiday partygoers talking-- this is it! Seriously, it's beyond words.

Find this Dutch Gouda cheese with black Italian truffles at sharpandnutty.com or other fine cheese retailers, and the wine at munsellevineyards.com (of course!).

Vines minus their fruit

2009-10-18T13:58:00.000-07:00

I always think the vines look a little sad after they've been picked -- gaping holes where there were thick, heavy bunches of grapes just days before.

But, while the vines do look a little barren up-close, from a distance the fields display these gorgeous, vibrant fall colors in shades of yellow, orange, red and brown. It's really an incredible time to drive through the wine country and drink it all in...

-Kristen

(Pictures from Osborn Ranch zinfandel -- MV '07 Zin produced from this block's fruit.)

There's a light at the end of...

2009-10-16T19:38:00.000-07:00

the vineyard row?!

Yes -- Bret has confirmed 98% of the 2009 harvest will be completed by the end of next week. He won't wager upon it (he knows I'll hold him to it!), but he says he's pretty, darn confident. It's good enough for me.

We'll be missing him this weekend, but will look forward to some good-quality family time together soon.

- Kristen

Delivering grapes with Bret

2009-09-27T20:37:00.000-07:00

Since I mostly see my grape-growing husband only in passing during harvest time (ever heard the term harvest widow?), my mother-in-law agreed to watch our two little girls so I could hop into the 18-wheeler right alongside him to deliver a load of grapes to Rodney Strong. Thanks Mom!

Okay, here's his stats from the weekend:

206 tons picked
80 gondolas filled @ 2 tons ea. -- 60 to Rodney Strong & 20 to Coppola
8 trips to the wineries averaging two hours each
9 hours of sleep in three, 3-hour increments

Yup! It's busy around here. I don't know how Bret does it all on that amount of sleep, but he even manages to keep a smile on his face...

- Kristen

Harvest 2009 is Here

2009-09-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

Harvest is here and we’re in the thick of it now, picking day and night. The fruit looks fantastic (see photos below) and the crop yield is higher than average on almost every block we’ve picked so far. Why, you ask?

The 2009 season provided absolutely ideal growing conditions. We got off to a great start with very little frost and three inches of rain in the spring. With this abundance of water, the vines grew a huge canopy. Though it was more labor intensive to manage the extra growth (more thinning and leaf pulling), I’ve never see the vines look happier.

A cool, moderate summer with no real heat spikes has been good for the vines. It also gave the grapes a little extra hang time to develop the intense flavor we look for in making great wines. All summer long we’ve been working towards producing exceptional quality wine grapes and the time has come to reap the rewards! So, get in on the action and visit us in the vineyards! Come for a ride in the truck to deliver a load of grapes to the winery, ride on the harvester as we ick by the moonlight or come for a visit while we pick during the day.

Harvest is an exciting time around here and we'd love to share it with you.

The Munselle Family ~ Bill, Reta, Bret and Kristen