Vineyard Update from Artesa's Assistant Winemaker

A cold, wet spring pushed back bud break for three weeks this year and we are now finally experiencing a full bloom everywhere in the Napa Valley. With the current vine growth, the 2010 harvest may start very late and will likely be very hectic.

We have already hired our harvest interns from USA, Spain, Italy, and Australia for this year and we are excited for their arrival. To be honest, we would like to think that harvest is still three more months away but we know it will be upon us very soon.

In preparation, we are busy bottling our '09 Chardonnay, Carneros and '09 Pinot Noir, Carneros and we cannot wait to show you these beautiful wines.

-Nori Nakamura, Assistant Winemaker, Artesa Vineyards & Winery, Carneros, Napa

Artesa Vineyards & Winery is having a Wine Naming Contest!

We want YOU, our biggest fans, to help name Artesa’s newest releases from Winemaker Mark Beringer. In addition to renaming of our single-vineyard Cabernets and one of our single-vineyard Pinots, we’re also looking to name three new WINE CLUB EXCLUSIVE blends that will be released in the next 12 months. We are over the moon that Mark has decided to reach out to our Club Members for help with this very important project!

Mark is hoping to find a new name for our Foss Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the Block 91D Pinot Noir. But in addition, he’s got three amazing new blends coming out that needs names as well: a Rioja blend, a Cabernet/Bordeaux Blend, and a Merlot/Cabernet Franc Blend.

If we choose your name, you will receive a very special gift from Mark and the entire Artesa family, as well as having your name mentioned on our website, in our newsletter and in other print publications right alongside Mark Beringer!