Jeff’s Letter From July 2026

Today is the first day of summer. Which means we are about 60 days away from the beginning of the 2026 harvest. My first commercial harvest was in the fall of 1977 at the Paul Masson Sherry Cellars in Madera. That means that 2026 will be my fiftieth harvest. It is true time flies when you are having fun. It doesn’t take much reminiscing to conclude that I have been living my dream. From the embryonic thoughts of a five-acre parcel with an acre each of four different Italian varieties of grapes to a winery and brand producing over forty different awarding winning wines that keeps over twenty-six thousand visitors returning each year. I should learn to smile more frequently.

In an age of conflict, uncertainty, and questions about what is real, I find refuge in putting my heart and soul into a product that has a genuine authenticity. Carefully crafting each expression of every vineyard and varietal gives me peace of mind, knowing we have done our best – and that our best brings enjoyment and comfort to so many. The support and compliments we receive for our efforts provides a warm satisfaction that is an unmatched reward. Thank you.

The temperatures are rising and our selections for July reflect an effort to pair a couple of our offerings to the season. The Wine Club wines, Estate Grenache and the Nostro Vino Primitivo, are both juicy, fruit driven wines with luscious berry aromas, succulent flavors with tannins so soft that the wines will take a chill and provide a refreshment not many can provide in the summer months. For the SME, SME Explorer, SME II, and SME II Explorer selections, we have three more substantial reds to accompany the serious efforts on the grill, Charbono, Alicante Bouschet and Malbec. These wines will deliver a savory accompaniment to steaks, roasts, and game. They also pair well with cassoulet, beef bourguignon, and moussaka.

We have the air conditioning turned up and the fans on the patio turned on so don’t let the forecast keep you from checking out the new wines in person and reacquainting yourselves with old favorites. We look forward to seeing you and sharing the results of another terrific vintage.

PS: To add some color to this communique, I am sharing some of my Peruvian Lily photos (Alstroemeria). Gardening is just a little something I like to do in my off time. I hope you enjoy them!

Cheers,

– Jeff