Where to Find California Wineries with Fun for All | Wine Institute SAN FRANCICSO — Many moms and dads visit California wine country for much-needed “grown-up” time in one of the world’s most beautiful wine regions, but many don’t realize that dozens of the state’s wineries offer special activities and accommodations for kids. While adults sample the latest vintages, children can have their own fun tasting grape juice, romping in play areas, visiting with farm animals and playing outdoor games. Before embarking on a fun family outing in California’s wine country, Wine Institute recommends that parents call ahead or check the winery website to make sure minors are welcome. Some don’t allow guests under age 21 due to liability concerns or preference. Once kids get the green light, they’ll be able to join you at the winery, and can often participate in vineyard and winery tours. Among many wineries in California, Captain Vineyards of Contra Costa was featured Captain Vineyards of Moraga, Contra...
Wishing all our family, friends and others a wonderful, peaceful and tranquil 4th of July. This year more than many, we have much to be grateful for; simply weathering the pandemic that disrupted so many unfortunate ones. We are in the process of bottling our 2014 vintage Petite Sirah/Grenache, being called “San Francisco Bay” This vintage spent 84 months in French Oak barrels, and will be available for purchase in 6- 9 months. Sasha Captain was helping!! The 4th of July special: If you come to the winery, Buy any 3 bottles and get the 4th of equivalent value for free. Currently watching our young clusters grow daily, and the vineyard looks wonderful, however, we still are under extreme...
Spring brought a lot of new promise, not only our buds started burst with energy, but, the world is tip towing around COVID vaccine. Our vineyard has been pruned & tied. Two photos explains how we control our weed and what we do with last years shoots. We have been shredding since day one of our 15 year history managing our vineyard. Our moto is to keep every bi product of our operation on site. That includes keeping rain water collected and kept on site for future use in our vineyard. Our amazing shredder We will wait for the new buds to grow about 5 inches before we will go out at each vine and select buds that...
Here at Captain Vineyards we engage our wine members to get involved directly in the process of t harvest of the grapes and the wine making. Our naturally, hand cultivated grapes and wines, is a unique trade of Captain Vineyards and we like our members to actually see, feel & smell the beginning of the wine making. Once you participate in the the harvest, you will never look at a bottle of wine the same way! WE harvested 5000Lbs. of Petite Sirah, 1500Lbs. of Pinot Noir, 1500Lbs. of Cab Sav., 500 Lbs. of Cab Franc, and 2500 Lbs. of Petite Verdot. 11 K Lbs. of grapes from our 2 acres of wine grapes. as of early November, all our wines...
Aging fine red wine is not a waiting game; at least once per year during the three-to-seven years in French oak barrels, the wine goes through labor-intensive "racking." This process softens tannins, clarifies the wine and enhances aromatic qualities.
And now I understand why racking the natural way, relying on gravity only and not adding anything, really protects the terroir notes in the wine!
