Friday Snippets

The first fruit of the 2010 Harvest arrived from the McIntyre Estate Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands yesterday. From 4.66 tons of Martini clone Pinot Noir we will make approximately 150 cases each of Blanc de Noir Sparkling wine and Rosé of Pinot Noir. The picture on the right shows the bins of fruit at the crush pad, and below are samples of juice after various press cycles. Check out the video for a detailed look at the process.

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Our Sales Manager, Gregory Peebles, has been busy making new friends out in the wider world. You can now find La Rochelle Pinots in these new accounts...UnCorked in Saratoga; Postino Restaurant and Jackson's Wine and Spirits in Lafayette; and  UnWined and Joseph George Wines in San Jose. When you visit these terrific restaurants and wine shops, please let them know we sent you!

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On Friday, September 24th from 6-8pm, I will pouring a selection of La Rochelle and Steven Kent wines at UnCorked in Saratoga. Come on by and taste a flight!

New Wine Club for La Rochelle

We're excited to announce a new wine club in La Rochelle which showcases our Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Rose and Sparkling Wine! We're calling it the White Wine Club and our first release will be October 23rd - 2007 Blanc de Noir, $30.

• White Wine Club Benefits;
  All Members Receive guaranteed allocation of club wines and complimentary entry for two at La Rochelle Wine Club Release Parties
  
  2-Bottle Members Receive
  Two (2) VIP tasting passes with each release
  15% member allowance on all White Wine Club releases and select tasting room releases
  
  6-Bottle Members Receive
  Complimentary tasting for two in the La Rochelle tasting room year round
  20% member allowance for all La Rochelle wines

Upcoming Releases

October 2010 – 2007 Blanc de Noir, $30 (Steven's Video Tasting Note)
December 2010 – 2009 Pinot Blanc, $26
February 2011 – 2010 Pinot Rose, $20
April 2011– 2010 Pinot Gris, $26

Wine memberships are available in 2 or 6 bottle allocations and are released every February, April, October and December. You have the option to pick up your allocation at the winery, or ship (direct shipping laws apply). These wines are first allocated to club members and are then available to everyone.

Click here to join this exciting new wine club

Friday Snippets

Just when we thought that it would never arrive, the harvest comes creeping in on little cat feet (sorry Carl Sandburg). Yesterday, Wente Vineyards' Large Lot facility received its first truck loads of fruit from the Central Valley. The Small Lot winery will see our first fruit on Wednesday as we bring in about 5 tons of Pinot Noir from the McIntyre Estate vineyard for the 2010 vintage of Blanc de Noir sparkling wine and Rosé.

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Did someone just scream SPARKLING WINE FROM LA ROCHELLE!!!!!?????? 

Oh...it was me. Anyway...we are very excited to be introducing a new wine club opportunity for white wine lovers...and the 2007 La Rochelle Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine will be the first release for this new club on October 23, 2010. Here is Steven talking about the new wine of which only 80 cases were produced in this first vintage. For more information about joining, click here.