02 Aug 🌞 July Summer Newsletter: Updates from Mesa Del Sol 🍇

Dear Friends of Mesa Del Sol,

We hope this newsletter finds you in high spirits as we dive into the heart of the summer season.

July is an exciting time at Mesa Del Sol. We are thrilled to share the latest updates on our vineyard’s progress, tasting notes from our winemaker Tyler Russell, wine insights from Provence, and – saving the best for last – the launch of the Mesa Del Sol Wine Club!

Join Us in Celebrating Wine, Life, and Moments Shared 

This Wine Club is a first in this elegant estate’s history. We invite you to join our Wine Club and embark on this extraordinary journey with us.

Let us raise our glasses to toast to new friendships, memorable experiences, and the love of wine that brings us together.

As always, we are grateful for your unwavering support and enthusiasm for our wines. It is your appreciation that fuels our passion for winemaking and drives us to continually strive for excellence.

From our sun-kissed vineyard to your glass, we raise a toast to memorable summer days filled with joy, laughter, and the company of loved ones. We look forward to welcoming you at Mesa Del Sol soon.

Cheers!

Gary & Stacey

Oh, How Our Vineyard Grows…

As the sun shines brightly upon Mesa Del Sol, our grapevines are thriving! The growing season has been off to a fantastic start, with healthy foliage and promising clusters of grapes. Our skilled foreman, Eduardo, has been meticulously caring for the vineyard, ensuring each vine receives the right balance of water, nutrients, and sunlight.

Pruning and canopy management with our crew is carried out diligently to optimize grape quality and encourage even ripening. Gary focused his farming practices on the ground cover, mulching, and discing of the vineyard to cultivate the rich soil of Mesa Del Sol and to ensure it is done with exceptional care.

Weather Report

The weather plays a vital role in shaping the character of Mesa Del Sol wines and the record rains of 2023 certainly left an abundance of moisture in the soil getting our vines off to a rapid start!

July, in all her patriotic glory, graced us with sun-kissed days, including two periods of intense heat over 100 degrees followed by cooler temps. Typical of the Arroyo Seco AVA appellation where Mesa Del Sol resides, is this exquisite balance between extended sun exposure during the day and cooler nights from the silently invading Central Coast fog as it slinks its way through the Arroyo Seco Canyon providing relief to all.

This daily temperature variation prevents stress on the vines during the dry spells and encourages balanced growth, making ideal conditions for photosynthesis, resulting in excellent sugar accumulation, rich flavors, aromas, and the promise of exceptional wines.

2022 Vintage: Notes from our Winemaker, Tyler Russell

The payoff for all our hard work is nearing fruition with our 2022 vintage. The wine is presently maturing in new oak barrels in Tin City, a hidden gem nestled in the heart of California’s beautiful Central Coast. We had the opportunity to do another barrel tasting after 9 months of aging and we are proud of how well this vintage is maturing.

Winemaker Tyler Russell’s recent tasting notes about our 2022 Zinfandel & Syrah show just how well:

2022 Zinfandel: Aromatically this wine has no shortage of generosity. It really does leap out of the glass. Notes of blue fruit and fresh pastry dominate the bouquet. While on the palate, the red fruit tones of ripe cherry begin to show themselves. Subtle pepper and baking spices compliment the dominant fruit profile. The finish lingers beautifully thanks to the French oak barrel.

2022 Syrah: The nose of this wine is all dark fruit – a very demanding aromatic expression. The first sip of that dark fruit illustrates the power of the nose. Very structured with no shortage of density. Hints of dried herb and minerality support the rich, dark fruit profile. Well-integrated oak holds the mid-palate together nicely. The finish carries gracefully for many minutes.

What do Rocks, Wine, and LeBron James Have in Common?

In our latest wanderlust-inspired escapade, we embarked on a journey through the lush vineyards of Provence this past June, immersing ourselves in the enchanting world of French viticulture. With the picturesque landscape serving as their backdrop, they met with passionate winemakers, exchanging notes and comparing the subtle intricacies of grape growing and winemaking practices.

A particularly captivating discovery was the stark contrast between the terroir of the famed Châteauneuf-du-Pape region and our own Arroyo Seco AVA Appellation.

The galets roulés (large, smooth pebbles) that blanket Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s vineyards act as a solar generator. These stones absorb the abundant Provençal sunlight during the day and release that heat at night, contributing to the richness and power synonymous with the region’s Grenache-based wines.

On the other hand, our Arroyo Seco AVA, characterized by its cool-climate conditions and rocky, gravel-laden soil known as the “Greenfield potatoes,” contributes to a slower ripening of grapes, leading to the production of wines with vibrant acidity, complex flavor profiles, and remarkable age-ability. We were truly humbled imagining how tough on the ankles it must be to harvest grapes in the rocky terroir of Chateauneuf du Pape.

This trip underlines the magic of winemaking – how varying terrains and climates, though miles apart, can foster unique expressions of the noble grape in the bottle. We’re excited to apply the insights from this enriching journey to our own Mesa Del Sol, further refining our winemaking craft.

So what does Le Bron James have to do with all this talk about rocks and French wine, you ask? Nothing really, except while meeting with a multigenerational French winemaker, we saw Le Bron, just tooling down the streets of Provence in a convertible mint condition vintage Mercedes Benz. Oh, and Draymond Green was following him in another vintage Mercedes. Do you think they could have been following us?

Our Wine Club Is Live! Get Your First Shipment This September

At Mesa Del Sol, we believe that wine is not just a beverage but an experience that should be savored, cherished, and shared. That’s why we are so thrilled to raise our glasses and announce the launch of our own Wine Club!

Our Wine Club has been designed to make enjoying our wines easier than ever with biannual shipments, unique experiences, and a warm sense of belonging to our Mesa Del Sol family.

The Benefits of Membership 

Spring & Fall Wine Shipments: As a valued member, you’ll receive carefully curated wine shipments (6 bottles each) twice a year, each showcasing our latest releases and limited-edition vintages. Explore the diverse flavors of our vineyard from the comfort of your home.

Exclusive Wine Selections: Be among the first to taste and collect our most sought-after wines, reserved exclusively for Wine Club members. These exceptional bottles are a testament to our winemaker’s passion and expertise.

Special Discounts: Enjoy members-only discounts of 20% off wine purchases

Vineyard Tours and Tastings: Immerse yourself in the art of winemaking with complimentary tours of our picturesque vineyards. Savor the beauty of the grapevines, learn about our sustainable practices, and indulge in private tastings by appointment only led by yours truly.

How to Join 

Becoming a member of our Wine Club is easy! Simply click here or visit our website and click on the Wine Club tab and follow the prompts. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll be part of the family. You may cancel at any time, but why would you?