http://www.rmerlo.com Vineyard and Winery Updates http://www.rmerlo.com/happenings.php#event-reoccuring-dozenvitners 3000 St. Helena Highway North (Highway 29), St. Helena, CA 94574 - Come taste the newest and most exciting wines from R. Merlo Estate Vineyards. http://www.rmerlo.com/happenings.php#09-09-2009 9/09/2009: August found us very busy at the winery, bottling and making space for the up coming vintage. We are very pleased with the quality of the 2007 red wines as they went into the bottle. They will be resting for a few months before we begin checking them for release. The vineyard is beautiful and in good balance. We have started to take regular samplings of the grapes as they mature. We are currently around 20 brix with a target of 24 brix for harvest. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir here in Hyampom should be ready in 2 to 3 weeks depending on the weather. This weekend was very cool, perfect to give the phenols and flavaniods more time to mature before the sugars and acid levels are right for harvest. http://www.rmerlo.com/happenings.php#07-10-2009 7/10/2009: The vines in the vineyard are growing extremely fast. It is quite a chore hedging and keeping the canopy open to the light. By the time we finish putting up the canes to support the vines; it is time to start over at the beginning of the vineyard. We continue tilling our bumper crop of star thistle brought on by the late rain. Each year has own challenge. This year’s challenge is keeping up the grooming of such a wonderful and fast growing crop. http://www.rmerlo.com/happenings.php#06-10-2009 6/10/2009: With only ten years of wine production, our winery is already taking top honors in some of the nation's best wine competitions. Both of the wine submissions the winery submitted to the Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition brought home gold medals. We entered the 2005 Pinot Noir and 2005 Syrah. In addition to the gold medals, the Pinot Noir was also awarded Best of Class, a very impressive distinction among such a world class group of contestants. The Los Angeles International Wine and Sprits Competition, rated as one of the nation's top five wine competitions in the United States by USA Today, is taking place at the Los Angeles Fairplex in Pomona, California. Over 4,000 wines were to be judged arriving from countries around the world. Last year's competition was represented by 16 different countries. This year's wines were judged from May 27 through May 29. All of the winners will be announced at the "Wine and Cars Under the Stars" gala to be held at the Los Angeles Fairplex June 20. This event will feature lively entertainment while giving the public the first opportunity to taste the winning wines from the competition.