Laurie Claudon -
July 24, 2010 – 2:41 pm
Financial troubles have motivated some wine distributors, retailers and individuals to sell their wine inventory at extremely discounted prices. Consequently, there are some very sweet deals out there. This is good for wine lovers now, but it can cripple small artisan winemakers and have a negative impact on what will be available in the long term.
We appreciate all of our customers who have continued to support us and other artisan producers. Together we are sustaining the art, the passion and the soul found in great wine.
Laurie Claudon -
July 20, 2010 – 9:36 am
It was a Buen Dia; 'good day'!
…funky barn, yummy wine, sticky fingers, hand filler, purple smiles, crooked labels, family fun, laughter, hand corking, amazing sky, vineyard beauty, new friends…
If you weren’t…you should have been there!
Next Event: October 2010
Barrel Party/2007 Release Celebration/2010 Harvest Party all rolled into one
Laurie Claudon -
July 12, 2010 – 10:53 am
Clark-Claudon in Asia
Clark-Claudon Vineyards is an inaugural winery partner of Altruistic Wines, www.altruisticwines.com. The new company rolled out in April with a Boutique Wines Festival in Hong Kong featuring 30 small artisan wine producers and the culinary creations of:
- Ken Frank of La Toque
- Josiah Citrin of Melisse
- Hosea Rosenberg –the season 5 winner of Top Chef
It was an amazing 6 day whirlwind of dinners, tastings, cultural experiences & great people topped by a $2500 (HK)/person gala. I would travel with that group of vintners & chefs any time any where!
Floods in Tennessee, Heat in Texas & Rain at Home
I returned from Hong Kong and then left for Tennessee two days later to participate in our friend and customer Tim Brinkmann’s Wine and Spirits charity event. Sadly, we were derailed by the floods…
Two weeks later I was off to Texas for a short hot market visit and wine dinner. The dinner at Boo Rays in Fort Worth was a night to remember; like no wine makers dinner I have ever experienced. I felt like I was in the bayou for sure. By the end of the evening I had 70 new Clark-Claudon wine loving friends!
Back in the Napa Valley…
In Tennessee there was record breaking rain and floods and in Texas, no one could remember when it had been so hot so early. Of course at home, we were having more rain than I could remember!
Thankfully, Napa Valley is now having perfectly beautiful warm days and cool nights. Just right for our 2010 vintage! It is good to be home…
Laurie Claudon -
September 22, 2009 – 3:25 pm
My 36th Napa Valley harvest is well on its way. Enjoy my Napa Valley Vintners Blog post about the children’s role in this amazing valley.
Laurie Claudon -
July 23, 2009 – 10:59 am
2007 being bottled, every detail in the vineyard being covered, Paxton Joshua Clark is born, move to Arkenstone Winery soon under way, changes in our winemaking team & beating back the effects of the recession…never a dull moment around here!
Since wine making is about the most regulated business there is we had to send a huge packet to the TTB to prove we are who we have always been & have not become felons etc. I have been assured that the license will be in our hot hands in time for harvest!
In the interim; what hasn’t made the cut is being sold on the bulk wine market while used barrels & racks are going too. Since we experienced such frost damage in 2008, the cream of what was harvested, about 20 barrels of 2008 Cab, will be moving with us to Clark-Claudon @ Arkenstone. That translates to 500 cases. Once we go through our evaluation process it may go down to 250!
We are so excited about this upcoming vintage. In many ways it feels like a new beginning. It has been 20 years since we began to develop our vineyard…I wonder what the next 20 will bring!
More about winemaker changes soon…
