Clark-Claudon’s WeBlog

It has been like living in a mushroom cloud around here.  As we all tried to adjust to the dark choking gloom I appreciated our firefighters on a whole new level.  Thankfully most, if not all, of the fires are now contained or under control.  The blue sky has not returned, but at least the air is more tolerable, there is a breeze and clearer skys are on the way.  A week like this puts just plain breathing into perspective.   Thank you Fire Fighters!!!

Categories: Uncategorized

Did you know…

One barrel of wine equals 20 cases which equals 1200 glasses of wine

A ton of grapes makes about 720 bottles of wine, or 60 cases

One vine, on a hillside like ours, produces about 2 bottles of wine or 10 glasses annually

Each bottle of wine contains about 2.8 pounds of grapes.  That means each 5-oz glass of wine contains a little over half a pound of grapes.

Interesting…worth sharing over a great glass of red wine…I might have a few suggestions of which red wine…

Categories: Recent Postings

It is great to see how many of you have subscribed to our blog!  Now I feel motivated to be witty, wise and captivating.  I don’t know about all that, but  I will try to keep it interesting…

As far as comments go, so far we have received offers for strange insurance, interesting equipment and oh, there was that one about an itty bitty bikini…I won’t go there, but don’t these people have anything better to do?!  No worries, the subscriptions let us know you are out there…more later…

Categories: Recent Postings

Our community is ready to be the hostess with the mostest as Auction Napa Valley 2008 kicks off.  This four day event, sponsered by Napa Valley Vintners, brings together the entire community to raise money for health, housing and education programs in our county.Click here to learn more about who it helps.  Local, out of state and international attendees come to savor the generosity & bounty that is Napa Valley.  Over its 27 year history, the auction has enabled Napa Valley Vintners to give nearly $78 million to our community.

Tom & I will be pouring our 2006 vintage from barrel during the Taste Napa Valley Barrel Auction on Friday.  With a history of being in the top tier of barrel lots, we are looking foreward to sharing this vintage while raising a good chunk of change. Clark-Claudon wines will also be part of the Welcome Wagon lot being auctioned off during the main event on Saturday evening. 

If you are attending please come by our barrel for a taste!

Categories: Experience, Recent Postings
Tags: Auction Napa Valley, Barrel Auction, Clark Claudon, Napa Valley Vintners

I figure wine enthusiasts fall into at least three categories. There are those who see wine as an expression of art & soul; something much bigger than the bottle in hand. Some are looking for a trophy to admire and enjoy while communicating who they are. While others want an enjoyable beverage to have on its own or to accompany a meal; better yet, if perceived to be a deal.

I imagine that many of us fall into all of these categories depending on the moment and the wine. None is more, “noble” than another, but I do wonder if the emphasis on trophy wines & their accompaning scores has taken away from plain ordinary enjoyment and/or a realization of the hard work and wonder that goes into making a beautiful wine.

In other words, is the emphasis on scores and consequent perceived worth driving the soul out of winemaking? Or worse, is it motivating winemakers to use the, “score formula” rather than working with the season and the vineyard to define each wine. Is wine a product of nature; a story of place, one season and all the hard working hands & hearts that make it or is it … Read more

Categories: Recent Postings
Tags: Clark Claudon, winemaking trends