Sleep Well, 2011 Tejón Zinfandel

After an optimum harvest and fermentation (harvested Sep. 27), today we put our 2011 Tejón Zinfandel to rest in barrels. Aside from the occasional topping, it will take an extended nap until spring of 2012. We were able to fit the wine into 7 barrels, two of which are new. So far the 2011 Tejón is showing many of the same bright fruit characteristics as our 2010, however, it’s already showing much greater depth. We are looking forward to watching the wine evolve in barrel!

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2011 Harvest Begins!

So it begins: HFW is getting ready to pick our first round of fruit for the 2011 vintage tomorrow. First up to the plate is a small portion of our old-clone zinfandel vineyard at Hamel Family Ranch to be used for our as-of-yet-unnamed rosé. We are picking the grapes at a slightly lower sugar and higher acid than we normally would for zinfandel to give our rosé a refreshing crispness. We are hoping it will be the perfect beverage for a hot day next summer. For now, we thought we’d put up some photos of the vineyard still dressed up with fruit. Stay tuned for some action shots of the pick tomorrow and subsequent press in the winery…

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Sonoma Wine Country Weekend Winemaker’s Lunch at HFR

A photographic recap of our Winemaker Lunch on September 2 as part of Sonoma Wine Country Weekend. We unleashed our full roster of wine, Chef Sheana Davis’ delicious “locavoracious” menu, and the ferocious badger on a great crowd of wine enthusiasts. The result was an excellent wine-paired meal looking out over Hamel Family Ranch and the beautiful Sonoma Valley!

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HFW’s New 1945 Dodge WF32

We are slowly accumulating a fleet of trucks here at Hamel Family Wines. The latest addition is the 1945 Dodge WF32, a workhorse from a seemingly bygone era when classic American automotive design style was at its peak. One of less than a hundred 1945 WF32s left in the United States, this truck serviced the agricultural industry with decades of reliability and grace. We’re hoping it will flex some of its old muscles for us here on the Ranch. Decals to follow!

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Five Seats Left for Sonoma Wine Country Weekend Winemaker Lunch!

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Special Invitation to HFW Winemaker Lunch

To kick off California Wine Month, your friends at Hamel Family Wines will be taking part in the 2011 Sonoma Wine Country Weekend this Labor Day Weekend! We would like to extend a personal invitation to purchase tickets for the HFW Winemaker Lunch on Friday, September 2nd at 12:30 pm. Come to our Sonoma Ranch, where you’ll enjoy an intimate dining experience surrounded by beautiful estate vineyards, 95 year-old olive trees, and sweeping views of the entire Sonoma Valley. We will be pouring our limited production, terroir-driven wines paired with a “loca-voracious” menu prepared by Chef Sheana Davis. Her four-course lunch will bring you on a tasting tour through HFW’s growing wine collection, while also delighting your palate with the fresh, seasonal flavors of Sonoma Valley fare. There are only a limited number of tickets available, so hurry to purchase yours today by clicking here! Look forward to seeing everyone there!

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Racking the 2010 Tejón Zinfandel

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HFW’s First Blend

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HFW August Newsletter

Click here to read our August Newsletter announcing George F. Hamel III joining HFW.

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More HFW “Billboards”

Slowly peppering Sonoma Highway with HFW “billboards”… look at that red soil our HFR Zinfandel is rooted in!

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