It's been a cold week!

We have been needing to do a little frost protection. The picture with the ice on the apple tree shows one of the frost protection methods we have been using. When the temperature dips to a critical point for the fruit buds, we turn on the water. Calories are required to freeze water, so as it freezes, it actually releases a little heat. As long as we keep the water on, and making ice, a little heat will be released to the fruit bud. The one picture of the open cherry blossom shows a green ovary - which means it was not damaged by the cold weather. Still not much visible change to the Riesling grapes,but the alfalfa field is getting much more lush.
It was really cold and YUCKY weather for our first open weekend this season! Thank you to all of you who came out & visited! We are glad to have that spring storm behind us.

Closed Easter Sunday - April 4 -Opening Weekend

We will open for the season Friday April 2, and be open Saturday April 3, but will be closed Sunday, April 4. Both Friday and Saturday we will be open from 11:00 to 5:00. The following weekends we will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 to 5:00 each day.

Guerra's Gourmet lunches Spring Barrel weekend

Aaron is preparing some great lunches for the spring barrel weekend. He has changed the menu a little this year adding a few more choices to the popular grilled asparagus. Here is what he has planned.

Guerra's at Steppe Cellars Spring Barrel Tasting April 24th - 25th:

• Tacos de barbacoa (slow roasted beef) marinated with Steppe Cellars Big Sage Red and Guerra's Gourmet seasoning

• Tacos de pollo (slow roasted chicken breast) marinated with Steppe's Semillon and Guerra's Gourmet seasoning

• Grilled asparagus

Condiments all prepared by Aaron (with a little wine to enhance flavors):

pico de gallo

roasted red salsa

tomatillo salsa

Meal: Choice of 3 tacos of barbacoa(marinated beef) or pollo (marinated chicken)), grilled asparagus, and drink (water/coke/diet coke) $10

Chips and his homemade Salsa $5

Grilled fresh local Asparagus $5/plate

His meals have always been a great hit spring barrel weekend. We hope you come out and join us for a picnic under the cherry trees away from the crowds.

Tasting Room Opening this weekend

We open for the season this weekend! Our hours are 11:00 -5:00 Friday through Sunday. This first weekend we will be open just Friday and Saturday - and close for Easter Sunday (April 4.)

Napa

Tom & I were in the Napa Valley this weekend - (St. Helena) - so no photos from around our farms - but here is a picture of a Cabernet vine there.  It's further along than our Riesling vine.

First weekend of spring!

It was a gorgeous weekend & just felt like spring was arriving.  We saw groupings of robins for the first time.  We've just been seeing them singly prior to this.  Also heard a meadowlark.  The worms were all doing their thing - which explains the number of birds out & about.  The fruit trees are all advancing in their stages of bud development.  The alfalfa is up - and that little shepperd's purse is showing some of the seeds that give it its name.  The field of triticale has filled in so much - it is hard to see the rows now.  The riesling grape plant doesn't show much change yet - which makes it fun to watch a little later.

Shepherds purse & Trit

It' been cool but this little Shepherd's Purse really put on some growth from last week. Fruit trees look the same - Triticale is really filling in