Niner News - Summer Edition
July 2008
Welcome to the sixth issue of Niner News!
The biggest news from Niner is that we broke ground on the winery site in early April. The high-tech “Soil Nail” retaining wall is up and we have started on the grading and the future floor. A grand opening of our winery and tasting room is tentatively planned for fall of 2009.
Heart Hill and Bootjack Ranch Updates
The first 20 acres of Heart Hill were planted spring 2007, with small blocks of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Syrah, and Grenache blanc, and these young vines are looking great. In most blocks, the vines are up the stake and currently being topped so we can select our cordons from the laterals that push. We are being very careful not to let them grow too fast so we will have just the right spacing between our future spur positions.
At Bootjack, we have trained the young Carmenere vines and expect to get our very first, very light crop off these youngest vines from the 2005 planting. We are also redeveloping two blocks that were pulled out due to virus problems, in which we have taken the opportunity to divide the blocks differently and change the row direction, as well as the rootstocks and clones. Previously one block each of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, they are now two blocks each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
We are being assisted in our viticultural efforts by two new consultants – we needed two people to fill Jim Smoot’s shoes – Michael Walsh and Tom Prentice, both very accomplished veterans of the business, and we are happy to have their help.
We continue to produce all the Niner wines from estate-grown fruit from our Bootjack Ranch on Highway 46 East. At Bootjack, there are currently 125 planted acres of Sauvignon blanc, Barbera, Sangiovese, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere.
Niner Accolades
Our team is proud to announce the following results from recent competitions from around the country.
2006 Sauvignon Blanc
Silver Medal - Pacific Rim International Wine Competition - April, 2008
Silver Medal - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition - January, 2008
2005 Sangiovese
Gold Medal - Pacific Rim International Wine Competition - April, 2008
Silver Medal - New World International Wine Competition - February, 2008
2005 Syrah
Silver Medal - West Coast Wine Competition - April, 2008
Local Wine Picks: “You don't need to look far to find Syrah that would be at home on the table at your backyard barbecue. There are plenty of them being produced from the vineyards of Paso Robles…Niner Wine Estates 2005 Bootjack Ranch Syrah, $20.This reasonably priced Syrah from Niner's vineyard on the east side of Paso Robles is plump and ripe, with blackberry, coffee and white pepper notes. It's also on the tannic side, so either decant it or drink it with a hearty meat dish...”
Laurie Daniels – The Tribune – June, 2008
2005 Merlot
Gold Medal - National Women Winemakers Challenge - March, 2008
Silver Medal -West Coast Wine Competition - April, 2008
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
Gold Medal - Pacific Rim International Wine Competition - April, 2008
Silver Medal - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition - January, 2008
2005 Fog Catcher
Gold Medal – Los Angeles International Wine Competition – June, 2008
Gold Medal – San Francisco International Wine Competition – June, 2008
Silver Medal - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition - January, 2008
We invite you to check out a complete list of reviews and awards on the “Happenings” tab on our web site: www.ninerwine.com.
Niner Happenings
In addition to the construction of our winery and tasting room and the continued improvements in our estate vineyards, we have had a lot of other “happenings” within the Niner world.
In March, Kenneth Bryant became the newest member of the Niner team, when he joined us as our Director of Sales. Ken’s roots are deeply connected with the food and wine business. He first worked alongside his family at their small seafood restaurant just outside of New Orleans and subsequently spent over 25 years working in the hospitality industry. Ken went on to become the Maitre d' Hotel at the highly acclaimed Windsor Court Hotel where he and Chef Jeff Tunks, brought the coveted 5th Mobil Star to New Orleans for the first time for outstanding cuisine and service. Bryant left New Orleans in 1998 to take the position of Maitre d' Hotel at the Ritz Carlton, San Francisco. There he worked with Chef Sylvain Portay and Master Sommelier Emmanuel Kemiji, to capture the culinary heart of San Francisco at the famed Dining Room. In 2001 Ken retired from the fine dining arena to manage a
small wine project in Sonoma County and worked to produce and promote the wines of Miura Vineyards. He was later approached by the famous Australian wine importer, Dan Philips, and spent several years studying and promoting the wines of boutique, small production, Australian wineries; many of which are now some of the most sought after wines in the world. Ken now lives in Southern California with his wife. He is extremely proud to be a part of this organization and we are very happy to have him.
For any questions regarding the sales and distribution of Niner wines in your market, please feel free to contact Ken at kbryant@ninerwine.com or 805-844-8811.
We have also added a member to the Niner product family with the production of our own Extra Virgin Olive Oil, from our Bootjack Ranch Vineyard on Highway 46 East.
When Pam and Dick Niner first purchased Bootjack, they planted thirty olive trees of mostly Italian and Spanish varieties. Last fall we harvested our first batch of olives and produced our first oil.
The 2007 Olive Oil is available for sale on our website: www.ninerwine.com. Don’t wait to order – we have about one case left of this distinctive oil.
Summer Shipping Update
Because we want to be sure our wine gets to you in the same condition that it left us and we cannot guarantee its quality if it is exposed to high temperatures, we will not ship wines during the summer months. All orders placed during the summer will be held until September 1st. We appreciate your understanding.
To place an order, click on the “Shop” tab on our website: www.ninerwine.com.
Where to find Niner Wines
Niner Wine Estates is distributed in:
California
Alabama
Georgia
Indiana
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Oregon
Tennessee
Texas
Washington
Interested in distributing Niner wines? Please click on the map above, submit your information and we will contact you promptly.
Look for Niner wines in local shops and restaurants, and if they do not carry them, please ask them to! You may also call the office at 805.239.2233 for a complete list of shops and restaurants carrying Niner wines. But if your favorite shop does not yet stock Niner wines, remember you can always buy them through our website: www.ninerwine.com.
Cheers!
The Niner Team
