Wagner Family of Wine Blog

The growing season has begun!  Our buds are open and we’re starting to see the grape clusters form. Bud break came ahead of schedule this year,  between March 30th and April 1st, thanks to a warm Spring.  Soon we will shoot-thin to only leave two shoots per position, resulting in 1-2 clusters per shoot.  By reducing the number of clusters per vine, we are able to keep our fruit yields low to make a higher quality wine.  To learn more, please watch this video of my daughter Jenny Wagner talking about bud break.  To learn more about the other wines made by my family, please visit: www.wagnerfamilyofwine.com

- Chuck Wagner, Owner & Winemaker

My goal with each of the Belle Glos single-vineyard Pinot Noir vineyards is to express the genuine uniqueness of each vineyard site.  Our Clark & Telephone vineyard is located in the Santa Maria Valley AVA, which is unlike most North American wine growing regions, as the valley runs from east-to-west instead of parallel to the ocean.  This creates a much cooler climate because the wind and sea fog are funneled directly in from the Pacific, resulting in a long growing season and ripening period for the grapes.  Perfect for growing our style of Pinot Noir.

This vineyard was planted in 1972 to the Martini clone of Pinot Noir on its own roots.  As a result of intensive pruning and crop thinning, the vines produce loose clusters, with small, intensely flavored berries, yielding dense, dark-berry fruit and abundant sweet brown spice characteristics that are synonymous with this particular clone.

I’m very happy to say that since it’s first release in 2002, The Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir has been growing in popularity.  The 2010 vintage was rated 93 points by Wine Spectator Magazine and was featured in their Top 100 wine list of 2012.  Wine & Spirits Magazine also rated Belle Glos as the #1 Most Popular Pinot Noir in both their 2011 and 2012 Annual Restaurant Polls.

Thanks to our loyal pinot-philes, we are able to take this vineyard one step further.  I know how much our fans enjoy this wine, so on March 11th, 2013 we planted more Pinot Noir vines at this beautiful site, using some adjoining land that was previously planted to Chardonnay.  Once we pulled out the old vines, we ripped the ground in three directions at a depth of three feet.  The block was then cultivated with discs to get the ground ready to plant.  Beginning with breaking ground, then planting and covering with cartons for protection from wind and sun, and finally having irrigation up and running, it took nearly 3 weeks.  Now on to the careful tending of the young vines as they mature over the next decade or so, into world class Pinot Noir fruit bearers.  Thanks to our trusted vineyard managers and Belle Glos fans for playing an important role in helping us preserve and cultivate a bright future for our Clark & Telephone Vineyard.

- Joseph Wagner, Winemaker & Viticulturist

Clark & Telephone Vineyard (Photo Copyright by Lee Ibarra and The Wagner Family of Wine)

We are very excited to announce that Mer Soleil Winery (located in Monterey County, California) will again be the host site for the 2013 Santa Lucia Highlands Gala wine tasting event on May 18th. Last year was a blast! We had over 30 wineries pouring their very best wines. Here’s a little video showcasing how much fun we had last year. Click here to PURCHASE TICKETS for this year’s event.

We will be pouring our 2010 Mer Soleil Barrel Fermented Chardonnay and our 2011 SILVER Unoaked Chardonnay.  My brother Joseph Wagner will also be there pouring his 2011 Las Alturas, Santa Lucia Highlands, Pinot Noir.  To learn more about the other wines made by my family, please visit: www.wagnerfamilyofwine.com

- Charlie Wagner II, Mer Soleil winemaker