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17 Mar

Posted at 23:52h in Wine
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I've played around with whole-cluster fermentation in Pinot Noir for years, but in 2022, I fully committed to it. After seeing how it enhanced structure and complexity in small experimental batches, I realized its potential as a key tool for expressing terroir. That year's vintage, with its ideal balance of ripeness and stem lignification, was the perfect opportunity to go all in. This old-school technique—fermenting grapes with their stems still attached—is making a big comeback among winemakers looking to add serious depth and complexity to their wines.   What is Whole-Cluster Fermentation? Instead of removing the stems before fermentation, we keep the entire grape bunch intact. This simple decision has a huge impact on the final wine, influencing everything from texture to aroma to the way the tannins feel on your palate. At Joseph...

15 Nov

Posted at 19:28h in Recipes, Wine
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As the season of gratitude and togetherness approaches, the Joseph Jewell Wines family is excited to share something special with you. Our team—Chelsea, our marketing maven; Regan, the welcoming face of our tasting room; Adrian, our passionate winemaker; and Lily, Adrian's culinary partner in crime—has curated a collection of their favorite recipes and wine pairings just for your Thanksgiving celebrations. These selections are crafted to enhance your holiday gatherings, bringing the perfect harmony of flavors to complement our wines. We hope these pairings bring as much joy to your celebrations as they do to ours! Adrian's Smoked Turkey Recipe Since 2007, my wife Lily and I have hosted Thanksgiving for both our family and friends. One of our favorite traditions is a turkey cook-off: I smoke one on the Weber while she roasts...

13 May

Posted at 09:00h in Recipes, Vineyards, Wine
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In 2023 our winemaker Adrian Manspeaker was finally able to get his hands on a small block of Sauvignon Blanc from the Starscape Vineyard in Russian River Valley, from which we source Pinot Noir for both Joseph Jewell and our Jewell Reserve Wines. Every time he would visit Starscape to check on the Pinot, he’d sneak a golden berry from these Sauvignon Blanc vines and revel in their intense flavor.  Adrian has made Sauvignon Blanc in the past (2007-2011, and 2019) from various sites around Sonoma County. He's even experimented with the Musqué clone–a unique mutation of Sauvignon Blanc we’ll introduce you to later in this article. However, the 2023 Starscape Sauvignon Blanc is a new exploration of this lesser-planted variety in the Russian River for him, with the resulting wine...

02 Jan

Posted at 21:29h in Uncategorized
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Greetings from Sonoma County!  ​​As we step into a new chapter and bid adieu to 2023–brimming with rain, surprises, and exceptional grape-growing conditions–we eagerly anticipate the unfolding of a remarkable year ahead. Among the myriad of highlights awaiting us in 2024, one that stands out prominently is the upcoming debut of our highly anticipated Sauvignon Blanc from the esteemed Starscape Vineyard. 2023 Harvest Recap 2023 commenced with an abundance of rain–a blessing considering the dire drought situation we faced in Northern California at the time. Throughout the winter months, nine atmospheric rivers rolled through the area, transforming our landscape and filling reservoirs to historic highs. Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino, once at their lowest levels in 2022, now proudly boast their highest water levels on record–ever! Mother Nature has certainly shown her power. As...

03 Feb

Posted at 00:59h in Events, News
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Join us for Art & Wine Happy Hour Friday, February 17th, 4-7pm 6542 Front St, Forestville, CA 95436 Join us at Joseph Jewell's Tasting Room as we stay open late to celebrate a belated Valentine's Day with local artist Michelle Carnes! Bring a friend and it becomes Pal-entine's Day. We will be pouring complimentary tastings of our The Artist Series wines, which support charitable causes and whose labels feature Michelle's artwork. 2021 Sparkling Vermentino (pet nat) - only a few cases left 2021 Skin-fermented pinot gris  2020 Skin-fermented pinot gris Also available by the glass or bottle are two pinots we released earlier this year to enjoy along with some of Michelle's freshest new artwork. 2020 Eel River, Pinot Noir, Humboldt County 2019 Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir A portion of profits from the Artist Series wines, along with a portion of sales...

05 Jan

Posted at 20:30h in Events, Uncategorized, Vineyards, Wine
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As we begin 2023, we are as equally excited for what is to come as we are for how 2022 went for Joseph Jewell! 2022: Looking Back 2022 was, in many ways, our return to normalcy post-COVID. In February, we were thrilled to reopen our Vineyard Tours after the gloomy winter months and were soon met with glorious Summer-like weather. We hosted an Art & Wine event featuring local artist Michelle Carnes in April, which was well-attended and thoroughly enjoyed by many of you! As we rounded the corner to Summer, Master Somm Evan Goldstein held a panel of 20 winemakers at the annual Russian River Valley Pinot Forum featuring our winemaker, Adrian Manspeaker, as one of the vintners who spoke. Later, in August, we hosted our first Vineyard Dinner in three years...

12 Dec

Posted at 17:51h in Uncategorized
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'Tis the season to shower yourself, friends, and family with holiday cheer. A great way to elevate your celebrations is to consider how to select your holiday wines, pairings, and more.  How To Select Holiday Wines Whether you plan to pair wines with food or simply swirl and enjoy during the festivities, wine selections are a great way to make the time with your holidays even more special. Here are our favorite tips...

09 May

Posted at 00:09h in Wine
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2022 marks the 16th year of Joseph Jewell Wines. Making wine is certainly a labor of love and having a community who supports us through the ups and downs has been a true honor. I’m proud that this small wine business has brought joy to so many. On behalf of myself, my wife Lily, and our three daughters, we want to thank you for your friendship and patronage. Never in my grandest dreams did I imagine where Joseph Jewell would go when we made that first barrel of Russian River Pinot Noir in my little garage in Windsor, California. For one, I was illusioned under the guise of, “if you make it they will buy it.” I know now that is far from fact. The old industry adage, “making wine is...

08 Sep

Posted at 18:41h in Vineyards
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Just outside the town of Healdsburg, the 38 sustainably farmed acres of the Bucher Vineyard produce elegant and nuanced Pinot Noir for our single-vineyard bottling of the same name. Owner and farmer John Bucher has made quite a reputation for himself as a winegrower in the Russian River Valley, with the likes of Williams Selyem lobbying for fruit annually from his Westside Road estate that overlooks the Russian River. Being neighbors with the coveted Rochioli Vineyard to the south, it is easy to understand why the grapes from Bucher Vineyard are held in such high regard. We've been sourcing fruit since 2014 from a steep hillside block on the west edge of the property along with a smaller block towards the bottom of the slope adjacent to Westside Road. Bucher History As a...