Yes, it’s harvest time in Ventura County Vineyards!

On Friday, I joined Martin’s crew and winemakers Gretel Compton and Bruce Freeman at the Rincon Vineyards which straddles Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties with the bulk of the pinot noir on the Santa Barbara side. This vineyard really is spitting distance to the ocean at Rincon Point– you can see and hear the 101 freeway format he vineyards as well as the ocean.

Since the Close des Amis rose has been so wildly popular, the decision was to pick a bit early, press quickly and make a rose of pinot noir from the fruit. Isn’t it pretty?

Then on Sunday, Sue and John, Angie and Scott, and I joined Bruce and Gretel at the Mitchell vineyard above Saticoy at the eastern edge of the city of Ventura to pick  Chardonnay that will go into the Clos des Amis sparkling wine, Cham-Bang!