For those of us who have not met, I am Laura Barrett, Winemaker for Clif Family Winery. I began this position in November of 2014, just after the last grapes of 2014 were harvested and fermented. What an interesting time to begin! I had so many exciting winemaking projects to tackle – bottling the 2014 white wines, blending and bottling the 2013 red wines, finishing and aging the 2014 red wines, sourcing fruit for 2015 and getting to know our three Estate Vineyards: Croquet, Cold Springs and the Home Vineyard – all before I actually made a drop of wine! I’ve had almost a year now to get to know this great group of people, the wines and the company’s goals… all in preparation for my very first vintage in 2015.
We are now gearing up for harvest in the Napa Valley. What a perfect time to start a blog! My hope is to bring you along on my winemaking journey and to share what it’s like to be in the thick of it. We’ll talk about updates we’re making in the vineyard and in the cellar, and what it’s like preserving style while making your first wines within a new project. I look forward to having you follow me during this journey and the opportunity to share the fruits of my labor in the coming years!
