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National Pinot Noir Day press!

By Gina Birch (USA Today & News Press.com)

"Last Friday was National Pinot Noir Day. All day and into the weekend I was teased and delighted by photos on social media of the delicious pinots friends and strangers were celebrating with.

Pinot noir is one of the most versatile food wines thanks to its acidity, fruit and medium to low tannins. Characteristic flavors include cranberry, cherry, raspberry, vanilla, mushroom, cola and wet earth, among others.

When considering these attributes it’s easy to see how it could pair so well with such a wide variety of foods: salmon, duck, mushroom sauce, risotto, roasted vegetables, Gruyere cheese. At a table full of people with entrée choices spanning a wide range, pinot noir can make almost everyone happy.

A temperamental grape with thin skin, growers and wine makers often refer to it as the heartbreak grape. As with most things in life, not all pinot noirs are created equally, especially considering where the grapes are grown and who is making the wine.

And unfortunately in most cases with this wine, you almost always get what you pay for.

Burgundy is the mother ship when it comes to pinot noir. It’s the only red wine produced in this region of France. It’s also the origin of almost all of the pinot vines planted in the U.S.

You may have tasted wines from other parts of the world and heard them described as Burgundian in style. Pinots from Burgundy tend to smell both earthy and floral, like violets. They have fresh red fruits, minerals, and most of all balance. Burgundies are considered graceful and they get more so the longer they’re in the glass.

Oregon is on the same parallel as Burgundy, and Willamette Valley is one of the most highly regarded areas in the U.S. when it comes to pinot noir.

The wines produced here are typically light in color, tart, earthy and delicate in structure.

California pinots are darker and more fruit forward with dark fruits and vanilla. The state’s growing conditions are warmer and drier than Willamette and Burgundy. For some of the best pinots in California look to Sonoma and the Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County. The areas get the cool air and fog that make these particular grapes happy.

For red wine lovers stifled by the Southwest Florida heat, pinot noir is perfect year round and even better with a little chill on it; a 65-degree range will do.

McIntyre Estate Pinot Noir, 2014 ($45)

From the Santa Lucia Highlands is a small production wine that has a mouthwatering blend of plum, blackberry and cherry, with lovely lingering spices on the finish."

Full article here.

Reviews from Terroirist

Steve McIntyre (viticulturist, founder of McIntyre Vineyards) has extensive experience in California’s Central Coast. As owner of Monterey Pacific, his team farms 12,000 acres in Monterey County, and he has planted or farmed nearly a quarter of the vines in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.

In 1987, Steve purchased an 80-acre site first planted in 1973-acre. This McIntyre Estate Vineyard is the source of some impressive Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and Steve also bottles a larger appellation blend Chardonnay, an old vine rosé, and a Merlot sourced from Arroyo Seco, among others.

This was my first time tasting McIntyre Vineyards’ wine, and I found them delicious, vibrant, showing a tasty mix of rich fruit without being too overt or emblazoned with new oak. They seem like solid examples of the high quality Chardonnay and Pinot that always excites me about the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.

These wines were received as trade samples and tasted sighted.

2014 McIntyre Vineyards Chardonnay - California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
SRP: $28
Medium gold. Aromas of buttercream, rich yellow apple, quince paste, salted almonds and biscuits. Full and round, creamy but moderate acidity, yellow apples and baked pears with hints of limes. Graham crackers, almond, sea salt, honeybutter, lots of deliciousness but it stays vibrant and none of the flavors are too overt. (88 points IJB)

2014 McIntyre Vineyards Chardonnay Estate- California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
SRP: $38
Medium gold color. Nose shows bruised apples, pear nectar, along with white and yellow flowers, sea salt and crushed chalk. Rich and creamy with moderating acidity, the honeyed apple and baked pear fruit is mixed nicely with bright yellow floral notes, along with almond butter, graham cracker, hints of sea salt and chalk. Bold but balanced, and straight delicious, a little more verve and chalky notes than the non-estate Chardonnay. (89 points IJB)

2016 McIntyre Vineyards Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir- California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
SRP: $24
Pale copper color. Smells of strawberries, watermelon, chalk dust, lemon zinger tea. Pleasantly plump on the palate but bright acidity. Crisp, chilled strawberry, cranberry and wild raspberry fruit, laced with complex notes of lemon verbena, mint, honeycomb, wild flowers and chalk dust. Delicious, complex, long finish. Impressive depth and complexity on this Pinot rosé. From a 45-year-old, own-rooted vineyard, this is a serious rosé that leaps out of the glass. (88 points IJB)

2014 McIntyre Vineyards Pinot Noir- California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
SRP: $45
Bright ruby color. Aromas show a nice mix of tart red cherries and rich black cherries along with rhubarb pie, roses, clove and tobacco. Medium/full-bodied, velvety tannins, vibrant acidity. Saucy but tangy fruit (black cherry, raspberry, some strawberry jam), with clove, cinnamon, cedar, violets, all woven in well. Lovely stuff, this could soften for a few years but no guilt about drinking it right now. (90 points IJB)

2013 McIntyre Vineyards Merlot Kimberly Vineyard- California, Central Coast, Arroyo Seco
SRP: $25
Deep ruby/light purple color. Pretty aromatic display of red currants, deep black cherries, violets, sweet pipe tobacco, cola. Full-bodied, velvety tannins, moderating acidity, doused in black cherries, black currant and raspberry jams. Violet petals, loamy soil, soy and mushroom, charred herbs, vanilla, savory spices, all of these add complexity and serious deliciousness to this Merlot. At least five years (likely more) of development, but delicious now, too. (90 points IJB)

Sustainable Choices Pay Off at Monterey Pacific

Steve McIntyre and his team at Monterey Pacific, Inc., manage more than 12,000 acres of vineyard in Monterey County. Thanks to his diverse roster of clients, McIntyre is well-versed in biodynamic, organic, sustainable and conventional approaches to farming and prides himself on adopting the best ideas from each. Now in its 25th year, Monterey Pacific recently received the 2017 California Green Medal Business Award.
 
Has your understanding of sustainability evolved over time? 
I was one of the founders of the Central Coast Vineyard Team, and when we got together in 1994, we had no idea what sustainability was or what it would become. Ours was basically a “best practices” forum that morphed into a self-correcting grower workbook. It’s not a competition among growers; it’s a competition with yourself. You are basically trying to improve your efficiency while considering the unintended consequences of your decisions. For instance, it feels really good to buy a Prius that gets a zillion miles per gallon, but what about the battery? There’s often a lot more to these decisions than meets the eye.
 
You’re a fan of deficit irrigation. What does that entail and how much water does it save? 
With red grape varietals, it saves maybe 30 to 40 percent compared to the water you would normally apply. With white varieties, maybe 20 to 30 percent. And it improves wine quality. When you hold water back, the vine goes into survival mode and concentrates on the progeny—the seeds and fruit—rather than the vegetative growth. It’s trying to make that fruit more attractive to mammals, so the flavors increase and the skin becomes more palatable, which translates into wine quality.

You’ve been using biochar in your vineyards for the past few years. What is biochar and what benefits are you seeing? 
It’s like compost on steroids. It works really well in sandy soils to boost organic matter. Basically, it’s charcoal, a super carbon source, and an extremely efficient way to utilize material like old orchards that are taken down. Every ton of biochar can replace five tons or more of compost, so you have lower trucking costs and lower energy usage. It’s expensive now, but we hope it won’t be in the future.
 
You’re a believer in permanent cover crops. Don’t they compete with the vine for water and nutrients?
Originally, we did it for erosion control, but the benefits are numerous. The roots prevent compaction and they provide a home for mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria. They’re a trap crop for beneficial insects, and they provide wind protection for young vines. On the Central Coast, our native cover crops are drought tolerant and daylight obligate. That means their seeds will not germinate until the days are shorter. If we let our cover crop go to seed, it stops using water until that seed germinates. So there’s no competition.
 
You’ve been converting your fleet to EcoDiesel. What is it and does it make business sense?  
EcoDiesel is diesel fuel combined with waste products like cooking oil from restaurants. We can’t use it on all our fleet because we can’t get enough. It does cost more, but if the market takes off, it would be good for the environment. It would definitely stretch our oil supplies in this country.
 
You’ve been working on an incentive program for employee wellness. How’s that going?
We had a health fair and pre-screened some employees, voluntarily, and we found cases of terribly high blood sugar and blood pressure. The nurses told us that a few people needed to go to the doctor immediately. So we decided to provide individual screening for all of our employees. Nurses came to our site, and we had an 85 percent participation rate. Now we are trying to come up with rewards for bringing blood sugar down or losing weight—whatever your personal goal might be—but that penalizes people who already take care of themselves. We haven’t solved this dilemma.
 
You provide $1,000 scholarships to the children of employees who want to attend college. How do you justify this expense? 
We award four to six a year and we have done it for 10 years. It just feels right. But I have an ulterior motive. We’re in the boonies, and it’s tough to hire people for administrative positions. So this is an investment in our future workforce.
 
All these benefits—you must have low turnover. 
We have maybe two voluntary quits a year out of 200 employees. I’ve learned that retention is not so much about wages. It’s about communication. I have an open-door policy. People know they can come bug me at any time, and I try to be a good listener.
 
Are sustainable practices easier or harder at your size?
Size has nothing to do with it. Sustainability is about metrics, being able to measure progress, like fuel savings or efficiency. Everybody can do it. 

Rosé all day, two great articles!

20 Great Rosé Wines for Summer

By MARY ORLIN | morlin@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: June 10, 2017 at 10:00 am | UPDATED: June 11, 2017 at 12:51 pm

"When the temperature rises, cool off with pink wine.

For years, pink wine got little respect. Now, rosé is everywhere. What California winery isn’t making it? Just look at social media, awash in pink spirits and the #summerwater hashtag. We sought out California’s best #summerwaters, from the palest coppery hues to deep rose-petal pink drinks, priced from $15 to $29. After sampling dozens of bottles, here’s the top 20 — every one of them offering dry, crisp, splendid sips.

2016 McIntyre Rosé of Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands ($24): This graceful, eye-catching bottle holds wine sourced from McIntyre’s sustainably farmed estate vineyard, which holds SIP certification." 

The 25 Best Wines from California for Summer Sipping

By PAUL HODGINS | phodgins@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: June 23, 2017 at 1:02 pm | UPDATED: June 23, 2017 at 1:27 pm

"Summer is officially here, but please, put down the Rombauer Chardonnay. Our fair state produces a tempting and richly varied cornucopia of wines that are best enjoyed during balmy weather, and if you’re a true fan of the state’s wine industry you owe it to yourself to try a few that are less familiar and, at times, more adventurous.

Here are some trends I have noticed among California’s summer wines:

McIntyre Vineyards 2016 Rosé of Pinot Noir ($24): From the Santa Lucia Highlands, one of California’s premiere regions for pinot noir, this lightly colored rosé is a tad less than bone dry and carries notes of white peaches, orange blossom and sandalwood. It’s well made for the price: single vineyard, single block, 45-year-old vines."

Pinot Noir Article

The Great Pinot Noir Bargain Hunt

Tired of spending a lot on Pinot Noir? Tom Hyland offers some handy money-saving tips.
Posted Monday, 09-Jan-2017

One of the truisms in the wine business is that if you want a notable Pinot Noir, you're going to have to pay a fair amount for it. It could be the proverbial arm and a leg for a Grand Cru Burgundy or it might be "only" $75 for a limited release from Oregon or California, but the fact remains that these wines are dearly priced.

But that doesn't mean you have to give up hope on finding value Pinot Noirs. As more countries plant the grape in their cooler regions, there are more alternatives available for lovers of this grape. These wines might not challenge the most renowned Burgundies for complexity and longevity, but there are numerous examples of very good to excellent Pinot Noirs out there, be they from New Zealand, Tasmania, California and yes, even France.

Monterey County has the cool weather and fog necessary for growing Pinot Noir, and there are numerous values; the 2013 Paraiso is an entry-level, drink-tonight Pinot Noir that is a crowd pleaser, while the McIntyre Santa Lucia Highlands offering has a bit more structure for cellaring; it is a delicious, very well made Pinot Noir from this underrated district.

Article by Mary Orlin with Mercury News

New Year's Eve: Pop a cork on Bay Area bubbly

By MARY ORLIN | morlin@bayareanewsgroup.com
PUBLISHED: December 13, 2016 at 8:00 am | UPDATED: December 13, 2016 at 8:38 pm

When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, corks will be popping across the Bay Area. So instead of pouring pricey Champagne, or your go-to Napa or Sonoma sparkling wine, why not celebrate with local bubbly?

There’s never been a better time to sip homegrown festive sparklers. At least 18 Bay Area and Monterey County wineries are producing more than two dozen bubblies these days at prices that range from $15 to $80. Whether you prefer your sparkling wine bone dry, slightly sweet or almond-tinged, there’s an amazing array of local bubbles just right for toasting to a Happy New Year.

Here’s a sampling of possibilities in a handy list ready to take to the wine store. Cheers!

Monterey County...

- McIntyre Vineyards: A clown’s portrait graces this sparkler’s label, done by Santa Barbara artist James Jarvaise’s painting, “L’Homme Qui Ris,” or the man who laughs. McIntyre’s bubbly pinot noir ($36) will bring you joy and laughter, too, with its flavors of lime zest, lemon curd, baked apple and pear, its palate-cleansing acidity and flinty minerality. www.mcintyrevineyards.com"

Read the complete article here!

Four decades, great wines

BY: Sasha Paulsen spaulsen@napanews.com Updated Oct 27, 2016               Read FULL ARTICLE HERE

"Wine tasting in Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County: Long-time vintner Steve McIntyre met us, a traveling group of wine writers, in his vineyard. He pulled up in his pick-up truck, jumped out, opened the tail gate and rummaged around for glasses to give us tastes of his McIntyre rose of pinot noir, chardonnay, and pinot noir....

...And he is also the owner of Monterey Pacific vineyard management company that farms 12,000 acres in Monterey County.

McIntyre has also been a pioneer in sustainability. A founding member of the Central Coast Vineyard Team, he was one of the originators of SIP—Sustainability In Practice—certification program. The McIntyre Estate Vineyard was among the first properties in the Santa Lucia Highlands to be SIP-certified. Sustainable wine grapegrowing, he said, “is part of a ‘big picture’ philosophy that takes into account fiscal, social and environmental issues. To earn a SIP certification, growers are evaluated on everything from human resource management to habitat conservation.

“’Green’ is more than a catch phrase here,” McIntyre said, adding that conscientious viticultural standards, whether organic, biodynamic, or sustainable, have long been the norm.

Was it just my imagination or could we taste the sea wind, the morning fogs and mountain air in the wines? Probably imagination. But either way, the wines were fresh, balanced, elegant and delicious...."

Vineyards in Salinas Valley Unaffected by Soberanes Fire

Vineyards in Salinas Valley Unaffected by Soberanes Fire 

August 4, 2016, Salinas Valley, CA -- As the proprietor of Monterey Pacific Inc., Steve McIntyre farms more than 12,000 acres of vineyards in Monterey County -- roughly 20% of the region’s total acreage. In the Santa Lucia Highlands, Steve has personally farmed or planted more than 25% of the entire AVA. Steve also owns and operates McIntyre Vineyards, one of the California’s top producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. As a prominent member of the county’s winegrowing and agricultural communities, Steve has been closely monitoring the developments with the Soberanes Fire near Big Sur.

“I am saddened that so much property has been destroyed and so many people have been displaced by the fire. We are doing everything we can to help the community. Fortunately, from a viticultural standpoint, the majority of the smoke is currently headed to the southeast or out to sea thanks to the prevailing winds above 3000 feet. In the Salinas Valley, where we do most of our farming, the same dynamics that create our windy/foggy conditions have also created a protective inversion layer that keeps the smoke isolated well above ground. On top of that, our strong afternoon winds cleanse our air of residual smoke that has made its way into our region. Hopefully, the fire will burn out soon and we can enjoy what looks to be a successful growing season.” 

SLH Harvest Begins

Below is a press release from our Santa Lucia Highlands Association president Dave Muret:

"Winemaker Tom Stutz has, for several vintages now, used grapes from the McIntyre Vineyard in the S.L.H. for a top flight Blanc de Noirs under the La Rochelle brand - going forward, the wines will come under the "La Vie" label.  Tom anticipates getting Pinot Noir from McIntyre's Block 4 on Saturday or Monday. "Forty-four year old vines; quality looks great, although bunch counts are light. Should be another typically good year in the S.L.H.," comments Mr. Stutz. Winegrower Steve McIntyre also uses the vineyard to supply fruit for his own label's "l'Homme Qui Ris" release. 

The majority of Santa Lucia Highlands vineyards and producers will begin picking Pinot Noir in early September for their still wines. S.L.H. winegrowers polled agreed that while it looks like another "light year" in terms of crop loads, they are very happy with the slowly developing ripeness and maturation of flavors and expect "a very high quality harvest" across the appellation.

The Santa Lucia Highlands is one of the crown jewels of California viticulture, growing and producing some of the state's best cool climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. The appellation encompasses more than 6,500 acres of prime vineyards, planted on the elevated terraces and alluvial fans of the Santa Lucia mountain range. The area's unique character was recognized with official A.V.A. status in 1991; 2016 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the S.L.H.'s designation. 

Formed in 2005, the Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans is an association of vineyards and wineries that grow grapes here or use this region's fruit to craft their wines. The group's online home is SantaLuciaHighlands.com" 

The Orange County Register: Patio Wines

 "It’s been hot, hot, hot, people. Humid, too. And the nights offer no respite. In other words, it’s the season of patio pounders.

 What constitutes a patio pounder? It’s a category that’s easy to define on the most general level: an  uncomplicated but well-made wine, usually consumed chilled. It’s light and refreshing on the palate and has a low enough alcohol content that you can drink a few glasses without getting giggly. Monster zinfandels, butter-bomb chardonnays and brawny Napa cabernets need not apply. They’ll all be welcome back when things cool down.

 McIntyre Vineyards Santa Lucia Highlands 2014 Rosé of Pinot Noir, McIntyre Estate Vineyard ($17): A surprisingly aromatic and flavorful rosé. Winery notes: “This wine’s natural, vibrant copper color foreshadows the stunning aromas of fresh berry, watermelon, rhubarb, black cherry pie and currants. While the bouquet is open and forthright, the texture is a bit more mysterious. One moment it is dry, crisp and refreshing; the next it is bold, plush and opulent.”