A-List Wine Club Newsletter | Spring 2021

Winemaking Update
Ian Burch, Winemaker

With our winter bottling of 2019 single-vineyard Pinots now behind us, we are happily turning our focus once again to the 2020 vintage and the beautiful wines that are patiently sleeping in barrel as we peek in on them to keep sulfur levels and the wines topped up. This is about the time we are tasting from every barrel and putting together the final composition of each finished wine, making plans for future bottlings and anticipating freeing up cellar space for the upcoming harvest. For the most part, it is quiet in the cellar while the sprint is just about to begin in the vineyard.

In an ongoing pursuit of sustainability, Archery Summit has pledged not to spray another drop of herbicide on its vineyards. It is part of a larger, holistic move that will reduce our carbon footprint, be better for the environment and produce truly sustainable wines. The transformation sees a renewed relationship with Leigh Bartholomew, Archery Summit’s former vineyard manager of a decade. She returns to our estate alongside Evan Strode with Results Partners. The duo will work closely with our team to make our five unique estate vineyards integrate best with their natural surroundings. The farming philosophy will grow increasingly biodynamic, beginning with Arcus and Summit vineyards. That means fresh soil, beneficial insects, biodiversity and incredible wines. Better, our team will thrive by farming in a chemical-free environment. The faces behind our estate farming will remain largely the same, with Lupe, Jesus and Sonya continuing to tend our treasured vines. The trio has a combined 55 years of viticultural experience, their efforts making up the heart and soul of our winemaking endeavors.

Springtime always signifies a fresh start as we begin to see buds swell in the vineyard, wildflowers and daffodils pepper the landscape, and the smell of freshly tilled soil fills the air. Chatter about mini vacations and rekindling with family and friends is swelling, too, among our team. We are looking forward with optimism that post-pandemic times are around the corner and hoping to enjoy a bit of respite before harvest action is in full swing once again.