Welcome to Live Oak Vineyard

We harvested our Syrah grape on 4 Sept 2011. It was a beautiful day with an freak rain storm that hit right after we had finished the crush.
Our thanks to “G” at Curds and Wine, San Diego’s home wine and cheese making shop.
In conjunction with Curds and Wine’s hands on wine making class we had the opportunity to meet and enjoy her students, their friends and family during harvest time.
Thanks to all for a such a successful and safe harvest.
The grape was right on the numbers with no adjustments needed prior to its journey to become wine.

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Well we are getting excited about Vintage 2011 harvest. The grapes are looking quite noble with their deep black color. Numbers and taste are maturing nicely. Enjoy the Pics…..

Thought I’d add some pics. The growing season has be great this year. No shatter on the grapes like the Northern part of the state is experiencing. Nice constant heating degree days and the fog in the mornings. Time to start the old lab up and run some analysis on the grapes.

Upper Block Syrah

Lower Syrah May

Well its been a month since we shot and posted the last Pics. Vineyard maintenance is in full swing now.
Lots of time towards pruning, thinning, training, spraying and pest and fungal control . The vines seem to be growing almost hourly. The Deaver Zin training has been a challenge. I almost feel that their DNA pattern has embedded itself in the vines over all the years of being head trained. They want to grow downward. Its a daily challenge to change them to Vertical Shoot Positioning trellis life. I have to strong arm them to following the wire in a horizontal plane.

2 YR Zin Training

3 RD leaf Zin Fruit Set

Hello all, Well a family trip to Visit Tricia’s family Ed and Barb in Centennial CO. Great times and great people . Family outing from the city past the mile high mark to snow country.
First stop Idaho Springs . Old rustic mining town EST.1859. Walking the crisp nostalgic streets and meeting great shopkeepers, locals and tourists along the way. Picked up a a great referral on a cool lunch spot.
The spot Creekside Cellars located in Evergreen ,Co. A quick scenic jaunt down the mountainside and we arrived at Creekside Cellars, Winery, Cafe, and Wine Bar. What a jewel of a find.
While waiting for a table to have lunch we of course, had to do some Wine tasting. We met Bill Donahue, the Owner, and started tasting, and talking about wine. Talking with Bill you can really sense his passion for his wines.
Come to find out their Vineyard is located on the 10 Acres in Palisade, Colorado. Their grapes were planted in 2002.
Seeing’s how we are Big Red fans, two of the Creekside Cellar wines stood out for us.
The lightest of the Reds, being their 2008 Rosso, fruity with a hint of French Oak.
Then we tried the 2008 Petite Syrah, it’s a deep red, jammy, and smooth finish. So nice we had to purchase a bottle, to have with lunch.
Creekside Cellars, is located of course right on a Creek, and their back outside deck overlooks the water, and a waterfall.
It was sunny, yet breezy on the deck, the perfect place to have lunch with the family. The service and food were outstanding.
If you are ever in this neck of the woods, you should pay a visit to Creekside Cellars. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Great food, great wine, and great people! Their wines made a believer out of me. I can honestly say that Colorado can grow and produce quality tasting wines.

Creekside Cellars website is: www.creeksidecellars.net

Say hello to Bill for us, and tell him Live Oak Vineyard sent you.

Lunch with a View

Bill & Mike

Just a quick Pic Post. Its going to be a vigorous growing year.

Every Vineyard needs a dog, and Silky is our Live Oak Vineyard pup. Even though she is up in year’s she is still a pup to us.

Over the year’s she has been by our side, planting the Syrah grape vines, and this last two years involved with the newly planted Deaver Zin.

Warding of Squirrels, Gopher’s and chasing an occasional Bunny. Which these day’s out runs her. She still likes the chase though.

We thought it would be fun to share these pictures of “Silky” our vineyard dog with you.

What a life to be a Vineyard dog! Maybe, I will be in my next life.

Cheer’s

And there off ! Upper Syrah block growing towards the sky and deploying their solar panels.