HOMEHAPPENINGS

Conde Nast Traveler's "Five Perfect Days" feature series recommends a visit to Bouchaine!
03/26/2008

"Five Perfect Days in California Wine Country," Conde Nast Traveler, April 2008; online at Conde Nast Traveler website.

Conde Nast Traveler's "Five Perfect Days" series provides can't-miss destinations and insider tips. Usually a travel planner local to the destination or someone who's worked extensively planning trips to the area (refered to as "the best travel specialists" by Conde Nast Traveler editors) make the recommendations, which is then researched by a contributing editor at Traveler.

In the April 2008 issue, Jackie Richmond, one of the mosted respected travel planners in Napa (and someone who knows the California wine country like the back of her hand), is consulted for her recommendations. Bouchaine is pleased to be recommended on the itinerary for Day One in the California wine country!

"...[Bouchaine is] a classic Carneros chardonnay and pinot maker in the part of the valley known as the flatlands, where rolling fields of vines stretch in every direction. In contrast to the rather formal tone at Artesa, where a recording of chanting monks plays constantly in the barrel room, Bouchaine doesn't take itself too seriously..."

2007 Harvest and Crush continue at Bouchaine
09/12/2007

After the start of harvest and crush on August 23, Bouchaine has been moving along at a nice pace (for those of you who enjoy classical music, we'd call it "allegro ma non troppo."). On Monday, September 10, we finished harvesting all of our estate vineyard Pinot Noir. The dry-farmed Gee Vineyard (source of Bouchaine's exclusive Gee Vineyard bottling), which is across the street from us and owned by Dr. Paul Gee, will be picked in the next few days. Winemaker Mike Richmond is still very pleased with how the Pinot has been tasting and looking, ripe but not overtly so, with plump yet small berries and very little raisining. Chardonnay follows soon, likely the middle of next week (September 19)!

For more harvest photos, please see our photo journal.

Bouchaine begins 2007 Harvest and The Crush!
08/23/2007

Bouchaine welcomed the 2007 harvest by crushing eight tons of Pinot Noir grapes this morning (Thursday, August 23, 2007), followed by another 15 tons this afternoon. The grapes were harvested from the Rockin H Vineyard in the Sonoma Coast appellation and will be bottled primarily as a single-vineyard wine for Bouchaine's Bacchus Collection Sonoma Coast label. We will likely begin harvesting from Carneros and our Estate Vineyards beginning Tuesday, August 28.

Guests who visited Bouchaine this morning were welcomed into Bouchaine's blessing of the grapes ceremony. We toasted to a bountiful harvest and a smooth and safe crush, clinked glasses, and tasted delicious Pinot grapes straight out of picking bins. Noting that the 2007 growing season was marked by cool and even weather, Winemaker Michael Richmond was extremely excited about the "small tasty berries and the absence of raisining or shriveling in the fruit," anticipating that wine from this vintage will be another top one for Carneros and Napa Valley.

Winemaker Mike Richmond (in black cap) and Associate Winemaker Bill Murray (in white visor) lead the grape blessing, ushering in the 2007 harvest and crush with toasts to a bountiful harvest and a smooth crush!

23 tons of Pinot Noir crushed on the first day of the 2007 harvest.

A serendipitous visit to Bouchaine on the first day of harvest day means that winery guests are welcomed to join in the harvest grape blessing ceremony.

Another group of winery guests whose visit coincided with the first day of the 2007 harvest and crush at Bouchaine.

Find Bouchaine on the wine list or by-the-glass at fabulous restaurants in SF/Bay Area and LA/Santa Monica/West Hollywood
12/06/2006

For our friends in the Bay Area and down south in Los Angeles looking for a fun night out, Bouchaine Pinot Noirs and/or Chardonnays are being poured by-the-glass or on the bottle list at these fabulous restaurants and many more:

San Francisco and the Bay Area

-Boon Fly Cafe at The Carneros Inn, Napa (our standby for a casual but delicious lunch or dinner at this cozy spot)

-Butterfly on the Embarcadero, SF (just a flutter away from the always-happening Ferry Plaza Marketplace)

-Cafe Tiramisu, SF (enjoy great food sitting at sidewalk tables that make you feel like you're in a small European village)

-The Farm at The Carneros Inn, Napa (our friends down the road offering excellent food and wines, a sophisticated and welcoming atmosphere for a romantic dinner or get-together with friends; don't miss the veranda in the warmer months).

-Garibaldi's, SF and Oakland (a Bay Area favorite with tantalizing food and a great wine list)

-The Farm House, Olema (backwoods charm on the way to or from an active day at Point Reyes)

-One Market in San Francisco, Lark Creek Inn in Larkspur, Lark Creek Cafe in Walnut Creek, Yankee Pier on Santana Row, San Jose (always, always without fail, a favorite for delightful food and excellent service)

-Medjool, SF (yummy food and fun-fun-fun into the night)

-Monti's, Santa Rosa (fun and revelry among friends)


West Hollywood, Santa Monica and Greater Los Angeles

-Sushi Roku, LA and Santa Monica (what more can we say? heavenly sushi, happening atmosphere, lively people-watching--and meeting too)

-Nick+Stef's Steakhouse, LA Downtown (the inimitable Patina Group's steakhouse offering tantalizing cuts of steak and incomparable service; with its sleek decor and mood lighting, it looks and feels nothing like your grandad's steakhouse)

-Katana, Hollywood (go for dinner and a long night of fun in the middle of the Sunset Strip--or what feels like the center of the universe!)

-Ocean & Vine at The Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, Santa Monica (hip, happening, see, be seen)