Lots done!

I feel like I got a lot done today. Shipped out wine for competitions. Read all the emails, moved a little ahead on the labels. A huge leap with the bottles. Got some things straightened out with advertising. Art in the Vineyard, we have a plan. Doctored Rob's finger (he cut it with a knife). Jennifer worked the tasting room, I'm so glad, it was really busy. We found out we won a silver medal at the Riverside International Wine Competition with the Baco Noir.

There are still wines moving in and out of the cold room. Cream of Tartar is still being added to some. I think the 2007 Pinot Gris is being prepped. We tasted what will be the Sweet Camille and the Tempranillo Rose today. They are both going to be great! Good job Rob, David, and Mother Nature. We were trying to decide how sweet the Sweet Camille will be. It is an interesting test. The whole flavor of the wine changes with the addition of sweetness. Whatever is decided, I know it will be enjoyable.

Hopefully the label information will be completely compiled by tomorrow. Maybe there will be digital proofs by Friday! That will be a happy day.

Crazy Monday

Today was crazy. Between all the shipping that had to be done and figuring paychecks I had a busy day. Of course, you put serving the people in the tasting room on top of that and we have craziness! David stepped in to serve while I got everything done. It is great to see the tasting room busy. The weather is a huge spirit lifter also.

Tomorrow is bottling day. I told you last time how I feel about bottling. Tomorrow is a day where Rob and David's (not like a couple) kids leave home. Out of the barrel, into a tank and off to the bottle. This was supposed to happen last week but didn't because of the remodel. Tomorrow is the day. I will tell you what is going into bottle. I might miss one or two. Oak Aged Pinot Gris, Muller-Thurgau, Melon, Vandal Gold, Mead and a couple I can't remember. Maybe Huxelrebe and Viognier.

Tomorrow for me is contacting new club members and working on labels. I have two goals, just two! Those of you who read my blog faithfully, thanks.
Tracy

Opening Weekend

We finally opened officially yesterday. We opened at noon and the contractor finished at 11:45. The deck is wonderful and the weather is cooperating. Most people are impressed with the outdoors and indoors. Things came together at the last minute.

I've been putting my office back together when I'm not serving wine or visiting. I like serving wine and visiting. Those of you that have come out, thank you, I would love to sit down with each of you. I have a great team and I love that they are getting trained to do a great job behind the counter. I think I could become good friends with Jennifer, Elise and Tim without a lot of effort. It is fun to get to know people and working with them is a great way.

We are bottling on Tuesday. It got postponed a week because of the construction. Now we are back on track. We will be bottling; Oak Aged Pinot Gris, Melon, Muller-Thurgau, Mead, Vandal Gold and ? I'm drawing a blank. I would have remembered before the last glass of wine I had. I will be happy when Tuesday is over, as I'm sure Rob and David will be too.

Bentonite is still getting mixed and added to wines. Trials are still getting done to see where we are. The labels need to get moving! I will work on those Monday if I have time since I am working the tasting room. We'll play it by ear.

Until the next time,
Tracy

Almost ready

We are almost ready for our grand reopening. Things still have to be done but other things can wait. I'm sure over the summer things will still be getting done. We are all very excited to get things back in order. We do have a calendar up on the website now. You can check to see what events are coming up. We are placing the wine tasting schedule online also.

If any of you that are reading are not getting emails announcing our events, email me and we'll add you to our newsletter list. My email is info@chateaulorane.com

Tomorrow will be a long day so I must retire. Hope to see everyone this weekend.

Tracy

Moving day

The office at the winery has been cleared out. The desk and computer ended up at the bottling line and the rest is on the deck. I got the computer hooked back up this afternoon. It should be interesting tomorrow working out in the winery. I will have to dress warmer. Tim cleaned the walls and removed the trim. It is ready to be painted tomorrow.

I ran to town today to deliver some wines, get the van tire repaired, and pick up the flooring for the winery. It was a busy day for everyone. David and Rob worked on the wines that will be bottled on Tuesday. Just the last tasting trials to see if the sweetness is right. It was very interesting.

Tomorrow I will be scrubbing floors to get ready for the flooring to be installed over the weekend. Things will be exciting this next week. We start our grand reopening a week from tomorrow. Lots to do! Monday my office will need to be put back together...I hope I have help. The office furniture weighs a lot.

The label situation is moving slowly. I hope I have time next week to get it really moving. I emailed the back label copy, alcohols and front label info over today. Hopefully they can get some proofs ready for us next week.

I hope to have some pictures up after the reopening. It may take me a few weeks but they will get there.

May is over

I can't believe it has been almost 2 weeks since I have posted. The end of May was just crazy. Memorial Day weekend was a huge stress for everyone, the remodel project and the owners leaving just added to it. June is a new month with its own details and events. My heart rate just shot up when I started thinking about what lies ahead. I'll just take the next few moments to think about it and then take today off.

There is the remodel project that has to get wrapped up within two weeks. Lighting, switch plate covers and switches changed, flooring down, painting finished, furniture moved back and everything set back up has to be completed before June 13. I have to move my office out to get everything painted and the flooring down. I don't look forward to that. I need to get some items for the tasting room ordered and figure out how I want things set up. Our grand reopening starts on June 13 and goes that weekend. Each day we will be open until 8 PM.

During the Olympic trials we will be open until 8 PM each day. In July and August we are hosting "WineDown" on Friday nights until 8 PM. I may even get some live music for those evenings. Keep an eye on the website.

Yesterday was the barrel tour. We had 4 buses in throughout the afternoon. It was a good time and I think everyone had a great time. We are so lucky to have such a versatile staff. Everyone does what needs to be done and does it cheerfully. I am thankful I get to work with such nice people.

I hope to make some headway on the labels this week. I am ready to get things rolling even if I don't have exact numbers for some of the varieties. I need to get the copy ready for the back labels.

Several of the wines will be ready to filter this week. This will complete their journey and they will be ready for bottling. Maybe we can squeeze a day of bottling in the next two weeks.

Enough thought about work for a Sunday. I will get on with my day and leave the worries of tomorrow for tomorrow.