Zabala and Mercy Vineyards

Our friends Mark Dirickson and Mike Kohne recently partnered from separate wine endeavors to become co-vintners, launching Pebble Beach- based Mercy Vineyards to showcase grapes from Arroyo Seco. Zabala has been working with Mercy for the past two years by supplying grapes for four of their major wines. See the article in Carmel’s local Pine Cone Newspaper here.

2010 Gala and Auction

The 2010 Wine Auction and Gala is coming up in June, hosted by the MCVGA. It is a dinner, action, and cocktail hour taking place at Clint Eastwood’s Mission Ranch in Carmel, CA. One hundred per cent of the proceeds from the Gala go to merit-based scholarships for local children, viticulture research, the American Vineyard Foundation, and other charitable causes throughout the Monterey winemaking community. We hope to see you there!

The Wall Street Journal

Mount Eden Vineyards was recently covered by the Wall Street Journal. As a grape supplier to several of their wines, Zabala is discussed in the article as well. Check out the story here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704586504574654552094029972.html

In an interview, Mount Eden winemaker Jeffrey Patterson describes the winery's unique soils. "It's the combination of soil, climate, weather and history - all the elements of terroir. If ever there were a California place to apply that French concept, it would be Mount Eden." Mr. Patterson, who says he is not a Francophile, puts it another way: "I'm a believer in dry farming, poor soil, high stress, and you've got to have a view."

The vineyards, planted mostly on east-facing slopes - 20 acres around the top of the mountain at 2,000 feet, and 20 more below - are cooled by breezes from the Pacific Ocean and warmed by the rising sun. Still, as with many vineyards planted on mountains, the yields are naturally low. Mr. Patterson says he averages about two tons an acre if all goes well, far less than you would expect on the floor of the Napa Valley, for example." To learn more about Mt. Eden's wines or to try out their most recent products from the Arroyo Seco, take a look at their website.