Harvest Fest Recap!

October 20, 2014

Wow, what a great Harvest Festival weekend! Even after all these years it never ceases to amaze me that our team manages to keep things fresh, fun and exciting. This year’s Harvest Festival was definitely one of the best that I can remember. We were fortunate enough to have amazing weather, a great turnout and wonderful food and music from Friday to Sunday.

It all kicked off on Friday evening with a concert by local favorites the Damon Castillo Band and let me tell you, these guys are true pros. The sound was great, the show was fun and personal and most importantly the crowd was having a blast! Damon’s band is really fantastic and seeing them play in such an intimate setting is pretty special. Maybe if we’re lucky we’ll have them back next year!

On Saturday we kicked off the annual Harvest Festival open house and we were blessed with fantastic fall weather. Local band, Soul Sauce, provided the tunes and festivalgoers enjoyed barrel tastings, grape stomping, and so much more. One of my favorite things about harvest fest is the opportunity to educate the public about our vineyards and winemaking philosophy while sharing the process with them. On display we had bins full of different grape varietals and Niels was displaying how we test brix or sugar content. Seeing all of the different varietals side by side is really quite fascinating because you can start to observe noticeable differences in color, cluster size and flavor.

Barrel tastings are also a great way to give our customers a sneak peak into the winemaking process and a look into the direction a wine is heading. This year we were sampling four wines from our Whale Rock Vineyard: Chardonnay, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. All of the barrel samples were 2013 vintage except the Chardonnay, which was 2014. The Chardonnay was probably my favorite to sample because the wine is literally a month off the vine! Aside from being a little cloudy, the Chardonnay already tastes very good and people were coming back for seconds!

Sunday morning we started off the day with a lovely Yoga class amongst the vines followed by an organic brunch by local restaurant Centrally Grown. The all levels yoga class was taught by our in house Yogi Lauren Harvey and took place on our lawn at the back of the tasting room. The weather was perfect and the class was the ideal way to start out the day. Following the brunch we eased our way into another day of music, wine and food and it couldn’t have been better!

Cheers,

Luke

Harvest Update!

October 16, 2014

We are now just over halfway through October and believe it or not we are much more than halfway through harvest. In fact, Niels predicts we will be completely through with harvest before November 1st, which would be the first time in a long time and possibly the first time ever! It also looks like all of our grapes will be picked before we see any rain.

Today we are in the process of picking our Cobble Creek Zinfandel and the fruit is looking very good. At this point, almost all of our remaining fruit is ready to be picked but tank space at the winery needs to be made available before we bring in more grapes. When we experience these condensed harvest seasons it can be challenging for the winery to keep up with the incoming fruit. Now that it has cooled down we can use this time to make space and prep for the next round!

Some other exciting news you may have heard about is the addition of 11 new AVA’s (American Viticulture Area) under the Paso Robles AVA. This means the Paso Robles appellation can now be distinguished more clearly based on where grapes are grown, giving consumers more information and wineries a chance to showcase the different micro climates within the Paso Robles AVA. Before the subdivision, Paso Robles was the largest un-subdivided AVA in California at roughly 614,000 acres. At Castoro our vineyards fall under three of the new AVA’s including the Paso Robles Estrella District, Paso Robles Willow Creek District and the Templeton Gap District. To learn more about the new AVA’s click HERE.

Last but not least, don’t forget we have Harvest Festival this coming weekend October 17-19 with live music, barrel tasting, food and much more! It all kicks off on Friday night with a concert by local favorites the Damon Castillo Band and on Sunday morning we will wind down the weekend with Yoga in the Vines and Organic Brunch at 9am. For more details on the upcoming Harvest weekend click HERE.

Cheers,

Luke

Harvest Update!

October 3, 2014

With Beaverstock in the rearview mirror, it is now much easier to focus on harvest and we are still in the heart of it! As many of you know, the week of Beavertstock was hot, in fact, it was really really hot and as a result lots of grapes were ripening in a short period of time. As Niels put it, “strange things were happening, we were picking Cab before Chard, which never happens, and overall it was just crazy.”

We were starting to think all of our grapes were going to come in at once, which puts a lot of stress on the winery, and then the heat subsided, literally halting the ripening process in many of our vineyards. Luckily, this gives the winery a chance to catch up and get ready for the next round of grapes, which should be coming soon based on the hot weather we’ve got in the forecast along with a full moon!

As far as the quality of this year’s fruit, we are seeing great acidity that is very balanced and also great color. As a whole, the fruit is looking very good and will make very flavorful wine with distinct Paso Robles characteristics. As I mentioned in the last blog, due to the drought many of the grapes coming in are very small in size, which means we are getting less juice on average per cluster. With no rain in sight we should have no major obstacles between us and a successful harvest, and believe me, there is no better feeling than knowing all of your grapes are picked and processed!

In other news, Max has been busy learning the ways of our still and has spent the last few days making small batches of Grappa! Watching the still do its thing is very impressive and quite a sight to see!

Stay tuned for more updates and please come visit us for Harvest Festival the weekend of October 17-19 for live music, barrel tastings, yoga in the vines and more! https://www.castorocellars.com/Events

Cheers,

Luke

Beaverstock 2014 Recap!

September 22, 2014

Beaverstock 2.0 has come and gone and we can’t thank you all enough for making it one of the most amazing weekends we have ever had! We poured our hearts and souls into this year’s event and to see the community come out and embrace the festival to such a high degree was the most amazing feeling. We are truly humbled and touched by the feedback we have been getting and we couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this wonderful community.

Those of you who attended the festival this year were able to experience the growth from last year’s event, which is something we worked very hard on. With the addition of the “Stompin’ Grounds” stage, “Artist Grove,” Yoga and craft workshops it was truly an all ages event with no shortage of entertainment. Watching kids run around with painted faces and huge smiles while groups of festivalgoers do Acrobatic Yoga, Hula Hoop, and lounge with friends was something special. This year’s event was about so much more than music; it was about a community coming together for a great cause while living life to the fullest.

Beaverstock 2014 was a benefit for the Templeton Education Foundation (TEF) and I am proud to say we were able to raise $10,000 that will go directly into the Templeton School District. Both days TEF Volunteers managed the bar at Beaverstock and did such a fantastic job. Their partnership was amazing and we couldn’t have done it without them.

Both Saturday and Sunday we were blessed with amazing musical performances that will be remembered for years to come. Allen Stone and Los Lobos put on spectacular performances that fit the mold of Beaverstock perfectly. By that, I mean, they were personable, laid back and made honest and very effective efforts to connect with the community who came out to see them play.

I could go on and on but most importantly I want to thank everyone who was involved in Beaverstock this year for making it truly special. From our staff, volunteers and vendors to the community who came out in droves to celebrate; THANK YOU!

For a great unbiased review check out this great blog by Hoot n’ Annie.

Cheers to 31 years,

Luke and the Castoro Family

All Things Beaverstock!

September 8, 2014

With Beaverstock right around the corner it seems like a good time to dive a little deeper into the details of this year’s event. As you know, last year was a celebration of 30 years in business and a lot of the focus was on celebrating that milestone! This year we decided to shift the focus towards celebrating music and community, two things that have played a major role in the identity of Castoro Cellars. This year’s festival will benefit the Templeton Education Foundation, which is a non-profit that gives back to the Templeton School district that both Max and I attended from 1st grade through high school graduation! Pretty cool stuff if you ask me : )

With the focus on community we have made it a point to highlight local food vendors, craft breweries and artists. (For more info on the vendors click HERE.) This year we will feature beers by Toro Creek, Molly Pitcher, Firestone and Barrelhouse Brewing co along with a wide assortment of Dam Fine Wines! A new addition this year is the “Artist Grove” featuring art from young up and coming artists in our community along with yoga and workshops. We have hand picked a small number of artists to display their medium while inspiring creativity and dialogue. Our goal is for you to leave Beaverstock feeling inspired, connected and excited about the endless possibilities a strong community presents. Art/Yoga Schedule HERE.

With an event of this scale and so many things going on we get lots of questions about the specifics so I wanted to outline below some of the key points people ask us. I find that most questions can be answered here:

• This is an all ages event but you must be 21+ to purchase alcoholic beverages.
• Children 10 and under are free with a paid adult ticket. All others must have a ticket to enter the event.
• Bring a low back lawn chair or blanket to enjoy the concerts! No seating provided. Higher back chairs will be allowed at the back area of seating ONLY.
• Food and wine will be available for purchase. No outside food or beverages allowed. Purses and backpacks will be subject to search.
• Admission ticket (one day or two day) includes complimentary parking and a full day of live music!
• No Pets
• No Ins and Outs
• There is onsite parking at no additional cost
• No refunds, all ticket sales are final!

One of the most important things to note from above is children 10 and under are FREE! I can not tell you how many times people have asked if this event is kid friendly and it absolutely is in more ways than one! We love kids and know how important they are in shaping our wonderful community. At Beaverstock you will find a kids area with activities, live music, face painting and more! If you’ve got little ones, bring them along you won’t regret it!

I know I have raved about our musical line up in previous blogs and all over our website and social media but I can’t reiterate enough how amazing our talent is this year! (For full line up details click HERE). Not only are we spanning multiple genres but we’ve got artists who have won multiple Grammy’s, played on major television networks and major festivals/venues all over the world. On our website I have made it very easy to listen, learn and immerse yourselves in our lineup so please take a minute, grab a glass of Dam Fine Wine and let the excitement build!

Tickets are on sale now and are selling fast so make sure to hop on board the Beaverstock train and join us for a weekend to remember!

Cheers,

Luke

Harvest 2014 is here!

August 27, 2014

It’s official, harvest 2014 is underway and once again it is early, early, early! Like last year, 2014 has been one of the warmest growing seasons on record, which has resulted in one of the earliest harvest seasons on record. Coupled with one of the worst droughts we have ever seen, it has been a challenging year to say the least. Luckily, as farmers, we’ve got thick skin and we adapt and make the most of what Mother Nature gives us, no matter how challenging it may be.

We get lots of questions about the drought and I can tell you right now, it is very real. With the lack of water, our vines have been under more stress than a “normal” year and the result is smaller clusters and less fruit per vine than average years. With that said, the quality of the fruit is quite good with smaller, more concentrated berries. As Niels put it, “It looks like fall, it is super dry. A big challenge is keeping the canopy alive until we are ready to harvest.”

At the end of the day all we can do is make the most of what we are given and luckily without rain or frost our fruit hasn’t been jeopardized outside of the drought. I think we are going to see very concentrated and flavorful wines come out of the 2014 harvest, and that alone will make 2014 a year to remember!

Next week we will be harvesting “third leaf” (third year) Syrah, Tannat, Merlot, and Primitivo, all of which are looking to produce very high quality fruit. Once the reds start coming in, harvest is the real deal and you know our team is working tirelessly to produce the best wines around!

Stay tuned for more harvest 2014 updates! Don’t forget to join us for Beaverstock!!

Cheers,

Luke

Q&A With Allen Stone and Sean Hayes!

August 18, 2014

Two of my favorite artists in our lineup this year are Allen Stone and Sean Hayes. Both of these artists have inspired me, moved me and entertained me endlessly. Luckily, they were both kind enough to answer some questions for us and I’m sure glad they did!

Q&A Allen Stone:
-We are very excited to have you at Beaverstock this year and in particular we are looking forward to exposing your music to a new audience. This will likely be the first time many of our attendees see a live Allen Stone show, what should they expect? Is there a certain excitement you get from playing in a new venue/area?

Whenever I get the opportunity to play my music it is my desire for everyone to leave feeling as happy and fulfilled as possible. My attempt is always to create moments with music.

-I know you grew up in the small town of Chewelah Washington, and I can relate, having grown up here in Templeton, which was roughly population 5,000 when I was a kid. Is it different playing in smaller communities as opposed to playing in bigger cities?

I enjoy playing all sizes of communities. There is always different colors of energy in different sections of the globe but I’ve yet to experience any truly indifferent crowds.

-It’s my understanding you are currently working on a new album that has been recorded at your family cabin in Washington and also in Sweden. What can you tell us about the new album and the approach you took to creating it?

I have been searching for my signature sound for the last few years. I was so entrenched in old soul revue in my last records approach its been a journey attempting to find a sound to call my own.

-Having played Letterman, Conan, Live at Daryl’s House, Bonaroo and more it has been very exciting to watch your career take off. At what point did it hit you that music was something you could do for a living and that your music in particular was being noticed in a big way?

It’s an ongoing realization at this point. It’s all gone by so fast that its hard to realize and define. Meeting and connecting with Quincy Jones was a big moment for me.

-I have read that you are not the biggest fan of music made with computers and I would have to say I agree with you. What is it about real musicians playing instruments in real time that is so special to you and what you do?

Art is art. It is pointless to debate who’s is more proper than others. If it makes you happy then it makes you happy. However, I do believe that computers and technology have become a crutch for a good percentage of the artistic community.

-Our festival this year is a benefit for TEF, the Templeton Education Foundation, which works to improve our local school district, the same one my brother and I both attended. I’m sure you have played many benefits over the years; do you notice a difference with benefit concerts as opposed to traditional shows?

Every show is its own entity. Its own energy. It’s impossible to compare the two. As long as the folks performing on stage do so with an open and grateful heart the shows will go well.

-What comes to mind for you when you think of playing at a winery? I know you have played lots of breweries over the years (lagunitas etc). Is the wine drinking crowd different?

I love a good party. You can usually find them at breweries and winery’s.

-Allen, thank you so much for your time, on a final note are you and the band wine drinkers? Do you have a favorite wine? We sure hope so!

I am no expert on wine but I do love a good merlot.

Q&A Sean Hayes

-I have been a big fan of your music for years and have seen you play in Chico and San Francisco and have always been blown away by the sincerity in your live performance. For the vast majority of people at this festival who will be seeing you for the first time, what should they expect?

Some song singing, some guitar playing, some drum banging. Folk into Soul music!

-Both times I have seen you play have been in small intimate venues, how does the feeling change for you when you play an outdoor festival venue? Do you take a different approach?

I think small venues are more about the lyric. Big spaces tend to be about the beat.

-Your last album “Before We Turn to Dust” is one of my favorites you have done and is quite different from your other releases. Can you describe the album and the feel you were going for? Have you started working on another album?

I worked with the piano for the first time writing a bunch of those songs. Also had my first son on the way and then born while writing and making that record. That changes everything!

-You have been performing for over 20 years now, what does the future have in store for Sean Hayes? Do you feel pretty rooted in San Francisco or could you see yourself moving to the country someday?

I moved north to Petaluma over a year ago. Heading to the country.

-Recently you were on tour with Beats Antique, opening as a solo act, what was that experience like? I know they have a pretty elaborate stage presence, was it a good fit?

I enjoyed a chance to get in front of crowd of people who have never heard the music I play. I was a strange cocktail before the main course.

-Last but not least, as you know we are a winery, are you a wine drinker?

I do drink wine. One of the best parts of playing music is getting invited to so many great spots. Wine and music! Looking forward to coming down!

We are very excited to have you play this year and can’t wait to see what you have in store for our community!

Luke

Disc Golf Tournament Recap!

August 7, 2014

As I mentioned in my last blog, our newest addition to Castoro Cellars is a premier 18-hole Disc Golf course in our beautiful Whale Rock Vineyard and this past weekend we kicked it off in style with a tournament! We really didn’t know what to expect going into it and we were blown away by the success of this event. Not only did we have 62 registered golfers in the tournament, players came from hours away to participate. There were participants from Lodi, Taft, Santa Barbara, Monterey, and even Stockton! The most amazing part of it all is that most of them found out about it through the online Disc Golf community, in their forums, social media etc.

Once we had all the players registered it was time to send them off to separate tee pads, in groups of four, for a shotgun start. That means everyone starts at the same time from different holes so we can all play simultaneously and maximize time. All together the tournament lasted around two hours and I could hear players cheering and hollering the whole time as they christened the new course. Since Disc Golf is a newer sport, players are very responsive to and excited for new courses to play, especially in their back yard.

After the last team finished their round and all scorecards had been turned in, it was time to tally up the scores and see who would be taking home prizes. The best score of the tournament and of the course to date was -6 (6 under par) shot by Jaimal! That is just crazy, I shot +1, which was my best yet and I couldn’t believe he shot 6 under.

Before handing out prizes we headed back up to the Tasting Room for a lunch reception with wine tasting and craft beer poured by Toro Creek Brewing Company and The Libertine Pub. As I walked around I could hear players tell stories of their favorite holes, close putts and most important how beautiful the course is. It is safe to say everyone had a great time and will be coming back.

Once we had all eaten and refreshed ourselves with local wine and brews it was time for the awards ceremony. My brother Max did a great job describing the journey of building the course and thanking everyone for making it come alive. He then presented prize baskets to the top three men and women on the course. To check out pictures and scores from the tournament click HERE.

We hope to see you out on the course soon! For more info visit http://www.castorocellars.com/discgolf

Cheers,

Luke

Whale Rock Disc Golf Course Coming Soon!

July 28, 2014

For the past few months my brother Max has been hard at work on a project we are all very excited to open up to our members. Starting on August 2nd we will be opening up the Whale Rock Disc Golf Course and Ranch Tour, which features a premier 18-hole Disc Golf course nestled amongst the vines in our Whale Rock Vineyard. The course features stunning vineyard views and takes patrons through a two-mile loop that is suitable for all ages. The course is available to Castoro members only with different membership options available. (More details and directions HERE)

You may be asking yourself, what is disc golf? Played much like traditional golf, disc golf uses a disc in the place of ball and clubs. The intent of the game is to throw a disc into an elevated metal basket. The player moves from “tee” to “hole”, the trees, shrubs and terrain change in and around the “fairways” which provide challenging obstacles. Ultimately, the “putt” is tossed into the basket and the hole is completed. The goal of disc golf is to complete the course in the fewest number of shots.

Why Disc Golf? Disc golf is uniquely passive in nature and our Family has always been fond of low impact outdoor activities. Whether it be camping, backpacking, climbing, surfing or backcountry skiing you can count us in! We feel it is very important for all to get in touch with the whole wine making process and we want to spread the importance of sustainable farming practices by getting you and your family out in the vineyard!

Disc Golf is really an all-ages sport and all skill levels can truly enjoy the experience. If nothing else it is an entertaining way to spend time amongst the vines and learn more about what makes the Paso Robles appellation so special. On Saturday August 2nd we will kick-off the course with a tournament for club members followed by a catered lunch and craft beer/wine tasting. For details on the tournament click HERE!

We hope to see you out on the course soon!

Cheers,

Luke

It’s Hot and It’s Dry!

June 25, 2014

It’s no secret California is in the midst of a very serious drought, and for us as farmers; this is something we have to deal with every day. Over the course of our 30 plus years making wine in Paso, there have been many tough years but this year is proving to be the most challenging we have ever faced.

Due to multiple years of below average rainfall, the soil is very dry making it difficult to efficiently water the grapes. When the soil is this dry it tends to quickly suck away any water it comes into contact with. This makes it challenging for the grapes to get the water they need before it is gone. At this point we are taking it day by day and closely monitoring our vineyards to make sure we are using water as efficiently as possible.

Like last year, we will most likely experience an early harvest season. The hot, dry weather promotes ripening and by the looks of it around here you would think it is already August. It is too early to predict with any certainty but I would guess we are going to have an early harvest with smaller yields. The last two harvests produced significant yields so a small year is something we can definitely deal with if it comes to that.

The most important thing we can take away from this drought is knowledge and appreciation for the dynamics of nature. It has always been our goal to farm as sustainably as possible and to work with Mother Nature. We have been fortunate enough to have many amazing harvest seasons and you can’t take any of them for granted. We are constantly learning, improving and growing with the hopes of continuing the Paso wine making tradition.

As always, I will keep you posted on the upcoming harvest and we will continue to keep our heads up and give it all we’ve got! “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” and we are one tough bunch of Beavers!

Cheers,

Luke