Rose Moradian in the Bistro Restaurant & Wine Bar Blog has written an article on Basil. Some of it gleamed from Wikipedia as well from research and experience. Her Bistro Garden is at the Lafond Vineyards. Rose’s garden grows more interesting as time goes on. Today she planted what she calls Mission Corn. The same variety planted by the Padres at the various California Missions in the 18th century. She writes…
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) of the Family Lamiaceae is also known as Albahaca, St. Joseph’s Wort, and Sweet Basil. It is a tender low-growing annual herb, originally native to tropical Asia. It grows to between twenty and sixty centimetres tall, with opposite, light green, silky leaves one and a half to five centimetres long and one to three centimetres broad.
It tastes somewhat like cloves, with a strong, pungent, 
sweet smell. Basil is very sensitive to cold, with best growth in hot, dry conditions.The word basil comes from the Greek âáóéëåõò, meaning “king”, as it is believed to have grown above the spot where St. Constantine and Helen discovered the Holy Cross. The Oxford English Dictionary quotes speculations that basil may have been used in “some royal unguent, bath, or medicine”…
To read full article:
Santa Barbara Winery Santa Ynez Valley 2006 Syrah
Winemaker Bruce McGuire is an early pioneer in blending Syrah grown throughout the west-east traverse of the Santa Ynez Valley. Because Syrah is proving to be the rare example of a varietal that can be grown in all the temperature zones found in our valley, blending vineyards becomes an intriguing endeavor.
The year after Bruce grafted the first Syrah in the Santa Rita Hills (1993) into our Lafond Vineyard, he noted the cool climate character of white pepper and complex lavender aromas were quite a bit more pronounced than even he had anticipated. Since these components are forward flavors, Bruce sought out Syrah grown in the warmer eastern end of the valley where the grape exhibits the jammy fruit and black pepper character experienced in the back of the mouth.
In 2006, Bruce crafted a blend of about two-thirds cool climate Lafond Vineyard and neighboring Hill Top Ranch in the Santa Rita Hills with one-third warm climate Joughin Vineyard near Los Olivos. Most of the wine aged in small 60 gallon barrels as Syrah benefits from ample barrel aging. “Our yields were below average this vintage, but flavor concentration is above average…really a great year for quality” notes Bruce. In the bottle, we will guess that 2010 will see full flavor development but 2012 could be the real target. Pair with rustic fare, grilled meats, and washed rind cheeses.
Price: 18.00/750ml
To Order:
Pinot Noir Growth CycleWe are recording on an almost weekly schedule the progress of our
Pinot Noir. Photos taken at the same vine show slow progress at the beginning increasing rapidly with the warmer weather and later stabilizing and concentrating its energy on ripening the fruit. This photo taken April 4, 2008.
Click image to enlarge
We are preparing and staking about 16 acres of new vines. The first image is of last years planting. The vines have been cut back to two buds and will remain in the protective growth tubes until they reach the first wire on the post.
We are leasing 37 acres from our immediate neighbor, the Burning Creek Ranch, to plant Pinot Noir. Since we plant dormant vines, vines grown in the nursery for one year, we will not be planting until Spring of 2009. Meanwhile, we are analyzing the soil to best determine the root stock the Pinot Noir will sit on. We have selected six Pinot Noir Clones, all but one that we already grow.
And, finally, the hard work involved in setting up a vineyard.
Click images to enlarge:
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