2023 Harvest Update

It’s tradition to kick off harvest with a celebratory toast with our Estate Sparkling wine. Many know this moment as the ‘blessing of the grapes.’ We saber the bottle and pour a little out over the first bin of grapes before it goes to press. This gesture reflects a moment of thankfulness for nature’s generous yield and the dedication our team pours into guiding the grapes from vine to vintage.

Our 2023 harvest started a week later than what is typical, beginning on August 30th. The initial grapes harvested were our Chardonnay, earmarked for our prestigious San Luis Obispo County program, and a fragment reserved for our sparkling wine foundation. The forecast hints at blessing us with tranquil, sun-kissed autumn days, promising the perfect nurturing ground for the Grenache expected later this season for our Malene Estate Rosé. This year stands on the cusp of being a phenomenal and abundant harvest, a pledge of superior quality that we can’t wait to share with you next season.

Estate Rosé of Grenache

From a singular vineyard block at our estate here in San Luis Obispo, perhaps the only one cultivated and nurtured expressly for rosé, emerges our signature Estate Rosé. Each grape is tended to with a gentle touch and minimal intervention, embodying the same meticulous care and attention bestowed upon our finest chardonnays. This includes a subtle infusion of new oak and a graceful dalliance with malolactic fermentation. The clay loam soils on this cool site delay ripening and harvest occurs in October. This delayed ripening is good for rosé, giving full flavor development at lower sugars.

The grapes for our Estate Rosé of Grenache are hand-picked and sorted in the cool of the early night, arriving on our crush pad with the dawn. They are whole cluster pressed to neutral French oak barriques using a very gentle press program similar to what is used in Champagne. Allowed to ferment with indigenous yeasts and put through partial malolactic fermentation, this wine is aged on lees for six months with periodic bâtonnage to promote richness and complexity. A small portion of carefully selected new French oak barrels add structure to the mid palate of the wine. Expect more from this rosé than your typical bottle, with great complexity and aging potential.

Rosé Revelations: Latest News and Estate Update

In August, the Malene Tasting experience gracefully shifted to our picturesque Chamisal tasting room, and our members have been thoroughly enjoying every aspect of our delightful new tasting environment. Not only have tastings extended to seven days a week but our Malene season has been extended beyond the traditional October date as well. This means that you will be able to enjoy Malene tasting experiences into the winter.

We’re honored and excited to share that Chamisal Vineyards has received a nomination for Wine Enthusiast’s highly esteemed Wine Star Awards in the category of “American Winery of the Year.” This year commemorates the 24th anniversary of these annual awards, recognizing exceptional contributions by individuals and companies in the world of wine and alcoholic beverages. This recognition further compels us to continue pioneering environmentally conscious methods to produce exceptional wines inspired by the coastal charm of San Luis Obispo.

As we set sail on our final release of 2023, we wish to express our appreciation to you, our wine club members. Your unwavering support has made this year truly remarkable. We cordially invite you to join us for a visit as we celebrate our recent nomination. May your holiday season be filled with joy, festivity, and Malene rosès!

Perfect Pairings

A charcuterie board featuring local meats, cheeses, nuts, and seasonal fruit is the perfect companion to our Estate Rosé of Grenache this holiday season.

Build Your Own Charcuterie Board

INGREDIENTS

8 oz Triple Crème Brie – cut a wedge or use a round
5 oz bleu cheese wedge
8 oz aged white Cheddar wedge
8 oz aged yellow Cheddar sliced into squares
½ pound thick sliced Salumi
½ pound Serrano Ham
1 cup hummus or spread of your choice
5 oz local honey
½ pound almonds and cashews
Cornichon
8 oz olives of your choice
4 figs cut in four
1 pound red and black grapes
¼ pound fresh blackberries (dried fruit works well)
Assortment of crackers/pretzels
Fresh Basil or fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary for garnish
3 mini pumpkins
5 breadsticks
1 French baguette sliced
Four ramekins or small bowls

INSTRUCTIONS

Charcuterie boards are an easy yet impressive crowd-pleaser, offering an inclusive selection that is well-received by all. Cheese and meats referenced above are merely suggestions so feel free to choose items you and your guests enjoy. Seasonal veggies are great addition to these boards, too!

Start off with a large food-safe base; platter, cheeseboard, or cutting board. Fill ramekins with honey, cornichons, olives, and spread. Start at the center of the board and arrange the large items first: cheeses, meats, bowls, pumpkins. Place contrasting colors and shapes together to create more visual interest. Once the large items are placed, use fruit, crackers, breadsticks, nuts, olives, and fresh herbs to fill in the space between the larger items. Serve with additional crackers and sliced French bread. Replenish as needed.

Recipe serves 4.