Archive for the ‘Youngberg Hill’ Category
February 25th, 2012 by nicolette
The basis for biodynamics is centered around the science of alchemy. Alchemy, like chemistry and physics, explains how nature lives and works. Alchemy does not try to break things down into simple formulas or elements as science does, but looks at how all life forms and actions are interdependent on one another. This is similar to the holistic view of eastern medicine, naturopaths, and the agriculture oriented Farmer’s Almanac. Alchemy is not just about a philosophical way of life or about turning iron into gold. It is a much larger and broader science.
So what does all this mean as it applies to growing wine grapes (or any agricultural products)? It means that as we determine our farming practices, we look at all aspects of nature and how they interact with each other.
Some examples would be:
Viewing the grapevine and its interaction with the soil. Regardless of the nutrients in the soil, if the roots of the grapevines are not interfacing properly with the soil, the plants cannot utilize those nutrients.
Viewing the health of the grapevine. That health includes the nutrients it has, how efficiently they are being utilized, the immune system, it’s growth cycle, and the cycle of nature surrounding it.
Viewing the farm or environment as an entire entity. Having diverse plants around the vineyard to provide nutrients to the soil and as shelter for good insects and other life forms. Those good insects and other life forms keep everything in balance and keep unwanted pests from overtaking the vineyard.
Viewing the cycles of the solar system. Just as the Farmer’s Almanac tells us when the best time is to plant potatoes, understanding the location/cycles in our solar system helps us understand what stage life forms are in, whether it is a nutrient absorbing cycle of a grapevine or a busy time for bees.
So another, more simple, description of biodynamics is: Practicing in harmony with all of nature.
What do you think of this description of biodynamics? Simple enough? Is it easy to see how it affects the wine in your glass? Or do you think it could be broken down even more?
Tags: Oregon wine country, Travel Oregon Wine Country, Willamette Valley, Wine, wine country, Yamhill Valley, Youngberg Hill
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February 18th, 2012 by nicolette
As a practitioner of organic, sustainable farming practices, we view the concept of sustainability more holistically. To us sustainability includes a healthy environment, healthy plant life, healthy animal and insect life, healthy environment for our children, a healthy Inn hospitality, and a healthy balance sheet.
For those of us who are producing a product or service using sustainable measures, we are doing so because we believe it is the RIGHT thing to do. There are environmental reasons that drive our choices, not financial ones. Most recognize that making these better choices has an added cost associated with them. We are willing to pay this extra cost because we believe it is the right thing to do. Most of us do not do it as a marketing tool to sell more or at a higher price, even with it costing more to produce.
However, marketing research on retail and consumer preferences suggest a different story. Most retailers DO charge more for sustainable products because they are also trying to provide a sustainable service to be able to provide those products. That has become a successful approach for food retailers like Whole Foods and Wild Oats. Consumers know going into those stores that they are going to pay more for a better product and better service.
Tags: Oregon Pinot noir, Oregon wine country, Travel Oregon Wine Country, Willamette Valley, Wine, wine country, Yamhill Valley, Youngberg Hill
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February 12th, 2012 by nicolette
To a farmer, dirt is beautiful.
The smell, texture and look of the vineyard soil at Youngberg Hill is simply beautiful. But as beautiful as it is, there is sometimes the need to fertilize the soil. To do it organically, we use compost materials. You can buy compost or even ‘certified organic material’, but I am somewhat skeptical of certifications. So we decided to start developing our own compost at Youngberg Hill. This requires diligent animals. We board horses during the summer on our pasture, but horses do not leave the most beneficial manure. Cows do!
We could have gone to an auction and picked up a couple of feeders, but that would have been too easy and not nearly as entertaining. And we wanted to find a more unique and engaging breed.
We discovered that several of our vineyard-owning friends raise Scottish Highland cattle. This breed is very distinctive, docile, comfortable around people, and cute. Our friends Jill and Brian O’Donnell, who own Belle Pente, had a young female that they were willing to part with.
On the day we had scheduled to pick her up, Brian informed me that they had not yet separated her from her mother. This was going to be interesting. When we arrived with our trailer, she was frightened and angry about the impending relocation. Keep in mind this young female weighed about 800 pounds. As we were coaxing her into the trailer, she bolted, almost tore a hole in a nearby car with her horn, and drug me about 30 feet before she stopped and noticed her “cargo.” My butt still hurts.
Since that day this cow has found Youngberg Hill to be a happy home and is thought to be as lovable as a lapdog by all who come up to visit. She is a rare beauty and a great listener!
Tags: Oregon Pinot noir, Oregon wine country, Travel Oregon Wine Country, Willamette Valley, Wine, Yamhill Valley, Youngberg Hill
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February 3rd, 2012 by nicolette
The coming of spring has us thinking about nature and our relationship with the local vineyard wildlife at Youngberg Hill and how that fits into our Seriously Organic point of view. Working in and around the vineyard each day, we see many of the bird species that are native to the Willamette Valley.
We often catch glimpses of the Bald Eagle family that resides in the woods along the vineyard’s edge, and each time I see them I am reminded that there is a natural order to the foothills’ ecology. Other common sights are Great Horned Owls, Red Tailed Hawks and Kestrels. These raptors are the vanguard of nature’s balance, and not only enrich our lives with their beauty but also play an important role in reducing the damage done each year to our organic grape crop by preying on non-native Starlings.
European Starlings were first introduced in North America in the late 1800s by well-meaning immigrants who sought to bring with them the familiar sights of their homeland. What started as an innocent release of a small flock into Central Park has now grown to a population of nearly two hundred million nationwide. This explosive population growth now causes serious crop losses for both Oregon vineyards and of even greater concern is the Starlings’ disastrous effect on native bird populations. Regional wildlife scientists are unanimous in their conclusions that the European Starling invasion is taking a dramatic toll on native Oregon birds such as the Western Bluebird, Crested Woodpecker, Northern Flicker and Cassin’s Finch.
This spring I’d like to explore this problem with you and also will be asking for your help in coming up with some solutions that will both help our local bird population and help us keep more of the grapes we work so hard to grow at Youngberg Hill.
Be sure to Like, Comment, and Share this with your friends – and stay tuned for part two.
Tags: Oregon Pinot noir, Oregon wine country, Travel Oregon Wine Country, Willamette Valley, Wine, wine country, Yamhill Valley, Youngberg Hill
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December 23rd, 2011 by nicolette
This is the time of year to reflect on all that we have been blessed with, to remember those we have lost, to share what we have, and to be thankful for all that is in our lives.
We are blessed by an interesting growing season in the vineyard that challenged our ability to grow the best fruit possible. In the winery that stretched our ability to make wine naturally and make the best wine we could with what nature gave us.
We were blessed with so many weddings where brides and grooms chose to begin their lives together at Youngberg Hill. We met families and friends who are now part of the Youngberg Hill family.
We have continued to be blessed with great reviews of our wines and to continue to gain more fans that love what we do and choose to share in our love for wine by helping during harvest, joining our wine club, sharing our wines with others, and continuing to order our wines.
We are so fortunate to be able to share this spectacular hill with all of our guests from around the world who stay as our guest at The Inn. Our guests are wonderful people who really appreciate the special place Youngberg Hill is and in sharing it continue to be reminded how blessed we are to be living on this special place.
When times are tough as they are for many of us, it is important to remember how great life is and what we do have, whether it be our health, family, loved ones, or good friendships.
Merry Christmas from everyone at Youngberg Hill. From our family to yours have a joyous new year.
Tags: Oregon wine country, Travel Oregon Wine Country, Willamette Valley, Youngberg Hill
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December 8th, 2011 by nicolette
Winters in Oregon’s Wine Country are beautiful. The crowds are gone and the weather is not always as sunny and warm, but the wine experience is amazing! I often wondered why so few people come to tour during December through March because the experience our guests have is priceless. There are plenty of wineries/tasting rooms open in each of the AVA’s to make more than a day’s worth of touring in each one. The best part about touring wine country during this time of year is that much of the time you’re having your wine tasting with the winemaker, assistant winemaker, or owner instead of a tasting room employee. This is always a great experience.
You have heard of the ‘Made In America’ support streaming across the country. Well there isn’t anything more American in Oregon then the wine. Think of the support you give to many of the small businesses that make up 90% of the Oregon Wine Industry. Buying one bottle or a case of Oregon wine instead of those from other countries you are helping the country come back and thrive. So this year, impress those at your table with a bottle of “Made In America Wine”.
While two local restaurants in the area close in January (Bistro Maison and the Joel Palmer House) there are others to experience; LaRambla, Nick’s, and Thistle are ready to serve you. There are still many events scheduled through the Winter. Some great local calendar of events lists are: Travel Yamhill Valley , McMinnville Chamber of Commerce , McMinnville Downtown Association, Travel Oregon. The Evergreen Museum is offering Christmas movies at the IMAX as well as other holiday and winter specials through the season.
As for Youngberg Hill, we are offering a Winter Inn special of Double Down and Outta’ Town: Book any Inn room and get a second equal room for the same night complimentary. Visit our newsletter for more details at http://ymlp.com/zYRLzI
We look forward to having a wonderful winter with you! From everyone at Youngberg Hill thank you for your support and we look forward to an amazing winter with you.
Do you have a winter winery experience? Write your story below.
Tags: Oregon Pinot noir, Oregon wine country, Travel Oregon Wine Country, Willamette Valley, wine country, Youngberg Hill
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November 2nd, 2011 by nicolette
The term crush is used in the wine industry regarding harvest time. No it is not about crushing grapes with your feet like Lucy, at least not for Pinot Noir. The term more closely aligns with the “crush” of activities associated with harvesting, sorting and preparing the fruit for making wine.
The day begins usually at day break in the vineyard after mass quantities of coffee and some stretching. The clusters of grapes at Youngberg Hill Vineyards are handpicked and carried to half ton totes in five gallon buckets. When the buckets are dumped into the totes, there are sorters there to take out any unwanted fruit and debris. Some vineyards will sequence their harvest with lunar phases and even pick at night. We’re not quite there yet.
The totes are trucked to the winery. The totes are transferred onto a conveyor where the fruit is again sorted. During the culling process keen eyes and quick hands remove everything but the best of the fruit. Items removed include infected clusters of fruit, leaves, insects etc. Here is a snap shot of that operation:
After the grapes have been inspected they are lifted by elevator to the destemmer. The destemmer is a stainless steel drum with holes that match the size of the grape berries. Rubber fingers on the inside of the drum move the whole cluster through as the berries fall free and the stems are transported out the opposite end. The stems are usually composted and returned to the vineyard. The berries fall free into a one and a half ton fermenter for the beginning of fermentation. The next photo shows the outflow of grape berries. Notice they are still whole and uncrushed.
That is how we do it at Youngberg Hill. Some operations may choose not to destem the grapes, leaving them as “whole cluster” going into the fermenter. Other operation may move the fruit to stainless steel tanks equipped with glycol jackets for both cooling and heating the fruit.
So as you can tell especially for pinot noir the term “Crush” is a tad confusing. But it is a crushing amount of work that is time critical.
Do you have any entertaining crush stories to share?
Tags: Oregon Pinot noir, Oregon wine country, Travel Oregon Wine Country, Willamette Valley, wine country, Yamhill Valley, Youngberg Hill
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October 24th, 2011 by nicolette
As the national debate on health care and insurance continues, the Oregon Wine Industry does something about health care for the community. It all started with the unnecessary passing of a young girl named Virginia Garcia, a child of one of the vineyard workers. At the time there was no insurance for injured or ill workers or their families. This incident deeply affected the leaders of the Oregon wine industry along with Tuality Healthcare physicians and was the catalyst for an event and organization now known as ¡Salud!. ¡Salud!’s mission is simple and straightforward: “We work to provide access to healthcare services for Oregon‘s seasonal vineyard workers and their families.”
Funding is raised at an annual auction called ¡Salud! “The Oregon Pinot Noir Auction”. Invited wineries prepare wines specifically for Salud! that are only available during the “Big Board Auction”. In addition there is a dinner and auction held the next day with wines packaged with events and or trips for the successful bidders. Leveraging the funds raised from the auction and grants provided over $500,000 of services to clients last year. Anyone can use the services of the Garcia Clinics. They are billed for services based on their ability to pay and no one is refused care.
The highly anticipated 20th anniversary celebration for ¡Salud! Oregon’s premier Pinot Noir auction will take place at Domaine Drouhin winery AND at Portland’s historic Governor Hotel on November 11 and 12, 2011. Marking this milestone, forty-two of Oregon’s most respected winemakers have created small lots of unique, hand-crafted premier cuvees from the 2010 vintage, exclusively available during the two days. Youngberg Hill has been a proud supporter of ¡Salud! and we would encourage you to be part of the solution while having an amazing time. This special event makes the wine you purchase have meaning beyond what you can see and taste.
Have you made your reservations?
Tags: Oregon Pinot noir, Oregon wine country, Travel Oregon Wine Country, Yamhill Valley
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October 21st, 2011 by nicolette
Meet Beauty and Beast.
These two 8 month old heifers are the latest addition at Youngberg Hill and come from totally different backgrounds. Beauty is a friendly Black Angus from Crescent Farms, owners of the Crescent Café in McMinnville. Beast is a shy pure bred Scottish Highland from Belle Pente Vineyards in Carlton. Both girls will be groomed over the winter to be impregnated next summer for calving in the spring of 2013. One of these new calves will be raised for meat; the other will most likely be sold or kept to increase the herd.
Why did we bring cows onto Youngberg Hill? The primary reason is to improve our farming practices. How so? We have been farming organically for over 8 years and have sustainable practices in place. We have seen the results of these better farming practices in the quality of the grapes we are growing and the wine we are producing. We also know that we can do even more to protect and improve the health and quality of the soil and grapevines. That is where the cows come in. As we move toward more biodynamic farming practices, we will continue to balance all the life forms (both plant and animal) on The Hill to be in sync with nature. Bring the cows onto the property, using their manure for composting and their foraging in the pasture, will all contribute to those balances of life on The Hill.
If you would have asked me 8 years ago if I would be having cows at Youngberg Hill I would have said ‘no’. Now that they are here I could not imagine life without them. I love going out every day and interacting with them. I call it my cow therapy. They are small enough to not be intimidating but by next spring they will look like they could crush you with one ill placed step. My original goal was to just get them use to being around people. I never thought that I would enjoy being around them as much as I do. Beauty loves being scratched under her chin and by her ears just like a big dog. Cows can be a beautiful thing. Even the hairy Highlander grows on you and becomes quite charming.
What do you think of our latest addition?
Tags: Oregon Pinot noir, Oregon wine country, Travel Oregon Wine Country, Willamette Valley, Yamhill Valley, Youngberg Hill
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October 13th, 2011 by nicolette
When you’re in Oregon’s wine country you know you’re going to taste some amazing wines but you’re also going to taste some amazing food. Willamette Valley is a small Mecca of great restaurants and food. The fresh organic and diverse produce coupled with grass fed livestock and passionate chefs is a match made in heaven. Some of our guest favorites are:
Bistro Maison for their NW French inspired cuisine. Debora and Jean-Jacques have been tantalizing our guest with a French Truffle Fondue and profiteroles that make even the non-desert lovers take notice. And if I talk about the appetizers and deserts you can imagine how lovely the entrees are. Next is the Joel Palmer House. Now Jack Czarnecki is legendary for his masters’ degree in mushrooms but his son, Chris, has taken over the helm and taken it to new heights. I always tell guests to try to forgo their homemade breads so they have room for all the food they don’t want to leave on the plate. A local favorite is Nick’s Italian Café which has been a staple in McMinnville for over 35 years. The culinary Team of Carmen and Eric have transformed this historic dining to modern and new heights. The addition of a wood burning oven and a back of house lounge makes for an either formal dining or casual experience. If your into sharing food then LaRambla is the place for you. The food is a blend of Spanish tapas influence and fresh local ingredients. The atmospher is wonderful and the bar conversations are always fun. You can’t talk fine dining food without mentioning the Painted Lady. Allen and Jessica have taken their San Francisco style into a Victorian home and reinterpret classic dishes with a twist of color and vibrancy. The photos on the website are just your first taste of this wonderful dining experience. And last but not least, Thistle may be the new kid on the block but they are making their mark with a no nonsense approach to farm to fork local food.
If you have tried any of these let us know what your experience was. If you have been to more than one, which one is your top pick?
Tags: Oregon wine country, Travel Oregon Wine Country, Willamette Valley, wine country, wine country weddings Oregon, Yamhill Valley, Youngberg Hill
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The basis for biodynamics is centered around the science of alchemy. Alchemy, like chemistry and physics, explains how nature lives and works. Alchemy does not try to break things down into simple formulas or elements as science does, but looks at how all life forms and actions are interdependent on one another. This is similar to the holistic view of eastern medicine, naturopaths, and the agriculture oriented Farmer’s Almanac. Alchemy is not just about a philosophical way of life or about turning iron into gold. It is a much larger and broader science.
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