Pic of the Week

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Although I won't be in Tuscany this summer watching the Sangiovese grapes develop, I will have the opportunity to watch these deep purple Concord grapes (above) grow at Stone Barns.   During my experience tying grape vines at Casa Raia vineyard, I learned to avoid touching the delicate buds as even the slightest brush with the fingertips or wrist can inhibit the growth of what I now see are beautiful and colorful leaves.  Here's a first glimpse of the Concord grape buds springing into action on the farm.  

Wine Breakdown: Brunello, Rosso and IGT (Super Tuscan)

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Lucky for me, I came to Montalcino at just the right time.  Handcrafted and straight from the heart, after 5 patient years, Casa Raia's Organic Brunello masterpiece was finally aged long enough to bottle and of course... 

With Struggle Comes Strength

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Thankfully, a very wise friend constantly reminds me that no one climbed a mountain without taking his first step.  Reaching a goal can be gratifying, but to embrace each step along the way is truly beautiful.  How did you reach that goal?  What did you pick up along the way?  I'm discovering that true success lies in the desire to learn from each challenge because these struggles are what drive us to develop and grow stronger.  Great winemaking is no different and as it turns out, the key ingredient is...

Pic of the Week

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Am I the only one who pictures a really cool musician coming over, sitting on the stool and playing the hell out of that squash?

Honey Bear Acorn Squash and the Toasted Seeds

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This was a week full of good food from the seaweed soup to the winter squash, which were finally ready to devour.  The Captain explained that the orange tint on the outside of this Honey Bear acorn squash was a sign it was ripe.  Here's a simple way to...

Pattypan Sasquash

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That's just the craziest fruit I've ever seen in my entire life.  I'd like to introduce everyone to...

Winter Squash Grows in the Summer Part II

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A week after our first encounter with winter squash, we learned that before they are ready to be cooked and eaten, they must be cured (the rind hardens).  There are various methods of curing.  One way is to...

Winter Squash Grows in the Summer

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Among what appeared to be an enormous bed of dead plants, sat these beautiful young squash.  Seeing how brown and wilted the leaves were, we asked if the squash would be harvested any time soon, but to our surprise the answer was...

You Say Tomato, Guess What?...So Do I

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I ate my first tomato this week...no seriously.  I thought I had tasted tomatoes in the past but I was way off, this has truly changed things.  Tomatoes, or more specifically Sun Gold tomatoes, may just be my favorite fruit...that's right fruit.  I mean no disrespect to my beloved Mangoes, but this was incredible.  Although by botanical definition we all know that a fruit is the ripened ovary or ovaries of a seed-bearing plant or more simply put "the one with the seeds in it," certain fruits lack the sweetness to be treated equally i.e. cucumbers, olives, avocados, tomatoes.  Nevertheless,...

Have You Ever Picked A Raspberry?

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The moment of truth finally arrived and these juicy, red raspberries did not disappoint.  It's been three months since our first encounter with raspberries, on the farm.   It has been truly incredible watching this fruit go from a seemingly simple green bush to a colorful fruit baring beauty.  Take a look at just how...

Raspberry Floricanes STAGE 2: Not Those, But These

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As promised, we do have a raspberry update (Click here to catch up).  Unfortunately, the bed we amended will take until next year to begin producing fruit when the primocanes die off and grow back as floricanes.  Nevertheless, year two is already underway with these babies and we should see some juicy red raspberries in no time at all.  Here's what we've got so far...