Rangeland News January 2023

Contents: Wonders and Waterfalls, Watershed Special, Cellar Sale February 18

Many of you have heard me say that our Adelaida Springs Ranch estate vineyard forms the headwaters of Jack Creek, which flows all the way to Monterey Bay, first south via Santa Rita Creek and then north for 175 miles via the Salinas River. Our vineyard also drapes over a ridge and slopes westward to the Las Tablas Creek drainage which flows to the Salinas via the Nacimiento River, forming a watershed or divide between two local creeks. 

When we are experiencing the relentless sunshine and searing heat of a "golden" Paso Robles summer, all this talk of drainages and flowing water seems pretty fanciful, if not hallucinatory. But during most winters in California, the picture changes abruptly to a world of green grass and gently flowing seasonal streams. As recently as a few decades ago the Salinas watershed was a spawning ground for steelhead and even chinook salmon during wet years. In some winters, like the one we are having (already over 40 inches of rainfall on our ranch), these seasonal streams turn to churning monsters of water and debris (see video), blasting down the canyons carrying whole trees and cutting the earth into a frothy brown soup. It's as if the very coastal mountains of Calfornia are screaming "I'm melting," like the forlorn witch from the land of Oz.

Good farming, ranching and forestry practices can mitigate this erosional process, but cannot stop it. Nor would we want it to. In fact, the fabled fertility of California farms, and those the world over, is based on the tectonic rising of mountains and their utter destruction by weather into rich valley alluvium that will feed our children's children for generations yet to come. Back upstream on the marginally fertile and often steep hillsides of coastal California, the venerable grapevines mostly hold the ground in their dormant state, waiting for the spring incandesence and green shoots that will signal the beginning of a new vintage, with all its sweet promise.

How Special is Our Watershed

Now that you know about the natural origins of our Rangeland 2019 Watershed Bordeaux blend, we'd like to remind you of its stellar drinkability and offer it to you at a special price. Wine Enthusiast's Matt Kettmann rated our 2019 Watershed 93 points with the following notes:

"Intense aromas of cassis are dark and yet still fresh on the nose of this 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 15% Petit Verdot and 10% Malbec, which looks creamy in the glass. Polished tannins wrap around the jammy berry preserve flavors, with bold floral elements and a nice acidity pumping throughout."

You can purchase this outstanding single vineyard, estate grown wine by the case for just $399, or $33.25 per bottle versus a list price of $45. Wine club discounts apply and shipping is included. Order here. 

Cellar Sale February 18

Come join us in the Rangeland barn on Saturday of President’s Weekend, 10am-12pm.  For the price of a tasting fee (free to club members), you can taste and buy rare, discounted Rangeland library wines and snack on charcuterie. Reserve your spot here.