In March, we moved into our home and acquired a new friend, Aussie, the vineyard dog. She is an Australian Terrier who loves to hunt; this trait will put her on a collision course with our local rattlesnake population. The Prides released their 1991 Merlot, which was made from our Merlot grapes, as well as a small amount of their Cabernet Sauvignon grapes – it was a smash hit!
We agreed to sell our grapes to the Prides starting the next year, 1994. Their wine maker, Bob Foley, will also make us our first vintage of Paloma Merlot from a small amount of the grapes. Each year, we will increase our production as the Prides become more self-sufficient from their own vineyard. This arrangement has proven to be a great relationship with a fantastic team.