Tour of Windmill Ranch Vineyard (owned by Saarloos & Sons)

Let me show you around Windmill Ranch Vineyard...






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Standing on the terraces looking out at rows that go to Blackjack Ranch and Qupe. Seems we are in good company





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In April there were two nights back to back with temperatures around 28 degrees fahrenheit...frost hit. 25% of the vineyard was decimated, and the next morning Keith and Larry grafted the damaged Syrah vines over to Grenache. They have 100% success rate with the new vines, and in some cases they have fruit! Notice the lighter green color of the new vines in contrast to the dark green color of the older vines that were unaffected by the frost.


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An Introduction

In January of 2008 I was visiting Windmill Ranch Vineyard (pictured at left), tasting wine with Keith Saarloos and talking about farming, grape growing, and wine in general. I spoke of my 20 year plan to be a winemaker, and Keith (Big Saar as he's known around Silverlake Wine) told me he would make it happen this year. Thus AM/FM was born.

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Benoit Le Pennec designed the logo for AM/FM. Inspired by radios of the 30's, 40's, and 50's that played such a huge role in peoples lives before TV. Fireside Chats, The War Of The Worlds, Hindenburg. Post-Depression America connected with the outside world through their ears - the radio was their portal.

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That's one sexy cluster of fruit. Syrah. 19.5 brix. A few weeks from maturity. Harvest is getting close we can taste it. Literally. Throw on your boots and come pick fruit with us!

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