Each time I write a letter to our Cellar Club members, it gives me the chance to reflect on the time that’s passed since my last letter, and the changes that have taken place here at winery. Some of the changes that occurred in the last year have been difficult ones. I know we’re not alone in this, the year was tough for a lot of people. But as I look back, I realize each challenge has made me all the more appreciative of the great crew I have here at Handley Cellars. With flexible and positive attitudes, they have been willing and able to step up and do whatever is needed, staying focused on our goals of developing stronger ties with our customers and producing the best possible wines with each vintage.
My staff likes this picture of me on the forklift, even though forklift driving is something I only do once in a while, mostly during harvest and when no one else is around. But, it’s a good example of how we all pitch in to get the job done, even when it means occasionally wearing a different hat. In good times and bad, almost everyone has to be willing to pitch in where needed. Duties change with the seasons and the stages of winemaking, so we all need to be prepared to shift gears and move on to the next task that needs to be done. The attitude of my team makes me proud, and glad, to come to work each day.
2009 was a wonderful year for growing grapes. As this letter goes to press, we will have just finished bottling the aromatics, and we’re very happy with the rest of the ’09 wines. Now we’re turning our attention to the 2010 vintage. We started out the year with a good deal of optimism, helped along by our great winter weather. Some storms have produced heavy enough downpours to create runoff which has filled our pond. Other rains were light but steady, keeping the soils saturated and helping refill underground aquifers. I can’t predict what the weather will be like for the rest of the year, but the wet winter has certainly set the stage for another good growing season.
