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FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER 2025 |
IN THIS NEWSLETTER... VIP Wines of the Month Report from the Tasting Room Note from Jenni |
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and love is definitely in the air! Here at Chrysalis Vineyards, February is the perfect time to discover a new wine to fall head over heels for. With a brand-new flight, a special wine feature added to our ‘by the glass’ lineup, and an unmissable blending event, there’s plenty to make your heart skip a beat. So stop by, and let us help you find your next favorite sip! FEBRUARY EVENTS: Here's what awaits: Celebrate the joy of winemaking in a relaxed and intimate setting at Chrysalis Vineyards. Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot today for this exclusive event! February 27th @ 5PM - Book Club Interested in attending? Reach out to Jill Smedley at NOTE TO OUR VIP CLUB MEMBERS We invite our VIP club members to come and celebrate Valentine's Day with us on February 14th at 6:00 PM for a Cheesecake & Wine Pairing Pick-up Party! At this event, you'll get enjoy a three wines alongside three deliciously crafted cheesecakes. Members must RSVP no later than February 10th by emailing TR-Manager@Chrysaliswine.com. Please include your name and the number of people attending (up to 2 per membership). Please note, this month there will only be having one session at 6:00 PM. Lastly, when planning your visit, please remember that we close at 8:00 PM. Not a VIP Club member yet? For February, our VIP members will receive the 2023 Albariño Verde and the 2020 Papillon. The red selection for this month’s VIP shipment is the 2020 Papillon. This full-bodied blend of Tannat and Petit Verdot offers intense aromatics of licorice and dark fruit, evolving into complex notes of baking spices and dried cherries. On the palate, enjoy bold flavors of dark fruits, cardamom, and a smoky, lingering finish. As a reminder to our members, all VIP wine is available for pickup at the Ag District Center tasting room anytime during regular business hours. NOTE: Please do not reply to this emailed Newsletter. Your email will not be handled in a timely manner or may even be lost. |
REPORT FROM THE TASTING ROOMIt sure is cold outside! BUT the Beauty around Chrysalis is breathtaking. The trees last month appeared to be brushed with crystals. The mountains are still sculptured in snow. Even with the chill in the air, we still have great things happening in the Tasting Room. Beginning in February, we will begin having a Featured Wine of the Month. This month, we’re featuring the 2022 Farfalla, our sparkling Albariño! To celebrate, we’re offering it by the glass for a limited time—making it the perfect opportunity to try this vibrant wine without committing to a whole bottle. Don’t miss out! And as if that weren’t enough reason to come out to Chrysalis Vineyards, with each Wine of the Month we will have foods that specifically pair with this wine available on our Weekly Feature Menu. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! This February, treat yourself and your special someone to our limited-time Sweetheart Flight, featuring a selection of wines perfect for the occasion: 2023 Tximeleta, 2021 Mariposa, 2024 Norton Nouveau, and 2021 Norton. Remember – VIP Club Members receive their flight complimentary (Limit of 2 per membership per visit, one per person)! Looking for the perfect gift for your special someone? When you're in the Tasting Room, be sure to check out our Cellar Cart Sale! For a limited time, enjoy reduced prices on wines that are no longer part of our current lineup. We’ll be mixing it up throughout the month, bringing fresh surprises from the cellar just for you. And VIP members, you're in for a treat—enjoy an additional 15% off the already lowered prices on Cellar Cart wines! Stay warm and look forward to seeing you in the Tasting Room soon! - Lori Tate, Tasting Room Manager |
REPORT FROM THE VINEYARDLast month in my cellar newsletter I mentioned some potential discoveries that we made in our vineyard this year and while I’m still unraveling all the information, I thought I would share a bit of it with you. As many of you know, Jenni McCloud brought back “aromatic barbecue sticks” almost thirty years ago and, thus, Albariño was introduced to America. What we often forget to talk about is after 25 years of making wine, we have accumulated three separate and unique blocks of Albariño. Three blocks may seem excessive but as many of you know, we do have 40 acres of Norton so it’s more than a hobby at this point. Over the past few vintages, I’ve started to notice small differences between the three blocks. The “Hill Block” is our youngest block and rests on a gentle slope with the vines planted on VSP (vertical shoot position) trellising. This block tends to struggle a bit more compared to the other two blocks because the elevation is lower, the trellis system is focused on tighter canopies, and the bottom of the hill stops just before a small creek. This fruit tends to ripen slower and produce smaller tighter clusters lending itself to higher acid wine, perfect for our Albariño Verde. Hollin, our “Mountain Vineyard” in Delaplane has an elevation starting at 1,100ft and runs to 1,250 feet. Nestled about half way up the mountain sits a 2.5-acre block of Albariño, this block was planted around 2000 and is on GDC (Geneva Double Curtain), this is a canopy split trellis system that focuses on curving vigor and increasing yield. Due to the elevation and the site, the fruit here ripens physiologically correct every vintage, lending itself to ripe voluptuous flavors, more akin to new world wine styles. The clusters are bigger and looser when compared to the Hill block. Our “House Block” named as such because it sits next to Jenni’s house, is the oldest block and first in the country. What’s also special about this block is the Albariño here, while planted on GDC as well, sits around 580 ft. elevation on almost a completely flat plot of land. This block tends to the split the difference between the other two sister blocks meaning the acids are lower than the Hill Block but also less ripe than the mountain fruit. So why does all of this matter? Well, our Reserve Albariño is a true expression of craftsmanship, blending fruit from all three blocks to achieve the perfect balance. It’s how we fine-tune the acidity, amplify those tropical banana aromatics, and capture the essence of a classic Spanish-style wine. While it’s 100% Albariño, the blend from these blocks is different with each vintage, reflecting the unique character of each growing season. We’re only beginning to uncover the nuances of these blocks, but we’re thrilled to share what we’ve learned each year in your glass. - Jake Blodinger, Winemaker |
REPORT FROM THE CELLARBrrrrrr! It’s cold! 2025 is off to an exciting start, and while things may be quiet in the cellar as we wait for warmer days to bottle some fantastic wines, I’m happy to announce that I will be leading the first blending class on February 15th. If you're one of our VIP members, you may already have some experience with blending! Last year, we hosted both red and white wine blending pick-up parties, where you had the chance to learn about how we blend wine here at Chrysalis Vineyards—and even try your hand at recreating one of our signature blends. It's always a fun and engaging experience! Since it's the day after Valentine's Day, we’re hosting a special, in-depth blending class designed for you and your significant other—or your closest friend—to create your very own signature blend together. You'll have the opportunity to sample a selection of 2023 and 2024 wines, explore their unique profiles, and learn how winemaking styles influence the final blend. Together, we’ll also craft a few potential Chrysalis wines, giving you an exclusive sneak peek at what’s to come in future releases. Once we’ve gone through the technical stuff, you’ll create your very own red blend. Don’t worry though, I will be there to assist you along the way and will even taste your blends to provide expert feedback. Once you’ve crafted your blend, we will bottle it up and you can take it home for you to enjoy together or share with friends and family. Time is running out, and seats are filling up fast—don’t miss your chance to join us! Get your tickets before they’re gone. I can’t wait to share our wines, a behind-the-scenes look at what we do here at Chrysalis Vineyards, and an unforgettable experience with everyone who attends. - Jake Blodinger, Winemaker |
REPORT FROM LOCKSLEY FARMSTEAD CHEESE COMPANY
At Locksley Farmstead Cheese Co., we produce an aged cheddar that we call Little John Cheddar. We start with the delicious, rich milk produced by our dairy herd. We pasteurize the milk by heating it and then add cultures that contain specific bacteria. This bacteria helps to convert the lactose (milk sugar) into lactic acid to form the curds that will become cheese. We also add microbial rennet (vegetarian friendly) to help with the coagulation of the curds and separation of the whey. These additions also add flavor and help to protect the cheese during aging by preventing undesirable bacteria from forming. Once the curd has formed, we drain the whey and add salt before loading up the cheddar moulds and pressing them to form truckles or cylinders. Once the truckles are pressed and dried, several layers of black wax are applied to the truckle. Once these steps are completed, the truckles are then placed in a climate controlled aging room for a minimum of 6 months. The aging process allows the cheese to develop more complex flavors and sharpness. The result is a delicious, natural white cheddar (no coloring added) that is perfect for macaroni and cheese, charcuterie boards, sandwiches, or just snacking. - Teri Scott, General Manager |
Note from Jenni |
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What do you think of when the month of February rolls around? Valentine’s Day, of course… the day we celebrate love and affection. And we always have a program or event to celebrate this fun February day, which of course involves food and wine. This year we’ve got two special events: a special VIP Club Valentines’ Day Pick-up Party on 2/14, and a special Couple’s Blending event for all of our patrons on 2/15. But did you know there’s another fun day in February that specifically celebrates good wine? It’s Open That Bottle Night, celebrated on the last Saturday of February each year (2/22 for 2025). People around the world pull out those special wines that have been put away in a cool closet, or (hopefully) a wine cabinet or cellar that has stored those distinctive bottles at a perfect stable temperature. Of course, an old Norton wine is perfect, as it ages so beautifully for years and years. So, for those of you who have laid down a nice Norton, or a Papillon or Tannat, now’s the time to pull one out and share it with your friends and/or family. “Since its inauguration in 2000, Open That Bottle Night has become a global phenomenon and is celebrated every year on the last Saturday of February, and it’s growing in popularity annually. Good wine is to be consumed, but great wine is made to be shared. So, cherish those bottles with your friends and family and create memories that last forever!” - https://nationaltoday.com/open-that-bottle-night/ Enjoy!... and as always… Take Care, ![]() Jennifer McCloud Chrysalis Vineyards at The Ag District McCloud@ChrysalisWine.com |