I spent over a month deep in harvest this year here on the West Coast of the United States.

First, I did a journalistic deep dive following the team led by Raj Parr and Sashi Moorman in Lompoc for nine days through harvest getting first hand insight into the winemaking that goes into their three labels – Domaine de la Cote, Sandhi, and Evening Land – and a little bit of Piedrasassi and Combe as well. It was an incredible opportunity to truly see how they make their wines, shadowing the team in every stage of harvest from calling picks all the way through barreling down after fermentations are complete. The first seven days were spent with their team in their winery in Lompoc processing fruit from Sta Rita Hills. Then for two days Sashi and I went to the southern part of Willamette Valley so I could shadow the team there working with fruit from the Seven Springs Vineyard for their Evening Land project. The nine days were non-stop busy with full harvest hours.

After checking out the Seven Springs project, we flew back to Santa Barbara County and I drove from Lompoc to the northern part of Willamette Valley to work as an intern at the Carlton Winemakers’ Studio. More on that later.

I’ll be writing over the next months in a few different ways about my time with Sashi and Raj, but for now, here’s a look back at the Instagram collection from harvest with them and their team to give you a better sense of what harvest looked like. Integral to their philosophy about wine and winemaking is tasting wines from around the world that connect to the wine type or variety they are making, as well as enjoying wines that they admire, so there are also photos of some of those wines we tasted along the way.

 

Pristine whole cluster swan clone from Domaine de la Côte freshly sorted to tank. #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @domainedelacote

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Aug 29, 2016 at 9:29am PDT

Filling once used barrels with raw Pinot noir from Memorious Vineyard. #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @domainedelacote

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Aug 29, 2016 at 11:33am PDT

It’s hard to find anything on this earth more perfect than fruit farmed by Ruben Solorzano. Here Mt Eden selection (taken directly from the site itself) planted in 1990 own rooted at high elevation in the Mt Carmel Vineyard of Sta Rita Hills. Utterly gorgeous, palm-sized clusters. A total honor to help sort this fruit. #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @sandhiwines @ruben_solorzano_ruelas_

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Aug 29, 2016 at 1:36pm PDT

One of the most distinctive Pinots in California: Siren’s Call 2014 planted at 720 ft elevation on the top of a strongly wind blown hill close to the Pacific on the western edge of the Sta Rita Hills. The site hosts own rooted vines planted in decomposed Quartz with a massale selection from Calera, Swan + Mt Eden. Only 14.5 cases made. Savory, energizing and delicate. #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @domainedelacote

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Aug 29, 2016 at 2:09pm PDT

A selection of clusters from Siren’s Call 2016. The small ones will all be hand de-stemmed while the few palm-sized clusters (like the one in the middle) will go in whole cluster. Almost three palates of fruit from 2 1/2 acres. #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @domainedelacote

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Aug 29, 2016 at 2:18pm PDT

Trousseau noir heading into the destemmer for Combe, Stolpman Vineyard in Ballard Canyon fruit. #ballardcanyon #santabarbaracountywine @rajatparr @peter_stolpman @jessica_stolpman @ruben_solorzano_ruelas_

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Aug 30, 2016 at 11:58am PDT

Good to see Ruben Solorzano every single time. Time with Ruben and Raj = ? (Golden) #santabarbaracountywine @rajatparr @ruben_solorzano_ruelas_

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Aug 30, 2016 at 12:52pm PDT

Owning Trousseau. @rajatparr @duncanarnot @ownrooted

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Aug 30, 2016 at 1:25pm PDT

Just pressed fresh juice of Chenin Blanc picked this morning from the Stolpman Vineyard in Ballard Canyon. First fruit 2016. #ballardcanyon #santabarbaracountywine @rajatparr @peter_stolpman @jessica_stolpman @ruben_solorzano_ruelas_

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Aug 30, 2016 at 2:58pm PDT

After tasting tanks on fermenting and just finished 2016 wines from the three main Domaine de la Côte vineyards, and then barrel tasting the same site assemblages from 2015, finally bottle tasting the 2014s. Memorious. Bloom’s Field. La Côte. Pretty cool to see the commonality and progression. #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @domainedelacote

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Aug 30, 2016 at 3:48pm PDT

Special moment: Drinking Domaine Monier with the man himself, Guillaume Monier. ❤️ Silken succulence, St Joseph. 2013 Terre Blanche. (And the all granite soils of the vineyard – thank you to John Faulkner for the vineyard photo.) Basically mind blowing.

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Aug 30, 2016 at 10:43pm PDT

Treasure of which we do not speak but oh the pleasure, the verve, the silken texture that compels me to more… Mind blown and then loved whole again. Treasure for real. What an incredible pleasure not only to drink multiple vintages but also meet Guillaume himself. #gratitude

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Aug 30, 2016 at 11:13pm PDT

Doing foulage on whole cluster Calera selection from Domaine de la Côte to help pop open some of those whole berries and cool the cap a bit. #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @domainedelacote

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Aug 31, 2016 at 8:46am PDT

Topping barrels of 2016 Bloom’s Field. (It is unbelievably satisfying to fill and top barrels, a complete, relatively finite project: an experience I haven’t had in over 15 years since before I entered the life of an academic philosopher. Pretty striking how comforting it is to do straightforward tasks with limits. And that of course gives me all sorts of fresh existential insight and so philosophical life continues anyway.) #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @domainedelacote

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Aug 31, 2016 at 11:51am PDT

Syrah? Yes.

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Aug 31, 2016 at 12:52pm PDT

Anika 2014 sans soufre Syrah from Ballard Canyon. Fresh, pretty, drinkable delicious. #ballardcanyon #santabarbaracountywine @rajatparr

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Aug 31, 2016 at 12:55pm PDT

Digging out 4-ton whole cluster tanks of Pinot noir. Domaine de la Côte. Sta Rita Hills. (Really glad I’ve dug plenty of ditches and holes in my day because DEAR LORD.) #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @domainedelacote

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 1, 2016 at 10:54am PDT

Chardonnay juice fresh picked this morning for Sandhi. #santabarbaracountywine @sandhiwines

A video posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 1, 2016 at 12:20pm PDT

Lunchtime friend wine. Wind Gap 2014 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay to go with pressing Santa Barbara Chardonnay. @paxmahle @windgapwines @sandhiwines

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 1, 2016 at 1:29pm PDT

View from the top of Siren’s Call at 700 ft elevation in the far western edge of Sta Rita Hills. The site is so wind exposed it was a struggle to stay still enough to take the photo. Growing in decomposed diatomaceous earth and decomposed Quartz, it produces some of the most distinctive Pinot in California, and also some of the rarest. The wind means ultra low yields. The site was harvested and I got to help hand de-stem it Monday (you know, when it was still August.) #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @domainedelacote

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 1, 2016 at 3:24pm PDT

And what tender magic is this that flutters my heart even as it ignites my curiosity? Behold: miniature clusters on vines so small they’re almost like bonsai, grown from seeds of Pinot noir. Each plant appears a little different with fruit of various colors – red, white and gris – and all with berries the size of cultivated pearls or even tapioca. 1 acre of 4000 vines, each grown from a different seed, and planted around 275 ft elevation on the western side of Memorious vineyard in the Sta Rita Hills. This is the first year the Domaine de la Côte team has harvested fruit from these vines planted in 2008. Yield? A good size bucket. #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @domainedelacote

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 1, 2016 at 4:10pm PDT

Driving the Sta Rita Hills calling pick dates with Sashi Moorman. Here checking Chardonnay in Bentrock Vineyard with Sashi for Sandhi Wines, Sta Rita Hills. #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @sashimoorman @sandhiwines

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 2, 2016 at 12:51pm PDT

Super happy Chardonnay getting going big time on fermentation. From Pence Ranch Vineyard, Sta Rita Hills. #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @penceranchwine

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 2, 2016 at 1:31pm PDT

Tasting tank samples and discussing protocols at various stages on fermentation of Pinot noir with Raj Parr for both Domaine de la Côte and Sandhi wines. #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @rajatparr @domainedelacote @sandhiwines

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 3, 2016 at 9:12am PDT

The man with all the skills: Mister John Faulkner showing me consolidation of Chardonnay as it progresses through barrel fermentation. (aka Getting to know the Bulldog.) #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @sandhiwines

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 3, 2016 at 12:10pm PDT

This guy right here, Mr John Faulkner? Let’s rename him Patience. Four hours later he’s basically finished consolidation of Chardonnay barrels and answered my literally four-hours worth of questions about each of the winemaking steps from harvest through bottling on both Pinot noir and Chardonnay for Domaine de la Côte and Sandhi. Awesome download session. Now my brain is tired. Thank you for sharing so much time, John! #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @domainedelacote @sandhiwines

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 3, 2016 at 2:19pm PDT

How to keep your perspective real, very, very real? Blind taste six 2011 all whole cluster Syrah (except one) all Northern Rhone (except one) with Raj Parr, Sashi Moorman et al AND announce your assessments on each as you go. Praise God for humility, mentors and jovial fun all mixed together. @sashimoorman @rajatparr

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 3, 2016 at 8:46pm PDT

The actual wines from the 2011 Syrah blind tasting? … @sashimoorman @rajatparr

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 3, 2016 at 9:24pm PDT

Not sure where to begin. That Côte Brune isn’t even made any more…. “The Holy Trinity of Côte Rotie,” as Raj says. #gratitude #coterotie @rajatparr @sashimoorman

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 4, 2016 at 12:40am PDT

Teamwork: @sashimoorman carves the whole pig @rajatparr roasted. (Going meta: @petercargasacchi raised the pig on must from @domainedelacote and @sandhiwines. (YOUR MIND SHOULD BE BLOWN FROM THAT.)) Pure Sta Rita Hills experience. #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 4, 2016 at 10:21am PDT

There are clear reasons someone like Raj Parr has risen to such prominence and regard in the world of wine. The wines he has tasted repeatedly at different ages and stages in his life is one. His tasting experience revolves around the finest, rarest and oldest classical wines of the world. The memory he has for what truly seems like any wine he tastes is another. He can readily recount what wine he was drinking in what year and talk easily about how it tastes that time versus another time when he drank it again. The incisive clarity with which he combines these assets of tasting history and memory for it though ultimately deserves the regard he’s gained. It’s a level of insight few have. Last night he let me read through his November 1998 notebook written during his first trip to Burgundy while working as a sommelier at Rubicon as the assistant to Larry Stone. In the back were also loose pages of other wines tasted in the same time period. There I found this tasting note for the 1865 Lafite, a wine he has enjoyed again many times since, and continues to view as one of the best wines he has had in his life. Just his description here of the wine and his response to it captures for me so much about how Raj views wine, what he values in it, what he loves and that coupled with following the Domaine de la Côte crew this week has shined a light into what this Pinot project is about. The conversations with Raj, Sashi and John have been invaluable and their kindness in letting me do grunt work and be part of everything. It’s been a huge honor to have this time and I am super grateful for being given these glimpses, like this notebook, of lives lived in pursuit of beauty, taste, service and excellence. @rajatparr @sashimoorman @domainedelacote

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 4, 2016 at 3:35pm PDT

To make good wine drink good wine. Tasting Dauvissat while consolidating Chardonnay for Sandhi. #staritahills #santabarbaracountywine @sandhiwines

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 5, 2016 at 11:23am PDT

Oh, Pierre, you big tease. I love you. #champagne

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 5, 2016 at 1:40pm PDT

Holy moly this is good. Indian street food from Bollywood Theatre, Portland. #indianfoodforthewin

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 5, 2016 at 3:51pm PDT

Pearls and jewels. Beautiful. Fresh picked Chardonnay from young vines of Evening Land Vineyard, Eola-Amity. #willamettevalley @evening_land @wvwines

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 5, 2016 at 6:02pm PDT

Oregon juice. Fresh pressed juice from Willamette Valley Chardonnay comes in a completely different color than juice from Sta Rita Hills. Willamette’s presses bright orange to SRH’s pale green. By the time they go to bottle the wine turns out all the same color. #willamettevalley @evening_land @wvwines #santabarbaracountywine @sandhiwines @santabarbarawinecountry

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 5, 2016 at 6:42pm PDT

Not crying exactly but weepy and full of feeling… one of the most perfect wines I have ever enjoyed, the 2011 Rousseau Mazy Chambertin. Utterly beautiful, pure and so about refined pleasure in the present moment. We call this gratitude. #gratitude @sashimoorman

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 5, 2016 at 11:38pm PDT

Strange beauty full of intrigue and so alluring. Wonderful wine. #champagne

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 6, 2016 at 10:33am PDT

Seven Springs Vineyard Pinot noir cranking through fermentation. Morning pump overs. Eola Amity Hills. #willamettevalley @evening_land @wvwines

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 6, 2016 at 10:58am PDT

Gaeton loading pristine Chardonnay clusters to press. Fruit from Seven Springs Vineyard, Eola Amity Hills. #willamettevalley @evening_land @wvwines

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 6, 2016 at 12:14pm PDT

Rain in Willamette Valley. #willamettevalley

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 6, 2016 at 1:14pm PDT

First stages of champenoise method sparkling wine from Evening Land and Seven Springs Vineyard. #willamettevalley @evening_land @wvwines

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 6, 2016 at 2:59pm PDT

Walking Seven Springs Vineyard. Sashi Moorman and Ben DiCristina calling picks on Pinot noir. Eola Amity Hills. #willamettevalley @sashimoorman @benjamindicristina @evening_land @wvwines

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 6, 2016 at 4:14pm PDT

Field note observations walking Seven Springs Vineyard compared to southwestern Sta Rita Hills: cluster and berry size are both 1 1/2 to 2 times the size here in Eola Amity as in Sta Rita Hills. Cane size and growth also significantly larger here as are the pedicel of the clusters. Skins thicker here. So more vigor in soils here. Good weather during bloom and fruit set as shown in clusters here this year from later bloom and set timing here in Willamette versus consistently early in Sta Rita Hills. #willamettevalley @sashimoorman @evening_land #staritahills @domainedelacote @sandhiwines

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 6, 2016 at 4:39pm PDT

Walking Seven Springs Vineyard #Repost @sashimoorman

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 7, 2016 at 9:25am PDT

After a quick flight back to Santa Barbara last night, I’m back in the car and facing the road for the next couple days. Heading north…

A photo posted by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 7, 2016 at 11:15am PDT

To check out how my harvest in the Willamette Valley went, read about it here: http://wakawakawinereviews.com/2016/10/18/harvest-in-willamette-valley/

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