Thankful
I hope everyone enjoyed a warm and memorable Thanksgiving! This time of year, always reminds me how fortunate I am to live and work in Sonoma County, surrounded by a community that is deeply connected to the land. After months of anticipation, long days, and constant watchful eyes on the skies, the 2025 harvest is now tucked safely away in the cellar — and we have so much to be grateful for.
The growing season unfolded with a kind of calm we don’t always get. Instead of battling heat spikes, wildfire smoke, or poorly timed rainstorms, we experienced a steady, even-paced harvest that allowed wineries across the region to bring in fruit at the perfect moment. November has already delivered more than 9 inches of rainfall, an encouraging start as we aim for our annual average of about 36 inches. With healthy soils and well-developed fruit, we’re optimistic that the wines from this vintage will be exceptional — vibrant, balanced, and expressive of our diverse terroir.
Now, as the excitement of harvest becomes a cherished memory, the real magic continues behind the cellar doors. The new wines are settling into barrel, and malolactic fermentation is underway — two traditions that link modern winemakers with centuries of craftsmanship.
Oak Barrels: A Legacy of Craft and Flavor
Before I was a winemaker, I began my career as a cooper — someone who builds barrels. Although I no longer shape staves and hammer hoops for a living, my appreciation for barrels has only grown. Every time we fill one or pull a sample to taste from its bung, I’m reminded of how much human history resides in this simple wooden vessel.
The marriage between oak and wine dates back over two thousand years. Around the first century B.C., humanity discovered that wooden barrels — lighter, stronger, and easier to move than the clay amphorae they had always used — were ideal for transporting wine across long distances.
Gradually, they realized these barrels not only carried wine, but subtly improved it. Flavors deepened, textures softened, and new aromas emerged from the interaction with oak. What began as a practical innovation became a defining element of winemaking tradition.
Today, that legacy lives on in cellars like ours. All our new wines from the 2025 vintage are now resting in barrels, quietly undergoing a transformation known as micro-oxygenation. Tiny, controlled amounts of oxygen pass through the porous oak, helping to smooth tannins, stabilize color, and evolve youthful fruitiness into layered complexity. Along the way, the barrels themselves contribute notes of vanilla, baking spice, and toasted warmth that elevate the wine without overshadowing the vineyard’s character.
A pic from earlier this season of some of our French Oak barrels being filled with the stellar 2025 vintage. Notice it was still warm and sunny!
Malolactic Fermentation
While the barrels work their quiet alchemy, another process is unfolding: malolactic fermentation, often called MLF. This isn’t fermentation in the traditional sense — no yeast is involved — but rather a conversion performed by the beneficial bacteria Oenococcus oeni. These tiny helpers transform sharp malic acid, the same acid that gives apples their crisp bite, into softer lactic acid, found in milk. The result is a rounder mouthfeel and a creamy mid-palate that defines nearly every red wine and many richly textured whites like Chardonnay.
What began centuries ago as a spontaneous, unpredictable cellar occurrence is now a precisely guided step in modern winemaking. By monitoring malic acid levels in the lab, we ensure MLF progresses at the right pace, preserving the vibrancy of the fruit while achieving the elegance we want in the finished wine. Managing this balance — freshness versus richness — is part of the artistry that keeps winemaking endlessly fascinating.
We monitor MLF in our lab with an auto analyzer that provides precise data with a push of a button. A perfect example of using modern technology to elevate the age-old craft of winemaking!
As we look ahead to winter and beyond, we carry a deep gratitude for this landscape, for the people who farm and craft the wines, and for everyone who opens a bottle and shares it with those they love. Cheers to a season filled with warmth, appreciation, and the promise of an extraordinary vintage taking shape just beneath the surface.
On behalf of the entire team here at River Road Family Vineyards and Winery, we wish you all continued good health!
