On the Wine Road – Moondance Cellars

Did you catch the interview David did with KSRO On The Wine Road, with Jeff Davis?  Listen in and learn all the secrets here.

Moondance Cellars Returns Home

Press Release

Moondance Cellars Returns Home

“Pop-in” Tastings Feature Home-Grown Cool

Santa Rosa, CA, January 23, 2015

Moondance Cellars, one of Sonoma Valley’s long-standing wineries and tasting rooms, has decided to move locations and head home.  Their bonded winery venue, located just south of Sebastopol, CA, houses the furnishings of multiple years of winning winemaking by owners David and Priscilla Cohen, including a current Double Gold Medal from the 2015 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition on their 2013 Sauvignon Blanc.  The Cohens have a unique separation of wines, as their white wines are featured under their Orchard Station Winery label, while reds like their Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Rockpile Zinfandel, and Howell Mountain Cabernet are produced under the Moondance Cellars label.

David came to Sonoma County in the early 80’s to help cousin Bruce set up BR Cohn Winery.  Managing the new construction and ranch, David was able to hone his winemaking and vineyard management skills, and develop the techniques that would serve him well when opening his own brand, Moondance Cellars.  Now in business 23 years, his iconic brand is well known, with distribution in Massachusetts, New York and Florida.

Recently recommended by NBC Bay Area, and featured on KSRO radio’s informational wine program “On the Wine Road with Jeff Davis”, David and Priscilla will be welcoming guests by appointment starting immediately.  For more information, contact them at 707.823.0880 or visit their website at www.moondancecellars.com.

If a bud breaks, is it broken?

It’s been a beautiful Spring for Winter.  Warm temps, plenty of sunshine, and now a rainy month in the forecast is just what the vineyard doctor ordered.  And No, bud break is not a broken bud.  Bud break is the beginning of the grape growing process.  This year it is early, which is okay. As a matter of fact it’s great as long as Mr. Frosty doesn’t come for a visit. Those little baby buds are susceptible to even a kiss of frost.

Last year (2015) bud break was early. Then came the frost, which destroyed some buds, hence a less than abundant crop. —Down 25% in Sonoma.

David has been in the wine biz a long time (24years), enjoying his good relationships with growers and grape brokers. That pays off in lean years. Because the crop was smaller and the quality was superb, there was a lot of competition for the best fruit.  Never Fear! We were able to snag the grapes we wanted, and needed, to offer exciting 2015 wines.

Lets enjoy these familiar 2013 vintages while they last. But, lets also make room for the younger set, to be released later this year.

For Wine Club Members Only:
Take 50% off –THAT’S HALF PRICE!! – when you order a case of 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. Go ahead mix and match if you’d like.

Don’t forget to visit us at the winery any day of the week.  Just give us a call before you come.  You just never know what you might find if you surprise us!

Summer is for Sauvignon Blanc

Just for the fun of it.
Give them a swirl. Compare the color. Compare the aromas, and then the flavors of the 2013 and the 2015 Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blancs

How can a wine made from grapes of the same vineyards and crafted in the same methods appear, smell, and taste so different from each other? To begin, it can be due to the different conditions of the growing season.

While the 2013 vintage was mild and long providing extra hang time for the fruit to develop more ripe aromas and flavors of apple, peach and grapefruit, the 2015 season, still immersed in an unrelenting drought was warm and dry, resulting in wonderful aromatics of pink grapefruit among others, and the mineral edge of condensed and acidic flavors of key lime. The double edged sword of the stress from low moisture in the soil not only contributed to the exceptional flavors in the grapes, but also created a survival of the fittest situation on the vines. The crop was small, but superb.

The 2013 Napa Valley Flash Détente Cabernet Sauvignon is sold out, but the next vintage is in the barrels awaiting bottling, a little rest, and then release. You might look for it in your September wine club selection.

Next trip to Sonoma County…

Bring a picnic, a few friends, your pup, or even your children for a visit. The property is fenced, the view is charming, the horses are friendly, the horsepower is thunderous, and the wine…..well, you know about that. Just please give us a call when you are coming.  We’ll throw out the red carpet and put on the dog.

Lets party!

We wish all could join us. But know that all can’t
We’ll party and cheer, And do things we shant.
A picnic and lunch. A game and some such
Live music and wine, Some beer and sunshine.
Bring friends and your pup and be ready for fun. We’re ready to host you and have fun by the ton!

SATURDAY, July 9th 12-4.  PLEASE RSVP BY EMAIL REPLY OR  707-823-0880

There’s a New Kid on the Block

MOONDANCE CELLARS / ORCHARD STATION
December 2016

There’s a new kid on the block with the first name of Howell. The last name is Mountain. Yes, with a name like Howell Mountain one is bound to be big and bold, even a little spicy, yet pleasantly approachable, with a rich softness that brings to mind dark cherry and blackberry fruit. Like his Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon cousin, Howell finishes with a memory that seems to last forever. Unlike Cousin Cab though, Howell is blended from his Bordeaux roots of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec. As friendly as Howell is, he has his limits. He is only one barrel. We like Howell Mountain so well that we chose Howell to celebrate Moondance Cellars’ 25th Anniversary.

Since the release of a 1990 Howell Mountain Merlot, David and Moondance Cellars have traveled a long road. With it’s beginnings in a garage in Sonoma, Moondance is truly a “Garagiste” winery. As part of the very first collective tasting room in Sonoma (Mayo), Moondance was recognized as an almost cult-like brand. All that changed when David grew the brand to 8,000 cases represented in 15 states. Traveling along that long road, David joined five other small wineries, and founded a second multi-winery tasting room in Sonoma Valley known far and wide as “The Best Damn Tasting Room- The Wine Room.” Then it was on to the historic old winery building in Glen Ellen, called Jack London Village. Too many miles driving to and fro, too much production as a buzz-kill, and the tantalizing prospect of welcoming guests to taste the now highly acclaimed, award winning (and very expensive –LOL), wines of Moondance Cellars and Orchard Station at the home winery, brought us to the present. The winery has grown from 8,000 cases to less than 1500. The smile is back on our faces, and 25 years ago seems just like yesterday.

Do you like the 2015 Sauvignon Blanc? End of Vintage Sale
30% off 6 or more bottles
Wine Club members are enjoying an Anniversary / Holiday discount of 30% off of the 2014 Howell Mountain, and the 2014 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons on this
December Wine Club selection.
www.moondancecellars.com
707-823-0880