From Sandra's Desk:

September 2018

HI Everyone!  Long time no "see"!  Yes, it has been a few months since we last sent you a newsletter.   Life has taken some pretty wild turns since last we "spoke".
 
First, the vineyard is well and going crazy with fruit.  All of our old and new varietals are experiencing a fantastic year.  It's very rewarding to see our long- time investment coming to fruition in the vineyard.  Years of tender, loving care by our vineyard staff has given us a bumper crop of great old friends (the Syrah, Chardonnays, Pinot Gris, Barbera and Pinot Noirs) and this year we have our new varietals that we planted in 2014 (the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Moscato)  It will be a very exciting harvest coming up.
 
On the personal front, Alan has had one of the biggest years of his career, working on some of the most exciting projects of his career and there is no end in sight.  With a new season of "Cosmos" and another "Avengers" still to come it should be a big year for him.  In the spring, we purchased a home near our grandchildren in the North Bay.  As a result, we have listed our home in the Highlands and are moving our Carmel base to our vineyard property full time.  BIG but GOOD CHANGES for the Silvestri Family.  We learned from Alan's family the value of having grandparents in a child's daily life and we intend to bring that gift to our grandchildren.  But our commitment remains strong to our vineyard and tasting room and you will likely see us as often as you did in the past as we travel back and forth between vineyard and family.   So, you see… we HAVE been busy.
 
Fall is the busiest time in the vineyard,  bottling, harvesting and wine making .  We look forward to sharing all of it with you, our loyal friends and customers.  Until then….
 
 
Salute!!
 
Sandra

From The Winemaker:

Hey Silvestri fans! It's been awhile since I've written anything and so much has gone on, 2018 has been a whirlwind. I think I say this every year but THIS year has both flown by and taken forever at the same time, don't ask me how or why that is, it just is. The growing season and wine maturity in barrels are akin to raising those little rascals we call our offspring. It takes love and an understanding that you can only do SO much, but most of all it takes patience. On the farming side there are so many factors out of your hands that you must come to terms with the fact that you could do everything right and things will still not go your way i.e:(frost, smoke, bad fruit set, bad weather year, etc etc.). Once you have obtained the Zen mastery of letting go, it's not such a roller coaster ride, BUT it is easier said then done, right? All in all, we have been pretty blessed with our harvests.  And our vineyard manager, Marshall and his vineyard superstars Jose and Santiago, put in the endless hours of hard work to reap those harvests. Cheers to them! In the winery I have a lot more control and if we do our due diligence, the wines should consistently maintain their excellence.  Of course, year to year there might be some differences, weather is always a big factor. The way I make the wine hasn't changed in a near 20-year career and I have made it the same since 2012, the year I came on board at Silvestri Vineyards.  One example is the Pinot. Some years it is heavier and darker, and richer. Other years the wine has a lighter hue and is more fruit driven. The same goes with the Chardonnay,  richness wise, so weird. The Barbera and Syrah are really consistent but it is not easy to obtain.  It takes some magic and faith and a lot of love,,,thankfully those wines have shown to be really special and they keep me happily employed (woohoo!)  All in all folks, life is grand and no matter the craziness, "Letting go and enjoying the moment" (with a glass of wine of course) is the mantra of 2018 and beyond.....

Cheers Y'all  

Frank

Alan Scores The Robert Zemeckis Film
Welcome To Marwen

This holiday season, Academy Award winner Robert Zemeckis—the groundbreaking filmmaker behind Forrest Gump, Flight and Cast Away—directs Steve Carell in the most original movie of the year. Welcome to Marwen tells the miraculous true story of one broken man's fight as he discovers how artistic imagination can restore the human spirit.

When a devastating attack shatters Mark Hogancamp (Carell) and wipes away all memories, no one expected recovery. Putting together pieces from his old and new life, Mark meticulously creates a wondrous town where he can heal and be heroic. As he builds an astonishing art installation—a testament to the most powerful women he knows—through his fantasy world, he draws strength to triumph in the real one.

In a bold, wondrous and timely film from this revolutionary pioneer of contemporary cinema, Welcome to Marwen shows that when your only weapon is your imagination…you'll find courage in the most unexpected place.

Website and Trailer