Well Well

The well for the tasting room is finally drilled and finished! This completes one of the very first steps towards the construction of our tasting room. The well was successfully drilled and water is avaliable and ready to be pumped and stored. Next on the drawing board is to finalize the spectic plans and overall design of the building including exterior and interior. Please let us know if you have any suggestions and be sure to check our website for upcoming progress.

Foggy morning

Foggy morning, originally uploaded by johntylerwines.

Yesterday the fog in the valley was as thick as I had ever seen it! It stayed like this the entire day so I was compelled to take some photos. Now we are definetly use to a little fog in the Russian River Valley. The cool, coastal morning fog is what makes this appellation so unique. The fog then tends to burn off and you get warmer afternoons, but not today. This climate makes the area ideal for growing thin skinned grapes; like Pinot Noir. Pinot tends to burn very easily, and is often known as the heartbreak grape because it is so difficult to grow. The Russian River fog creates a perfect setting for Pinot Noir.

John Tyler Wines Pinot Noir

He obtained the original budwood from Karl Wente and planted 14 acres. Today we farm 5 different clones of Pinot Noir and my dad will tell you that Pinot is definitely the hardest grape to grow. Its thin skin makes it more susceptible to mold and frost and picking must be done by hand.

We are fortunate that the Russian River provides the ideal growing condition and, despite the difficulties Pinot still remains our family’s favorite and most cherished varietal.  Carrying on my grandfather’s vision for this grape we produced our first vintage of Pinot Noir under the John Tyler label in 2002.

2004 John Tyler Pinot Noir

San Francisco Chronicle

May 2, 2008:   Chosen as one of the top 25 Pinot Noirs from a single vineyard by the San Francisco Chronicle.

RATING: TWO AND A HALF STARS 2004 John Tyler Bacigalupi Vineyard RRV Pinot Noir ($42) Subtle cedar, eucalyptus and spice on the nose plus toasty oak; dry, dusty mineral leads to flavors of roasted cherry and bright strawberry on the palate.

Dan Berger’s Vintage Experience Newsletter
March 13, 2008
Tasting notes: Very highly recommended 2004 John Tyler Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Bacigalupi Vineyards ($42). Earthy, complex herbal-cherry aroma with good grip. With air it opens to show faint notes of Burgundy.

Tasting Notes
This wine exhibits a beautiful dark ruby and garnet color. On the nose, aromas of black cherries are met with notes of leather, clove and vanilla. On the palate rich, ripe raspberries are complemented by hints of French oak a pepper. Silky smooth tannins, excellent mouth feel with good acidity and great length on the finish. Extensive ageing process makes for and elegant wine, ideal for pairing with a variety of food.

Vineyard Location: Bacigalupi Vineyards, Russian River Valley

Harvest Information: Date: Sunrise September 13th, 2004
Yield: 9 tons total; 4 tons Pommard (24.7 Brix) 5 tons Wente (24.9 Brix)

Production Notes:
Barrels: 20
Cases produced: 558

Purchase online

The Bacigalupi family’s third generation

On the same ranch that our grandparents farmed, we grew up chasing lizards, climbing trees, and following our father around the vineyards. After high school we each went our separate ways. Nicole attended San Diego State University, obtaining her Bachelors degree in Business, with a concentration in Marketing. And I (Katharine–aka Katey) attended the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. I received my Bachelors degree in Agricultural Business with an emphasis in Wine and Viticulture. After college, we both returned home to Sonoma County to help launch our family’s first wine label.

We think we have taken a real hands-on approach to learning the ropes of the wine industry.

“During harvest our responsibilities range from negotiating grape contracts, pulling leaves out of the bins, driving the tractors and delivering grapes to the wineries.” ~Katharine Bacigalupi.

Being in a family business isn’t always easy and we can sometimes feel the pressure of living up to certain expectations.

“We come from a long lineage of grape growers and winemakers within our family. We hope to continue with the great reputation that our grandparents have built, while adding a little youthful enthusiasm. It is invaluable for us to know that we are carrying on something that was started by our grandparents over 50 years ago, not many people our age have that opportunity.” ~Nicole Bacigalupi

When we’re not helping with harvest, we are constantly traveling, introducing our brand to consumers throughout the country. Working alongside our mom, and our cousin Tyler (winemaker for the John Tyler label), the we hope to continue our family’s legacy within the wine industry for many years to come.

Bacigalupi family legacy

In 1964, Grandpa began his plantings with six acres of each varietal. Eventually he obtained pinot noir bud wood from Karl Wente, the first well documented plantings of Pinot Noir in the Russian River Valley. He remembers Wente telling him the stock had come from France via the family’s old vineyard in Livermore.

Our family name (Bacigalupi)  gained recognition during the 1976 Paris tasting when the 1973 Napa Valley Chardonnay from Château Montelena made with 40% of our fruit triumphed over many acclaimed French wines. This event was to be the turning point in America’s global wine image.

Our vineyards now consists of 125 acres of premium grapes, which have been planted and managed for the past 30 years by my father John Bacigalupi and our family. The John Tyler wine label is the realization of a dream for our family who has roots in the wine industry stretching over four generations. Looking towards the future, we hope to continue our legacy of premium grape growing and wine making for many years to come.

The vineyard sites

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