As many people know, the Kincade Fire broke out in Alexander Valley and is close to Hafner Vineyard. We are monitoring its progress and will post updates here daily as we can. Thank you to all the first responders who put their lives in harm's way to protect our community. We are so grateful to everyone who has contacted us and expressed concern. We are deeply humbled by that.
A fun thing happened this Summer. In the course of two weeks, we heard from a dozen different patrons who all wrote with the same question: Did we know that John Lescroart, the celebrated mystery writer, had woven Hafner Chardonnay or Hafner Cabernet into his books? Yes! We did! We are honored that John and his wife are longtime patrons of Hafner Vineyard, as are their parents and their adult children. I took this opportunity to ask John a few questions about his career as a mystery writer and why Hafner made its way into certain scenes. Here's my interview with John.
What began as a simple request has become a 34-year tradition. A friend of a friend asked me if we would host a young French enology student during harvest. Because Sarah and I were interns in France in 1981, the answer was easy… yes, of course! Fast forward 34 years and we have our 35th intern, Pierre Bardinet. Pierre comes from a winemaking family in St. Emilion, so he brings a fun perspective. He has become part of our family, and our dogs, Annie and Millie, especially adore him since he takes them to the pool and plays in the caves with them. To say that we will miss Pierre when he leaves is an understatement, but we know we will see him again, either here or in France.
Last week found me on my semi-annual trip to Los Angeles to work with wine directors and sommeliers. 3 days, 26 restaurants, 452 miles. What did I hear? Consistent praise about the quality of Hafner wine and appreciation for Parke’s winemaking philosophy which favors balance and finesse over power and punch. These wine buyers are scouting for wines that complement their chefs’ cuisine, rather than competing with it. I also heard about the value Hafner wines offer. My favorite quote? “Hafner overdelivers quality for the price.”
