Award Winning Wines!

2021 Select Sauvignon Blanc

San Francisco = Gold Medal

San Diego = Platinum Medal / Director’s Award Best in Class Sauvignon Blanc 94 points

From the first time we tasted this wine in the cellar we knew it was special. In our minds and experience this is the quintessential Sauvignon Blanc. From the bright acidity to the array of fruit notes this is as textbook of an expression of the varietal as it gets. To receive The Director’s Award in San Diego confirmed our suspicions that this is truly a world class wine. Best news is we still have some available to share and this wine will age beautifully for at least another 3 years. A trait this is uncommon for youthful and fresh white wines.

2021 Select Sangiovese

San Francisco = Bronze Medal

San Diego = Silver Medal

We are also extremely happy about the recognition for our Sangiovese because we did things a little differently with this wine. We decided to make the better wine rather than try to force it into the traditional framework of Sangiovese.

It carries such beautiful fruit notes and has enough substance to carry that fruit through the finish that we decided to forgo any kind of new oak barrel treatment of it. The thinking behind this was that the bold oak characteristics would bury the true beauty of this wine. To receive solid recognition for this “outside of the box” wine is truly a compliment of highest regard. Supplies are limited on this wine as well but there are still some cases/bottles available for purchase.



Most importantly, we could not have achieved any of this without the hard work of our Oak Creek Vineyards employees, from the cellar to the tasting room, and the continued support of our wine club members and customer base. It means everything to us and we are excited to continue making and sharing world class wines with you.

Irrigation

Fortunately, grapes require a relatively small amount of water and are generally drought tolerant compared to other crops. However, particularly up to the time of fruit set the health and vitality of the plants depends on adequate supplies of water. Healthy plants are more disease resistant and pest resistant. If they are properly supplied with water that complements their nutrient requirements, using chemical means to fertilize and control pests are minimized.

• Weather Optimization: We are currently adding a weather station to help optimize our irrigation schedule. This will measure solar radiation and the amount of water being evaporated through he leaves of the vines to help us put the correct amount of water on the plants depending on the weather.
• Irrigation Upgrade: We are upgrading our irrigation system on the property to ensure we deliver the desired amount of water to each of our plants. We use a drip system today which applies water directly to the plants, but every plant needs to get the correct amount depending on age and soil type in the vineyard.
  

Soil & Pest Management

In order to produce great grapes, we need to start with soil.

• The Compost: Our soils have many of the nutrients required but are generally low in organic matter. We are improving the organic content through compost additions.
• No Chemicals: A healthy balanced ecosystem minimizes infestations of pests. Predatory insects are our best defense against many pests. Chemical sprays will unbalance the ecosystem by killing pests and their predators indiscriminately and affecting our neighbors and Oak Creek which runs nearby. We are encouraged that we see relatively small numbers of pests and large populations of predatory insects. If it becomes necessary, we will spray with organic oils to control specific pests at specific times. It is never our intent to “carpet-bomb” the vineyard.

These are but a few examples of how we are attempting to live Earth Day every day. It is through small steps applied persistently and consistently that we will get just a little better every day. When we look back, we will recognize and celebrate how far we have come. In the spirit of Earth Day, if we all make these small improvements every day, we will all benefit from a healthier environment for us and our families.

- Nathalie & Gary