It’s well known that the busiest time of year for a winemaker is during and immediately after Harvest. As ton after ton of grapes are brought in from the vineyards, time is of the essence to make sure those grapes make it through the various stages of preparation and into their barrels. That doesn’t mean…
We receive a lot of questions this time of year about what is going on in the vineyards. In addition to the leaves growing like crazy and soaking up that sunshine, we have reached the fruit set stage here in the Doffo vineyards. Fruit set is the stage when the flower buds that have been…
It’s incredible how a simple over-the-fence conversation with your neighbor can spark ideas that lead to a meeting, and eventually result in planting a vineyard at a local high school. Last summer, as I was working in my yard, I noticed that my neighbor, Lou, was fiddling with what appeared to be a grapevine. I…
It’s that time of year again! The 2017 Harvest season has come to Temecula Valley Wine Country. The grapes have ripened and now the wine making magic truly begins. Head winemaker, Damian Doffo shares what’s new this year and how Doffo Winery is taking the next step in making the perfect bottle of wine. What’s…
Harvest season is now entering its final stages. There are still a few vineyards hanging fruit. But it’s still within the normal time frame for them to develop their maximum sugars later in the season. This year’s harvest came rather early as we saw the first of the crop come in mid-August. That’s normal timing…
The 2015 Harvest was interesting to say the least. The harvest yields were low and the pace wasn’t as frantic as in years past. Going into the harvest season I had already made up my mind on challenging myself by producing an “in-house” Viognier, a first for our little winery. There must have been something…
If I had to summarize the 2015 growing season and harvest in one word, it would have to be “quirky.” This year’s growing season threw curve ball after curve ball at us. We faced unsettled spring weather, which caused grapes to shatter (a loose cluster during fruit set). Then, the ongoing effects of the drought,…
Winemaking is both an art form and science. For our family, it is a daily part of our lives! We are excited to announce that, for the first time, you can be part of the winemaking experience at Doffo Winery. Fellow wine lovers, through our new Doffo Barrel Club, you can witness the journey of…
As summer rolls through Temecula Valley Wine Country, all the winemakers in the area are frantically preparing for harvest. The grapes are well into veraison; the time period when grapes turn from green to purple. During this short span of a few weeks, there is plenty to do in preparation for Harvest. The vineyard crew…
Every bottle has a story. Winemaker Damian Doffo tells us a bit of history about four of our favorite Doffo Wines. Mistura History Mistura was the first wine ever produced by my dad Marcelo Doffo on the original 3.5 acre Doffo vineyard during the 2002 harvest. This delightful four varietal blend acquired its name from…
Spring marks that wonderful time of the year when the weather starts to warm up, flowers begin blooming and backyard barbeques (at least for those of us in California). For us vineyard managers / winemakers, the first sign of bud break sends signals to your brain that let you know that the countdown to harvest…