Toad's Blog

Our soul brother and Bryant sales rep/Jim-of-all-trades Top Jimmy dropped in on Miss Shannon and I with a whole bunch of Italian gems from Winebow, as well as a new Spanish red and perhaps the first 2011 rosé of the year here at the Studio (albeit we are still in the annex):  ... READ MORE

Toad Hollow Vineyards is over-the-top-excited about the awards we just received at the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition!  This year we had 3 wines take home top honors!  The 2010 Mendocino County Chardonnay received a Silver Medal, the 2009 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir received a Silver Medal and the 2009 California Erik's the Red received a Silver Medal as well, we always knew they were good, but it feels so nice to have others agree with us!   ... READ MORE

275 Wines were entered this year from 8 countries! A panel of 18 judges tasted the wines blindly - each one together with turkey to see what really goes. Of course, the dessert wines were tasted to pair with pumpkin pie, apple pie, pecan pie and as a stand alone dessert wine. In all, the wines were terrific across the board.    ... READ MORE

 Thank you Anthony Dias Blue for the great review of the Erik’s the Red! “Smooth, dense and meaty taste with lush flavor, showing ripe plum, blackberry and spice; rich, deep and balanced flavor; long and concentrated taste.” In May of 2007, Anthony Dias Blue joined forces with Meridith May to create a new publication, THE TASTING PANEL magazine.   ... READ MORE

Toad Hollow Vineyards is proud to announce that the 2010 "Eye of the Toad" Rose received a score of 90 Points as well as the distinction of Editor's Choice in the November 2011 issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine!  This issue should hit the shelves in early October!  ... READ MORE

It's the end of July but finally, a little color is starting to show up in our Goldie's Vineyard Pinot Noir grapes. These multi-colored clusters are pretty to look at only eye candy for now but don't let that fool you, they are quite tart right now. No worries, as it won't be long before the sugars start to rise. This process is called "verasion" and it is the beginnings of grape ripening. Verasion was later than last year here in the Goldie's Vineyard by about a week and it was about two weeks later than usual last year so we are kind of "behind the eight ball". The good news is that the Pinot Noir is healthy and plentiful.   ... READ MORE

It is going to be warm and FINALLY act like summer in Sonoma County this weekend. Cooking Light Magazine suggests popping open a bottle of Rose' for your July 4th celebration and includes our Eye of the Toad on their list of 5 choices (July 2011 issue).   ... READ MORE

Bloom is a magical time in the vineyards. The air is heavy with a sweet fragrance similar to honeysuckle and jasmine but very subtle. That is the smell of grape flower blossoms and you have to get up really close to see what is causing that wonderful aroma. Bloom only lasts a short while in each vineyard,   ... READ MORE

If you were a grape just waiting to happen, wouldn't you want it to happen here? What looks like miniature grapes are actually flower buds that will soon open for pollination and then after that.... Baby Pinot Noir!  ... READ MORE

Hunterdon - Purveyors of Enjoyable Fermented Beverages 

Lovers of crisp, unoaked Chardonnays, rejoice!  Toad Hollow's 2009 "Francine's Selection" Chardonnay is rich and full-bodied yet sparkling with acidity.  This perfect everyday sipper is fermented in stainless steel tanks for nine months allowing for the real essence of the fruit to shine through.  The creamy characteristic in this chardonnay is the result of it resting on its "lees" for eight months and undergoing 100% malolactic fermentation.    ... READ MORE