2022 Wood Family Vineyards “The Captain” Red Wine Blend – The Aeronautical Background Story!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background On Rhonda Wood
Photo from Wood Family Vineyards
Rhonda Wood, winemaker extraordinaire in Livermore Valley produces twenty plus different wines. One of her favorites is “The Captain”, a “Bordeaux style blend” with a reason. Rhonda started her career as one of the first woman pilots for US Airways. Thus “The Captain” is for her previous career before making award winning wines.
Below are listed a few comparisons between the winemaker and key traits of captaining a commercial plane.
Attention to details: The Captain knowing all aspects of flight planning, aircraft operation, documenting aircraft performance & maintenance, operational compliance, adhering to government standards & regulations, manage emergencies, coordination with mechanics, ground crew and air traffic control. Rhonda Wood: knowing the vineyards for pruning, shoot thinning, cluster thinning, water strategy & compliance, cover crop management, details to county, AVA and government regulations.
Awareness: The Captain understands optimal aircraft performance and ability for various aircraft being flown. Rhonda Wood: Knowing when and what to do in the vineyard(s) from Brix checks, ordering supplies for the winery (yeast, So2, etc.), scheduling harvest with vineyard manager, soil nutrition, timing on picking, pressing, sending juice panels to ETS, punch down timing & frequency, selecting yeasts and additives (if necessary), tank temperatures. All of these functions for each and every varietal and winery blend.
Documentation: The Captain records all aspects of aircraft operations, fuel, temperature, oil pressure, hydraulics, weather, turbulence, aircraft avoidance and airspace incidents, noting functions outside of prescribed government regulations, flight plans, etc. Rhonda Wood: pre-ordering bottles, labels and corks for upcoming harvest and bottling, testing during fermentation, compliance and documentation for ABC laws, tasting room notes, pairing & technical sheets, shipment compliancy, etc.
The above only scratch the surface of the broad characteristics of being a Captain and Winemaker. In addition, self-confidence, humility, clear communication skills, desire to learn and most importantly, the ability to remain calm under pressure
The Winery
Photo from Wood Family Vineyards
Wood Family Vineyards, located in eastern Livermore Valley with Rhonda Wood owner & winemaker, has been producing award winning wines for over two decades.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
To tie in the aeronautical theme in describing this tasty “Bordeaux style” wine is straight forward. Each year the percentage blend varies based upon growing conditions and resulting taste. Thus, requiring a critical eye from ripening of the fruit to harvest to production. Or as PC or “Pilot in Command” (designated individual that is responsible for the safe aircraft operations during flight). Rhonda uses her use of “aircraft feathering” (the act of adjusting variable pitch propellers so that the blades are in with airflow and don’t create air resistance) utilizing the optimal mix of key varietals. For 2022 the blend of 60% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. The higher percentage of Malbec is likened to “empennage” (another phrase for the tail of an aircraft which provides stability during flight). The Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon provide the “horizonal stabilization” (preventing up and down movements, pitching, motion of the airplane nose). The small percentage of Malbec and Petit Verdot provide inertia preventing the wine to “stall” (a condition that occurs because of an aircraft exceeding its critical angel of attack and experiencing decreased lift). These components provide an optimum “center of gravity” (CG-the longitudinal and lateral point over which the aircraft is balanced).
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This is a mellower “Bordeaux style blend” with Merlot representing such a large portion of the blend alluding back to the Captain analogy, insuring “stability” (as an aircraft is subject to static, dynamic, longitudinal, lateral, and directional stability). The wine is a nice medium to dark purple with red hues. Lots of floral characteristics and red fruit with raspberries, cherries and strawberry aromas. On the palate a soft landing (again appreciated by airline passengers) with rounded tannins with the fruits intermingling in the mouth. Still having structural integrity with a medium length finish. This vintage 250 cases were produced and aged 18 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels. 37% new French barrels, 2% new Hungarian barrels and the balance being neutral barrels. The wine comes in at 14.6% alcohol and pricing will be $50/bottle and will be released in early November. Her previous 2021 “The Captain” received a Double Gold Medals at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the 2020 was awarded 94 points and Editors Choice by Wine Spectator. Rhonda’s masterful skills on The Captain show no signs of “drag” (a parallel and opposing force to an aircraft through the air).
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The wine was chosen this evening to go with a Prime tri tip steak marinated 24 hours in a Chaka sauce. BBQ’ed at 1500 degrees to sear in the flavors and served medium rare. Accompanied by roasted and quartered small potatoes. A Cesar salad was also served and topped with fresh shredded Parmesan cheese.
This wine provided enough “thrust” (a force which opposes aircraft drag and is created by the engines to propel the aircraft forward) to engage with the meat. The wine took us safely to our end destination with a delightful taste and smooth landing!
Sláinte,
Michael