Liveermore Valley Wineries
2023 Wood Family Vineyard “The Captain” Named for a Reason
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.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Below are listed a few comparisons between Rhonda as a winemaker and key traits of captaining a commercial plane and now a recreational aircraft.
Attention to details: The Captain knowing all aspects of flight planning, aircraft operation, documenting aircraft performance & maintenance, operational compliance, adhering to government standards & regulations, managing 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. A complex matrix with experience and a keen eye being key!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
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 scratches 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. This is Rhonda Wood!
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 almost three 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” blend this wine is more straight forward. Each year the percentage 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. A few small changes for the 2023 vintage. For 2023 the blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. The higher percentage of Merlot is likened to “empennage” (another phrase for the tail of an aircraft which provides stability during flight) providing the base for the wine. The Cabernet Sauvignon provide the “horizonal stabilization” (preventing up and down movements, pitching, motion of the airplane nose). The small percentage of Petit Verdot provide inertia preventing the wine to “stall” (a condition that occurs because of an aircraft exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing decreased lift) and adding a deeper color to the wine. These components provide an optimum “center of gravity” (CG-the longitudinal and lateral point over which the aircraft is balanced).
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 tannins and the fruit intermingling in the mouth. Still having structural integrity with a medium length finish. This vintage 2023 with 15 barrels produced and aged 18 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels being a mixture of new, used and neutral. The wine comes in at 13.7% alcohol and pricing and the wine will be released in November.
Her 2021 “The Captain” received a Double Gold Medal 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
The wine was chosen this evening to go with a filet mignon steak. Seared and then BBQ’ed at 1500 degrees to lock in the flavors and juices, then served medium rare with Danish Blue cheese sprinkled on top. Accompanied by baked Russett potato wedges cut into eighths with olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, sea salt, black pepper and grated parmesan cheese. Also, a Roma tomato salad cut into slices, with fresh Mozzarella balls with Italian spices and dressing.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
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 Kelly