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Posted September 2006
Tolosa Winery Celebrates
 Harvest Starts (Finally), Blessing Ceremony Occurs
(PASO ROBLES, CA) – Probably a few winemakers and vineyardists
were sending up prayers this year as the weather played fickle,
and the grapes stalled ripening. But those were individual entreaties;
some spiritual, some religious, some meditative, and some maybe
containing a few choice words not necessarily associated with
the sacred.
While a late harvest occurs about once every five years, the
unusual thing about this year was how late bloom began. “It
occurred some three weeks later than usual and was of significant
concern to everyone up and down the state,” says Jim Efird, Principal
and Vineyard Manager of Tolosa Winery.
So it was with some relief this past week (September 22, 2006)
that Pinot Noir picking began on the estate vineyards of Tolosa.
If all goes well rains and frost will hold off long enough for
the wine grape farmers to finish bringing in their crops for
this year’s harvest.
Besides holding up crush, Tolosa Winery every year celebrates
the beginnings of their harvest with an annual Blessing of the
Grapes ceremony – which also got a late start this year. Though
not Catholic themselves, the service is held in honor of Fr.
Luis Antonio Martinez, pastor of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
who blessed grapes not far from the present day Tolosa Winery
back in 1812. Local historian Dan Krieger was on hand to share
interesting narration on Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and
the area’s wine growing history.
After the Blessing guests enjoyed a wonderful buffet lunch in
the wineries vineyard room overlooking acres of (still green)
grapevines and the rolling hills of the Central Coast.
Tolosa Winery is located in the heart of the California’s Central
Coast wine country, minutes outside San Luis Obispo, and four
miles in from the Pacific Ocean. Tolosa is a producer of ultra
premium Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, as well
as other varieties. Their tasting room is open daily from 11-6.
Tolosa Winery
4910 Edna Road, San Luis Obispo, CA (805) 782-0300
www.tolosawinery.com
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