Croad Wines from Vineyard to Bottle: A Photo Essay

Through the year I often photograph my neighbor's vineyards from my side of the fence because I think they are beautiful. Almost two weeks ago I got a call from Martin Croad, my neighbor who owns the vineyards, inviting me to come during the harvest and take pictures within the vineyard. He said he would also explain what happens between the time the grapes are picked and the time they get into the bottle. I was delighted to be offered this opportunity, since I'd always been curious about it. I know many people who make wine for themselves from their smaller vineyards, but I didn't know how the commercial wine makers made their wine. Now I know, and I'd like to share that information with you. Other vintners may have similar methods, but this article is limited to the Croad Vineyards and Winery.

We will start with a look at the vineyards in photographs and video. From there we will move to how the wine is made once the grapes are picked. Martin was kind enough to explain all this in a video interview which will be included here. I hope that before the end of this visual presentation you will know how the wine gets from the grape into the bottles.

Let's begin at the Tasting Room, where we can gaze down at the fountain and get our first glimpse of the vineyards below. Martin had given me permission to walk around and take pictures while he was waiting for more fruit to arrive from the fields so we could make our video. I had walked through the woods one sees as one drives up the hill to approach the winery and tasting room. Then I walked around the tasting room and the terrace which looks down on the courtyard and the scene in the picture above.

A couple of things stuck me. First, the simplicity of the tasting room. Many of the local tasting rooms are more like gift stores, with many shelves of wine-themed cards and gifts. In the Croad Tasting Room, you can see that the emphasis is on the wines. The only gift items I saw were the the shirts on the wall and a small table display of Kiwi Jam and Olive Oil. As you walk in you get a feeling of spaciousness. That space is often transformed into an elegant dining area for weddings and other special events. But now we will view it in its simplicity

In the video below, we will tour the outside of the tasting room so you can see some of the views. Of the many tasting rooms in my part of wine country (Templeton Gap)that I have so far visited, I believe the views from the Croad Tasting Room, Courtyard and Terrace are the most beautiful.

Anyone who has known me long knows I love to wander about in vineyards at any time of year, but especially when the vines are laden with grapes near harvest time. There is simple beauty in the ripe fruit hanging in clusters surrounded by leaves in shades of red, yellow, and green during October and early November when the harvest is taking place.

I want to take you with me into the vineyard to see the grapes that will start on their journey to becoming wine within a few hours or days. Some of these photographs take in a large part of a vineyard. Others concentrate on a particular vine or group of vines -- especially ones with the brightest leaf color. Some show the vineyard with the mountains or oaks in the background. All the photos capture some aspect of the experience one gets walking through the vineyard.

These pictures will be more detailed if you click them to make them larger as you look at them. Please note that our October days in this area often begin as foggy and then remain hazy until almost evening. Normally the view of the mountains is clearer.

The video below is a result of Martin Croad's willingness to explain every step of what happens after the fruit comes in from the fields. I learned a lot. The first couple of words didn't get recorded, but I don't think that will make much difference. So enjoy this personalized tour of the winery, which it was very kind of Martin to give us on such a busy day of his harvest season.

Martin had a group of friends helping him and each seemed to know just what to do as the fruit came in. I took most of the still pictures of the equipment while everyone was busy inside the winery or eating lunch. That's the only reason you don't see the people. You did see them in the video. I did not want to go back inside the winery after we did the video because I didn't want to get in the way of a very busy process. I decided the video would be all that was needed to understand how the wine was made. But because I thought you might like a closer look at some of the equipment, I have included these pictures.

The most fascinating part of this for me was watching the destemmer at work. The grapes from the field go into the hopper at the top and before you know it, they are separated from their stems, which are spit into the receptacle to the right as the grapes themselves drop into the receptacle underneath. It's an amazing process to watch. A few days before watching this process here, I had observed it at another winery which used a more complex system involving more humans. I noticed at Croad the harvesters themselves were the humans removing bad bunches of grapes before they got onto the trucks to come to the winery. I observed this as I watched them pick and then put the grapes on the vehicle that brought them in. Later, as I walked through the vineyard, I saw some of these rejected clusters on the ground.

Inside the winery things appeared simpler than I expected. That doesn't mean it is simple. Vintners have to know how to use the equipment properly, how long the grapes should ferment and age, and what is the best method for each type of wine. I imagine that's knowledge that comes with experience. Judging by the enthusiastic reviews in Yelp, it appears Croad has mastered the art of making fine wine.

I hope it has persuaded you to get off the main highway (46 West) and take the back roads to see Croad Vineyards for yourself. If you enjoy fine wines, you will experience some unique ones. But the views alone are worth that few extra minutes of driving time on Vineyard Drive and Oakdale Road, each of which has its own rural charm.