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It's all in the timing.
- Article from:
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Santa Barbara News-Press (Santa Barbara, CA)
- Article date:
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September 28, 2007
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Copyright informationCOPYRIGHT 2007 Santa Barbara News-Press. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Tom Risen
Sep. 28--As the sun rose in Santa Barbara, the Sta. Rita Hills remained covered in fog, which prolonged the cool early morning long enough for the Melville Winery to pick a very ripe block of Chardonnay grapes. The staff rose at 4:30 a.m., and by the time the fog lifted just before noon, the grapes were picked, pressed and distilling in a tank waiting to be made into crisp white wine.
Vineyard Manager Chad Melville and winemaker Greg Brewer tasted the juice from a random selection of grapes the previous morning, as they had many times for months, and decided it was the right time to pick.
"We test the sugar and acidity levels of the juice, but the ...