Rangeland Wines News October 2024: Fall Wine Club

It's time for our Rangeland fall wine club. This is the second shipment since we closed the tasting room last December. We think the wines are tasting better than ever. We'd like to thank the many loyal customers who are still in the wine club and giving us great feedback. We expect to continue with two club shipments (spring and fall) at least through 2025. We also plan to offer our beautiful wines at discounted special prices from time to time, while they last. Here is a summary of our Sunset club discount rates, all of which include shipping for 4 bottles or more:

• Intro Club (4 bottles per shipment), 25% off list price
• Estate Club (6 bottles), 30% off
• Case Club (12 bottles), 35% off

Here's our fall wine club selection (*denotes our 4 bottle Intro Club selection):

• 2021 Cabernet* x 2 
• 2021 Shepherd*, Syrah blend
• 2021 Mistletoe Blend
• 2020 Petite Sirah*
• 2021 Zinfandel*

As usual, we are making our Doppel Club offer. If you are a 6 or12 bottle member, you can double your order for an additional 10% discount. For example, a 6 bottle, 30% off Estate Club member would get a full case of wine at 40% off, or more than $200 in savings from list prices. If you'd like to take advantage of this zuper offer to stockpile some wine for the holidays, please email us.

We will begin billing the wine club October 21 and will ship it the week of November 4.  Please let us know by email if you'd like to customize your fall shipment. All available wines are listed here. If you need to update your credit card or shipping information, you can log in to www.rangelandwines.com, and use your email address to retrieve your password.

Oct 18, 2024 at 9:53 AM Permalink

Rangeland Wines September News: Petit Verdot Release Special

2021 Petit Verdot Release Special

After almost 2 years aging in barrel and another year in the bottle, our 2021 single varietal Petit Verdot is ready to step out and show its stuff. Petit Verdot is usually a supporting variety in the Bordeaux cast of players. It adds lushness, suavity and dark fruit to the traditional Cabernet blends of France and California, but is rarely bottled alone. In our vineyard, Petit Verdot is planted in tough, gravelly ground on a toe of our coastal mountain slope, but this vigorous grower still carries abundant fruit featuring small berries in small clusters. Our PV yields a dark but nuanced wine with lower acids than our Cabernet. This is the final vintage of our Petit Verdot, so if you have a hankering for PV, get yours while you can.  Here are the tasting notes:

Heady aromas of dark fruit, mocha and sage introduce this complex, yet seamless wine. The palate contains lingering notes of sandalwood, cedar, blackberry compote, and baked scone. Pairs wonderfully with prime rib and roasted potatoes. 

Order now at the following very special prices:

• 6 bottles of 2021 Petit Verdot for $240, shipping included, before club discount.
  Order here.
• 12 bottles of 2021 Petit Verdot for $399, shipping included, before club discount. 
  Order here.

Sep 20, 2024 at 7:28 AM Permalink

Rangeland 2021 Mistletoe Release: Christmas in July (and August!)

Our Rangeland Mistletoe is an untraditional  "kitchen-sink" blend that features robust, ripe fruit with enough acidity to make it a nice food wine. The Mistletoe name makes it a great holiday gift, conveying smoochie appreciation to loved ones and friends.  I make no further claims as to its aphrodisiacacle qualities. BTW, that non-word is pronounced "Afro-deezy-aka-cal." The correct spelling is "aphrodisiacal" but I kind of like the extra "cackle" at the end of my version.

Anyway, our 2021 Mistletoe is an eclectic red blend with a sassy bouquet of basil, black currants, and eucalyptus bark. Flavors of cassis, bilberry, and cherry combine with characteristically fresh Rangeland acidity. Pair with beef, lamb, or portabella mushroom burgers or whatever suits your fancy.

The implausible blend is: 44% Petit Verdot, 25% Syrah, 13% Merlot, 8% Mourvedre, 7% Malbec, 3% Grenache. Aged 19 months in neutral French oak.

This is your prime opportunity to stock up on this affordable, delicious table wine. Order now through August 31 at the following special price and we will ship your wine with ice packs to beat the summer weather.

2021 Mistletoe Case special: 12 bottle case for $349, shipping included, before club disount.
Order here.

Jul 28, 2024 at 12:35 PM Permalink

Rangeland News June 2024

2021 Cabernet Release Special

After another wet winter and a long cool spring, summer is upon us. Mild weather still prevails in Paso Robles. It's nice on the patio in the evening, when the family grill and smoker are frequently in use. While enjoying some barbeque, few wines pair and satisfy like king Cabernet Sauvignon. Our Adelaida Springs Ranch vineyard has been Cabernet-focused since we planted it in 2001. Our fruit has been featured or hidden in many famous, critically acclaimed bottlings from luxury wine labels. Now, we are releasing our 2021 Rangeland Cabernet Sauvignon--the last vintage in this long line of fine wines. Here are the tasting notes: 

Complex aromas of oolong tea, wild sage and dried cherry precede a rich palate. Dark fruit, black pepper and nutmeg lace this full-bodied wine. If you remember our 2020 Sandstone Cabernet fondly, this lush wine is for you.  Pairs nicely with a grilled beef steak or stands by itself for pure sipping enjoyment. 

If you are thinking you might someday miss having some Rangeland in your cellar, this is the one you will want to have an extra case or two of for the long run. Order now at the following special prices and we will ship your wine with ice packs to beat the summer weather:

• 6 bottles of 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon for $240, shipping included, before club discount.
  Order here.
• 12 bottles of 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon for $399, shipping included, before club disount. 
  Order here.

Jun 25, 2024 at 9:52 AM Permalink

Rangeland News May 2024

Winemaking, like many agricultural pursuits, does not always go to plan. Our Shepherd blend typically comprises our best lots of Syrah, Mourvedre and Grenache. Sometimes we include Petite Sirah for a little power boost. We had very high hopes for the 2020 vintage of the Shepherd, and many of those are realized in a wine that exudes a stylish balance between both fresh fruit and savory complexity, but sometimes also a touch of nature's wicked kiss: smoke. Although there were no local fires in Paso Robles in 2020, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Napa and Sonoma counties were all swept by wildfires from August to October. The smoke drifted southward down the coast and had an unexpectedly signficant impact on Paso Robles just as the grapes were ripening and softening for harvest. Not all varieties or vineyards were affected. Our Adelaida Springs Ranch estate vineyard seemed largely unaffected at crush time, during barrel aging and even at bottling time. But after 12 months of bottle aging, we were suprised to discover some intermittent (not every bottle, not for every taster) smokey flavors and aromas in our Shepherd blend. Here are the tasting notes: 

An exotic and floral nose of lupine,  petrichor, and ocean breeze precede a juicy palate. Flavors of blueberries, cinnamon, and chaparral fill out a rich finish. Some tasters detect a hint of smoke on the palate and finish from the 2020 wildfires. Pair with a roast chicken and grilled veggies. 

We had planned to offer this fine Rhone blend for $55 per bottle, but considering the flaw (or is it a feature?), we are offering these outstanding special prices:

• 6 bottles of 2020 Shepherd for $175, shipping included, before club discount. Order here.
• 12 bottles of 2020 Shepherd for $299, shipping included, before club disount. Order here.

As a reminder, here are current "sunset" club discount rates and shipping is always included:

• 4 bottle Intro Club members receive a 25% discount
• 6 bottle Estate Club members get 30% off
• 12 bottle Case Club members get 35% off

May 6, 2024 at 12:49 PM Permalink

Rangeland News March 2024

Spring Wine Club: Better Than Ever

Although we are in the twilight phase of our wine production here at Rangeland,  I am impressed with the wines that we've bottled over the last few years. They just keep getting more expressive and refined. This spring's wine club lineup is the finest we have ever offered. Here is the wine club selection: 

• 2021 Limestone Reserve Cabernet*, new release
• 2021 Watershed blend*, new release
• 2021 Reserve Syrah*, new release
• 2021 Zinfandel*, new release
• 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2020 Petit Verdot 

*denotes 4-bottle Intro Club selection

As you may recall from our announcement last year, shipping is now included with your wine club without charge. Continuing a Rangeland tradition, we are offering our Doppel Club incentive. If you are a 6 or 12 bottle club member, you can double your order for an additional 10% off.  For example, a 6-bottle Estate Club member, normally 30% off, would get a full case at 40% off. If you would like to take advantage of this zuper opportunity to bolster your cellar with the good stuff, please email us. 

Some key dates to remember:

• Before March 25: If you'd like to customize your spring shipment, please let us know by email. All the available wines are listed here.
• March 25: We will start billling the wine club.
• April 8: We will begin to ship your wine club. Please update your credit card and shipping information, if necessary, at www.RangelandWines.com. You can use your email address to retrieve your login password. 
• April 8 and after, orders can be picked up at Paso Wine Storage (1605 Commerce Way, Paso Robles) Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm. Please call first: (805) 369-1191.

Adelaida Springs Ranch Aerial View

Mar 16, 2024 at 11:21 AM Permalink

Rangeland News February 2024

Contents: Petite Sirah and Ultramafic Wine Specials, Winter Sights and Hints of Spring

Rugged Pleaser: Petite Sirah 

Petite Sirah has been planted in the fields and hillsides of California for over 130 years. It is a key ingredient in the rustic jug wine of "old" California, as well as the hidden kicker in luxurious dark, modern Cabernets that draw fantastic price premiums. The wonderful thing about our Adelaida Springs Ranch estate vineyard Petite is that it combines the dark textural power of the variety with an energetic acidity imparted by limestone soils. Rangeland 2020 Petite Sirah offers savory aromas of walnut wood and mocha followed by a powerful and brawny palate of plums and wild blackberries. Fresh acidity makes it a good "food wine" too. Pair it with lamb shanks, braised in an au jus gravy, enriched with carmelized onions.  Purchase 6 bottles for just $199, shipping included. That's just $33.16 per bottle, before your club discount. Order here. 

Merlot: a Noble Wine Tortoise

Whether it's the latest in coastal Pinot Noir, an expensive mountain Cab or a north slope organic Grenache from a geeky savant winemaker, the wine world always has a trendy favorite. Meanwhile, Merlot occupies the wine slow lane, producing distinctive, subtle bottlings that achieve nobility when grown on the right spot and handled with care. Our estate 2020 Ultramafic Merlot is another in a long string of complex, drinkable beauties. Its evocative aromas include bay leaves, acai berries, and ancho chile. The palate is round with silky tannins and notes of vanilla, nectarines, and wild raspberries. Pair with a savory dish like mushroom pizza or cured meats. Purchase 6 bottles for just $199, shipping included. That's just $33.16 per bottle, before club discount. Order here. 

Transitions and Reflections 

Spring starts early in most of California. Green carpets the hills in January, below the snowy ridges. Horses and cows lower their heads and nosh the juicy stems with relish. Exotic acacia trees show their copious canopies of yellow blossoms first, in February. Then the almond trees start to bloom, turning orchards into dream fields or punctuating a dormant hillside with pink. Sour grass buttercups pop up in vacant lots and roadsides. I remember tasting those lemony stalks at the edge of the ballfield as a boy. Often we couldn't wait for real spring to arrive, so we'd break out the baseball mitts and practice in the puddly grass, the leather ball soaked slippery and heavy.

But in many years, like this one, wintery weather still overlays the promise of spring. Storm after storm darkens the horizon. Mountain passes are closed and winds whistle around the chimney. The rainfall total here on the ranch is approacing 30 inches. We're ready for spring, but winter won't let us go. 

We spend a lot of our lives in transition. We think expectantly of the next season. We savor the next challenge or the next trip, ready to move on from the present. But sometimes it's best to settle into the now, build a fire and sip on a glass of wine. Give yourself time to reflect a little on the past, on the time and place and effort that brought you these gifts. 

Feb 21, 2024 at 8:49 PM Permalink

Rangeland Holiday Specials

Contents:  Mistletoe and Cab Specials, Ground Beef Special, Holiday Hours

Mistletoe Case Sale

Great for holiday gifts or for your wine fridge.  A 12 bottle case of our 2020 Mistletoe for just $250 or $20.83 per bottle, plus your new sunset club discount (extra 10%) and shipping is included! The 2020 Mistletoe takes a Rhone style tilt. It's an eclectic "Paso" blend of 31% Syrah, 20% Merlot, 17% Mourvedre, 11% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, with a dash of Malbec, Grenache and Petit Sirah! Mistletoe offers aromas of chaparral and cranberry. The vibrant, juicy palate features notes of caramel, açaí, char-grilled ribeye, roasted chestnuts and a rich, umami finish. Order here. 

Cabernet for Christmas

For the really special people on your Christmas list (including yourself), why not send six bottles of our 95 point 2020 Cabernet for $199? That's just $33.16 per bottle ($45 list price) before your new sunset (extra 10%) club discount, shipping included. Rangeland 2020 Cabernet features black fruit flavors, dense, silky tannins, with a hint of vanilla. This elegant wine earned 95 pts, Double Gold medal, in the Sunset International Wine Competition. Order early to ensure timely delivery here.

Beef Special: Free Shipping 

Do you have hard-to-shop-for, but important people on your holiday gift list? Give the gift of healthy, delicious, nutrient-rich grass-fed beef that will be enjoyed for months. How about a 10 pound box of 100% grass-fed ground beef ($120) or 20 pounds ($220.) Club discounts apply.  Shipping is free for orders placed by December 31. We will ship all meat orders in January, after the holiday package rush, but we can send a gift card for you in December. Place your order here. 

Holiday Hours

• Our tasting Room will be closed on Thanksgiving day and the following day (November 23-24.)
• We will be closed after December 23, which will be our last day of tasting service. 

Nov 22, 2023 at 12:38 PM Permalink

Rangeland Sunset

Dear Customer,

I am writing to let you know that we are closing our tasting room at the end of this year. December 23 will be our last day for wine tasting or pick ups at Rangeland. Our wine club will continue for at least one year. We have some beautiful new wines in the bottle through the 2021 vintage that we'd like our loyal customers to enjoy. All continuing wine club members will receive an additional 10% discount and free shipping on all their orders, effective immediately. Six bottle Estate Club members will now receive a 30% discount. Case Club members will get 35% off, and so on. If you want to cancel your club membership, we understand. 

The inspiration for this decision is simply that Lisa and I want to slow down, work less and enjoy our family and health while we still have the vigor of youth.😊 During 24 years of ranching, home building, child rearing, grape farming, cattle breeding, sheep herding, walnut harvesting, firewood cutting, winemaking, burger slinging, meat packing, party throwing and guest hosting, we have learned so much from scratch. It has been an arduous thrill ride all the way. It was our honor to provide you with food and wine that comes right from our land, the California landscape that feeds and inspires us all. We have been humbled many times by the challenges, but your appreciation has been the most humbling of all. We are so grateful and thankful for your support over the years. We also had the help of great employees, family, working pets and friends. ¡Muchísimas gracias!

There is so much more I could write about this decision and our many experiences. Maybe someday I will do that. For now, however, I'd simply like to thank you for joining us on this journey in the sweet hills of Paso Robles. 

Nov 22, 2023 at 12:34 PM Permalink

Rangeland News October 2023

Contents: Wine Club, Pick Up Party, Ground Beef, Firewood, Late Harvest

Fall Wine Club: Send in the Caberlry!

Since we began as wine grape growers in 2001, Cabernet Sauvignon has been the foundation of our Adelaida Springs Ranch estate vineyard, comprising 20 of our 40 planted acres. We are celebrating noble Cabernet this fall by sending you some of the finest wines we have ever made--dominated by Cabernet varietal fruit. Our fall club selection includes two bottles of our award winning 2020 Cabernet, as well as one each our Limestone Reserve Cab, and a new Sandstone Cabernet. This new bottling from winemaker Alex Kemp highlights the supple mouthfeel and complex, aromatic fruitiness derived from this distinct soil type. Here's our fall wine club lineup (*denotes our 4 bottle Intro Club selection):

• 2020 Cabernet* x 2 (95 pts, double gold in the Sunset International Wine Competition)
• 2020 Limestone Reserve Cabernet*, a new release
• 2020 Sandstone Cabernet*, an entirely new wine 
• 2020 Watershed*, new release of our Bordeaux blend
• 2020 Mistletoe, just in time for the holidays!

As usual, we are making our Doppel Club offer. If you are a 6 or 12 bottle member, you can double your order for an additional 10% discount and $1 shipping. For example, a 6 bottle, 20% off Estate Club member would get a full case of wine at 30% off, or more than $100 in savings. If you'd like to take advantage of this zuper offer to stockpile some wine for the holidays, please email us.

We will begin billing the wine club October 17 and will ship between October 30 and November 6. If you want your wine club earlier, you can pick up at the tasting room beginning October 5. Please let us know by email if you'd like to customize your fall shipment. All available wines are listed here. If you need to update your credit card or shipping information, you can log in to www.rangelandwines.com, and use your email address to retrieve your password.

Pick Up Party Saturday, November 11 

We'll be serving up a great assortment of hearty and authenic local food at our pick up party, including our home-made grass-fed beef chili, lamb sliders, grilled J&R sausages, and Lisa's famous cookies. We'll be pouring the fall wine club lineup so you can taste everything and possibly add more favorites to your order. This party is complimentary for wine and beef club members and their plus one guests. Reserve your tickets now, as space is limited. November 11, 12 to 3pm. 

Free Shipping for Ground Beef This Fall

We have plenty of our juicy and savory ground beef available for sale: 10 lbs. for $120, and 20 lbs. for $220 (before your club discount). Shipping is included. The beef is conveniently packaged in 1 pound packs, and ships frozen and on ice. This offer is good until the end of the year, while supplies last. Orders received after  November 27 will be shipped in January. This would make an excellent holiday gift for the meat lover in your life! Order here.

Firewood Time!

Thanks to that epic winter of 2023, we lost a few more trees and have plenty of oak wood split and ready for you to enjoy this winter. Our half cord pallets are $250 before your club discount. If you're interested, please email us to make arrangements for pickup at the winery.

Harvest Update

Last year, due to a historic heat wave, we were finished picking by September 15.  Most years we are done by early October. But this year, due to a wet winter (64 inches of rain) and cool spring, we have yet to pick the first grape. And so the pendulum swings. Back in 2011, we had similar conditions and then we were hit with October rains that pushed harvest into November. Remembering that cold, wet harvest, with mud on the tractors, still brings a shudder. We hope to avoid that this year, because it puts the crop, our nerves, and wine quality at risk. The upside for 2023 is that the fruit looks good, flavors are developing nicely and the sugars are inching up. Hopefully Mother Nature will shine just a little hotter in the next few weeks, and we can bring this harvest home in good shape. We look to the autumn skies with a cautious smile. 

Oct 4, 2023 at 2:14 PM Permalink