The 2006 Claudia Springs Zinfandel is one of Bob'sMendocino blends

Tag : Wine Tank
"We put up our house for sale in San Jose and sold it even beforeMilla and her late husband, Rex, accepted our offer," says Claudia.The Klindts and Heins started by each putting up $20,000 and madeup their business plan as they went along.
In the meantime, the Heins purchased a 20-acre parcel adjacent tothe Klindts. Everyone sorted out their jobs and made their firstwine, 550 cases of Claudia Springs Chardonnay, right after theybought the property in 1989. "When we first started," says Claudia,we knew nothing about warehousing or even what a pallet jack was."They purchased six tons of Chardonnay grapes and took turnspitchforking the fruit into the crusher.
For the next five years the Klindts commuted between their jobs inSan Jose and their fledging winery in Anderson Valley. Then theygot jobs with Mendocino County Social Services. The year 1998 wasmomentous. The Klindts planted their vineyard -- eight acres ofpinot noir and two acres of pinot gris grapes, by taking on familypartners. The Heins decided to get out of the winery as they nowhad three children, and sold their share of the winery to theKlindts. Today Claudia Springs makes 3,000 cases. Both Bob andClaudia are now retired from social work and work fulltime with thewinery.
"It's a creative process for me," says Bob. "I couldn't write orsing but I found I was able to take some grapes and make somethingpeople enjoy." While he admits that this is a hard business to keepgoing, he finds the interesting people he meets make it allworthwhile.
Among those he mentions are the late Larry Pacini from the Talmagebench, Casey Hartlip, vineyard manager at Eaglepoint Vineyardsabout 1,700 feet above Ukiah Valley, Steve Alden, whose property ison Fish Rock Road in Mendocino's newest appellation, MendocinoRidge, and Richard and Annette Rhodes in Redwood Valley. He onlybuys grapes from Mendocino County vineyards. And he enjoys findingnew places in the county to try. In Redwood Valley, the Klindts getzinfandel and petite sirah from Vassar vineyard, and zinfandel froma one-acre vineyard owned by 91-year old John Ricetti. "Our 2005Ricetti Zin got a gold medal at the 2008 Pacific Rim WineCompetition," says Bob. His Potato Patch Zin from Alden's vines gota double gold at the Zinfandel Championships.
Sometimes Bob does a Mendocino Zinfandel, blending wines made froma variety of vineyards. "And sometimes it's better than thevineyard specific wine," he says.
Since they buy from many vineyards around the county, the Klindtsare putting together a map of Mendocino on which they will coloreach of the vineyards where they purchase grapes. And they willinclude a photo of each of the growers on the map. The map will bemounted in their tasting room, which is in a metal building next toFlood Gate Cafe on Highway 128, at mile marker 16. The focal pointof this fun stop on the way to and from the coast is the tastingbar. It was originally in Bob's dad's soda fountain in Big Timber,Montana, where Bob was born and raised. He made sodas at this barwhere he now serves his own wines.
Since their crush pad is located on a small driveway under acarport, "everything has to be moved five times." Everyone worksmoving the bins and punching down the fermenting red grapes. Theirfamily includes Bob's daughter, her husband and four children, andClaudia's grown son, and daughter, and her two children. Thegrandchildren are getting old enough to help with labeling andbottling on a 1940s rotating carousel on which they can bottle 300cases a day. And they help pack wine for the Claudia Springs wineclub shipments.
A few years ago two of their wine club members came to help out ata bottling and became partners in a brand they call HarmoniquePinot Noir. We'll learn more about them when they are profiled inWine Notes.
The Klindts are fully immersed in their winery. Sourcing grapes,crushing and keeping the lots separate, racking barrels stackedunder their house, staffing the tasting room, which is open Fridaythrough Monday, 11-5, and then working with a broker anddistributors to sell the wine are among the activities that keepClaudia Springs winery going full speed.
Bob and Claudia still take time to sit outside with friends underthe shade of a forested slope next to their house. The coolingocean air keeps the south facing property from getting too hot andit contributes to the slow ripening of the grapes. Bob, comfortableand reflective nine years after retirement, says with a satisfiedsmile, "There is no one in the barrel room nagging that my courtreports are late." But then, there are those pesky turkeys andyellow jackets.
TASTING NOTES: The 2006 Claudia Springs Zinfandel is one of Bob'sMendocino blends that includes my neighbor's zinfandel grapes alongwith those from Ricetti and Alden, plus a smidgen of petite sirah,syrah and merlot. "This was my chance to get creative," says Bob. Abig delicious fruit forward wine, it paired perfectly with anall-grilled dinner of lamb chops, potatoes, peppers and eggplant.
For more information on Claudia Springs Winery, contact theMendocino Winegrape and Wine Commission, www.mendowine.com orwww.ClaudiaSprings.com
Heidi Cusick Dickerson writes Wine Notes for The Ukiah DailyJournal on behalf of the Mendocino County Winegrape and WineCommission.
Next week: Cole Bailey Vineyards