Field Reports

I am pleased to report that while we have missed two vintages, there is a new vintage in process.  The wine is currently being blended and new vintage labels are ordered. Jarhead needs the kind attention of winemaker Andrew Murray and slotting in this additional work right during harvest is no small sacrifice.  

There are 120 cases forecasted in this lot and we are planning on bottling in mid-September.  More when we know.

 Meanwhile, don’t forget that since 1962, their Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation mission has continued unbroken helping fund the education for the children of fallen Marines and other service members.  The MCSF is unmatched in their efficiency and their award of scholarships has impacted the lives of thousands. Please keep them in your mind (and wallet!) when enjoying Jarhead Red by donating directly at www.MCSF.org.

Sincerely,

Peter Firestone

Currently on active duty at Jarhead Wine Company

Pictured here is Jarhead liaison Chuck Carlson (at left) with Joseph Franzia, owner of our distributor Bronco Wine Co. / Classic Wines of California, at the company’s recent annual sales meeting in Ceres, California.

Joseph served as a USMC Captain of Delta 1/7 in Vietnam and received a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. As you can imagine, he his a big fan of our wines, and the feelings are mutual.

For Chuck, the meeting was an opportunity to connect with around 70 Classic Wine representatives from around the nation, including those who sell our wines to military bases on the East Coast. He tasted them on our latest releases and filled them in on the latest news in the world of Jarhead Wine Company. Chuck is also a winemaker, so he was able to share details about our vineyards in Santa Barbara County.

A new year is upon us, and a meeting like this makes sure that our wines remained deployed as far and wide as possible!

As they say, like father like son…

Indeed, Nicholas Firestone (CAPT USMC ’11-’15), son of Jarhead Wine Company founder Adam Firestone (CAPT USMC ’84 – ’91), is currently transitioning from the Marine Corps and becoming more actively involved in Jarhead wines.

We caught up with Nick to learn what he’s been up to–and what lies ahead:

What are you doing for Jarhead Wine Company?

-What I am doing for Jarhead is telling its story and getting the word out. The Jarhead Wine Company is unique and special in that it offers affordable, great-value wines made by Marines to be enjoyed by Marines, and with an added bonus that we can give something back. So, I look forward to continuing to tell the story of Jarhead Wines.

You are currently transitioning from the Marine Corps. Tell us a bit more about your career in the Marines…

-While I grew up in a winemaking family, I am also a third generation Marine. My grandfather was a Marine Major who flew Corsairs in World War II and in the Korean War, and my father was a Marine Captain who served in Desert Storm when I was a toddler. With a strong Marine Corps’ tradition, I have served all over the world for the last four years as an Artillery Officer with 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment including in Thailand, Korea, Mongolia, and Afghanistan. It has been a wonderful, life-changing experience.

You recently helped winemaker Andrew Murray with the harvesting and “crush” of Jarhead grapes—what was that like? How does the fruit look this year?

– Andrew is a wealth of knowledge with infectious enthusiasm who is sort of like a big brother to me. Having grown up in a wine family and well used to pitching in during harvest, it was great to join him this year as there is lots of work to go around. It seems as though this year will be a unique challenge for Andrew and other valley winemakers, as this harvest began somewhat early and yield is slightly low. I look forward to hearing more about the creative angle that Andrew will take to approach making wine this year.

You grew up in a winemaking (and brewing) family. What is your fondest or earliest memory of the winemaking life?

– Growing wine in my family prepared me well for life in the Marine Corps, as dedication, strong work ethic, passion, and early mornings are staples of both. For us, there is a strong emphasis on family, and there always has been. My fondest memory is one of our picking contest that we had when I was 12. At one point, my father, grandfather, and I were all shearing grape clusters together, and there’s nothing cooler than picking grapes with your heroes!

Net proceeds of Jarhead wines are donated to USMC-based charities, primarily the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. What makes the foundation such a great cause?

– The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is an incredible organization that provides scholarships to military children, giving special consideration to the children of fallen Marines. It’s hard to think of a better way to honor the legacy and sacrifice of these Marines than by educating their children. We have worked alongside the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation for many years now, and their cause is near and dear to our hearts.

The harvest season in the Jarhead Nation always begins with Chardonnay, which is the earliest-ripening grape variety in our family of wines. And this year, the harvest is happening even earlier than usual…

In a so-called “normal” year, we would expect to begin harvesting Chardonnay in early to mid September. This year, however, we will begin picking before the month of August is over.

Indeed, we expect to start harvesting fruit for the 2015 Jarhead Chard within a few days at the Firestone family’s Curtis and Kingsley estate vineyards in Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley.

We are not alone. Across the Central Coast, the 2015 harvest is notably early.

So why is that? There are several factors. A mild winter brought a slightly early bud break, which got the growing season going sooner rather than later. Also, after abundant yields over the past several years, the crop loads are smaller this year. And the less grapes the vine has to ripen, the more quickly things go.

The word from the vineyard is that the fruit is nevertheless looking and tasting great. The grapes seem balanced in terms of physiological ripeness, and smaller yields typically translate to rich, concentrated flavors.

So off we go, headlong into the harvest a bit early this year. We look forward to sharing the fruits of our labors with you.