Field Reports

Today marks the 235th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. For those who aren’t familiar with the story, the United States Marine Corps has been celebrating its birthday every year since it was founded November 10, 1775 by commission of the Continental Congress at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia.

Happy birthday, USMC! Semper Fi.

P.S. In some ways, this day also marks the birthday of Jarhead Red. The wine was conceived by Adam Firestone in 1999 as a celebratory bottling for the annual Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation’s Birthday Ball in Los Angeles. Over the years, the wine gained a following by word of mouth and was enjoyed at Birthday Balls around the country. Eventually, to meet growing demand, the wine was released for distribution nationwide.

We are nearing the release of our 2008 Jarhead Reserve, a limited-edition wine that is crafted as our finest expression of the vintage. The 2008 vintage also features a new look for the Jarhead Reserve line, as depicted in the accompanying photo.

The 2008 Jarhead Reserve is composed mainly of Cabernet Franc from the Firestone family’s Rock Hollow Vineyard in the heart of Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley. This small vineyard occupies a southeast-facing slope, where gentle exposure to the elements ensures a long, steady growing season. This orientation is enhanced by the vineyard’s rocky soils, rolling topography and thorough natural drainage, which combine to yield complex, intensely flavored fruit. A contribution of Syrah from the Firestone family’s nearby Kingsley Vineyard brings a deep black fruit quality to the wine, while Merlot from Westerly Vineyard in eastern Santa Ynez Valley adds suppleness and depth to the palate.

Only 560 cases of the 2008 Jarhead Reserve were produced. Look for it to be released within the next month.