Field Reports

This month, we are honoring Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. with an “Around The World” special, consisting of one bottle each of the 2008 Jarhead Red, 2008 Jarhead Reserve and 2009 Jarhead Chard. Price includes shipping!

Glenn began his military career with the U.S. Navy, but was later reassigned to the U.S. Marine Corps. He flew 63 combat missions in the Korean war. According to Wikipedia, Glenn “gained the dubious nickname ‘magnet ass’ from his apparent ability to attract enemy flak.”

On April 10, 1959, Glenn was named as one of the original seven Project Mercury astronauts. Three years later, became the first American to orbit the Earth. It was a cornerstone achievement that culminated in U.S. astronauts landing on the moon seven years later.

In honor of the end of the Guadalcanal Campaign on the same date as today, we are offering a “$43 Henderson Field Special” featuring two bottles of 2008 Jarhead Red Reserve signed by proprietor Adam Firestone and offered in a cloth tote with free shipping now through the end of February.

The Guadalcanal Campaign, fought between August 7, 1942 and February 9, 1943, was for the control of a key airstrip, later named Henderson Field after a Marine pilot lost in the Battle of Midway. The victory at Guadalcanal ended all Japanese expansion attempts and placed the Allies in a position of clear supremacy. They suffered and they did their duty so a sheltered homeland could enjoy peace. We owe those Marines a profound debt of gratitude.

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.

This is a harvest season to remember, started off cool, followed by a heat wave last week, and now back to cool again. The heat kicked the ripening into a higher gear, but the harvest is still considerably later than usual. The estate fruit looks great, and the added hang time will bring nice balance and intensity. Stay tuned!