Hello from Northern California. Although we’ve had some rain from the much-anticipated El Niño, it has once again been warm through most of February here. Our vines still need some more rain, and it looks like it’s coming in the next two weeks.

The 2012 and 2013 wines available now are from two very strong vintages, and while the critics are currently raving about 2013, there are many 2014s that are as good or better. The recent 2015 was a much smaller harvest in almost all of the West Coast, though quality again appears to be very good. Unfortunately the smaller crop is putting more upward pressure on grape and wine prices.

While the strong US dollar has leveled out and even declined a bit recently, we know that it is a challenging factor for you who import our wines. Again, most producers have either not taken price increases or have withheld them for export as a concession to the exchange factor. I have some new value wines available, so be sure to inquire if interested.

I will once again be at Prowein in Dusseldorf this year, sharing a stand with Marc Buelinckx: Hall 13, stand C50. We will be there Sunday and Monday, March 13 and 14. Please stop by and taste if you’re at the show.