Posted by: thepinetree on 08/27/2010 09:07 AM
Updated by: thepinetree on 08/29/2010 06:26 PM
Expires: 01/01/2015 12:00 AM
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Meet Calaveras Creek Vineyards! Calaveras Winegrape Alliance Feature By Jan Hovey
Fricot City, CA...Imagine a 135-acre ranch in a beautiful wooded canyon surrounded by 10,000 acres of protected BLM land, 20 acres of certified organic vineyards, a full winemaking facility, a house built in the 1870s, acres of organic vegetable gardens and orchards, four Turkish Kangal Guardian dogs, four Russian Wolfhounds, goats, sheep, horses, and no electricity -- all solar and hyrdo powered. Welcome to the wondrous world of Randy and Sidney Nathan...
Randy Nathan in this CWA Photo
I can now attest to the fact that I have traveled the entire gamut of Fricot City Road (not your typical sports car experience).
After twists and turns on gravel roads, I entered the gate and could barely believe what I saw, no less the fact that someone had created this place. I was warmly greeted by Randy and all eight dogs, and continued to be greeted by the canines as I sat with Randy and Sidney to journal their story.
They purchased the property in 1994 when “there wasn’t even an indoor bathroom,” Randy jested. As you can guess, Randy and Sidney are not your typical entrepreneurs. In fact, this is their second home. They own and run a restaurant in San Francisco, a property management company (Rosaire Properties) for Randy’s R.E. holdings, and have a home with organic gardens in Berkeley. So, it’s to the city half of the week, and to the country the other half.
All of the organic produce Sidney grows travels to the small plates in their wine bar, as well as on their signature salads and pizzas at Pauline’s Pizza Pie, now celebrating its 25th anniversary. Calaveras Creek Vineyards wine, approximately 1,800 cases produced annually, is served in the wine bar and restaurant. No other retail sales are necessary.
A retired president of an electronic and plumbing engineering contractor business, there is nothing about Randy that is retired. He is a man with a mission – one mission at a time. “Randy starts the projects, and I finish them,” Sidney said.
“I planted the vineyard with the finest Napa and Rhone vines, and then I let my Berkeley buddies (Berkeley University Phd’s) tell me what they feel is the best blend,” Randy told me. At their ranch you’ll find Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Morvedre, Grenache, Viognier, and a red Basque varietal - Tannat, “a huge fruit-forward hit.”
Along with Steve Collum and John Holleman, Randy helped create the Calaveras Growers Association, now merged with the Calaveras Wine Association as the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance.
Sidney’s gardens, both at the ranch and in Berkeley, provide organic produce for five restaurants in San Francisco (Chez Panise was one of them), and eggs, olives, walnuts, goat and sheep meat, tomatoes, chilis, pears, nectarines – you name it – are masterfully handled by renowned chefs. “I use shade cloth over the gardens in summer and plastic in winter, fall and spring,” said Sidney.
Randy gave me a full tour of the ranch, winery, and gardens and sent me off with two fine bottles of Calaveras Creek Vineyards wine. I love my job.
To Randy and Sidney – salute!
-Jan Hovey, CWA blogger jhovey@goldrush.com
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