Welcome to the Bridge - Monthly Newsletter of Grand Island Vineyards

Two Grand Island Vineyards Clubs to Choose From!

Consider joining our Salman Family Reserve and/or GIV Wine Family Wine Club(s) and get great discounts on wines and cases, events, merch and pretty much anything else that would make sense. Join us for pickup party celebrations or have it shipped directly to your front door. Get more info, see pricing or sign up!

The 2019 Grand Island Vineyards Pinot Noir

Written by Winemaker, David Shattuck

We are very excited to be releasing the new 2019 Grand Island Vineyards Pinot Noir. This Pinot Noir vintage produced a style of wine we don't make as often at Grand Island: an off-dry red wine. With warm temperatures, low fruit set, and a low water year, these grapes were very ripe when they arrived at the winery. 

The fermentation finished with intense fruit flavors and a hint of sugar palate. I really enjoy this wine as an aperitif or slightly chilled in the hot summer afternoon. It pairs well with duck carnitas, lamb curry, and Thai food.  

The wine pours a dusty ruby color with hints of dark purple in the meniscus. The initial aroma is a powerful burst of ripe cherry, vanilla, and burdock root. The flavors are juicy ripe plum, sweet toasted coconut, and a hint of leather. 

The mouthfeel is rich with a pleasing hint of sucrosity to balance out the tannin and acid. The finish is intriguing with a strong dried goji berry flavor and intense earthy notes.

Wine Clubs, Events, Discounts and More!!!

Written by Tasting Room Manager, Tess Jonson

It’s Wine Club time!! Make sure to look for the GOLDEN DISCOUNTS and update your wines before we charge your account on August 6th.

Join us for COMEDY UNCORKED on August 20th from 6-9pm. The night will start with a glass of wine and a delicious dinner catered by Rancho Rio Bravo Catering Company followed by a BARREL full of laughs. More wine will be available for purchase by the glass or bottle. Make your reservations today!

GIV will be welcoming back Love & Honey on Friday, August 19th from 6-9pm for Sipping @ Sunset. Bring a picnic, a blanket and kick your weekend off GIV style. 

The Great Grape Stomp weekend is back! SIP, SQUISH, and STOMP your way into harvest. Your ticketed reservation will include a one hour grape stomping for 2, a bottle of GIV wine, and 2 GIV t-shirts.

Last year was a ton of fun and we are sure to run out of spots so jump on the stomp train. 

BRIDGEHEAD Bubbles, new look, same great taste!



Ready for Some New Reserve Releases?

Written by Winemaker, Ed Seikel

We have been busy in the cellar the last few weeks getting two very special new wines into bottle, and I'm excited to finally let everyone know about them! 

First is our 2020 Petit Verdot. We have had a limited release Petite Verdot before, but the 2020 vintage is now officially entering the Salman Family Reserve label. Despite it being one of our newer single varietal releases, it has quickly become one of our favorite wines here in the cellar and I hope everyone enjoys this newest reserve as much as we do!

Our other new release is an old favorite that will also join the Salman Family Reserve line for the 2020 vintage, Cabernet Franc! David and I tasted through each barrel individually until we were happy with what we thought was the highest quality wine that expressed the best characteristics of our consistently favorite offering here at GIV. We could not be more excited to bring you this wine, and cannot wait until it will be available for everyone to enjoy.

Both of these wines were bottled in very limited quantities, but will be in future Reserve Club shipments, so if you don't want to miss out, look into joining the Salman Family Reserve Club next time you join us in the tasting room!

First Day of Harvest: August 2, 2022

Written by Operations Manager, Joe Salman

It comes around faster and faster every year. We just finished harvesting the pears near the winery and now are stepping right into grape harvest. 

This year the Bartlett pears were sent to Del Monte cannery, so remember to pick up some canned pears and fruit cocktail at your local store. I love these products and they seem to be making a comeback during this high inflationary time.

Anyway, back to grapes, the early harvest grapes will be chardonnay (near the winery driveway) for sparkling wines. We hand pick these grapes in the early morning with headlamps on. The whole cluster grapes are picked into half ton plastic bins to minimize early crushing and juice oxidation. The majority of these grapes are for other wineries, but we plan to bring in a small amount to start a new sparkling wine program that would be a drier counterpart to the Bridgehead Bubbles. 

Stay tuned and check in with Ed and Dave on this topic.

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