2014 Newsom Grape Day Preview

Every year Neal Newsom and the Newsom family have a Grape Day in their “Barnery” to educate potential growers and winery owners, in addition to networking with involved Texas wine industry members and friends.

This year’s event will be held on Friday, May 9. Neal Newsom believes they have the best conference ever planned. Dr. Ed Hellman of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Texas Tech helped get some of the best speakers from Texas.

The Tempranillo Conference is in conjunction with Newsom Grape Day and would not be possible without the great sponsors who will be participating. Vintage Nurseries will be providing a barbecue lunch and Inland Desert Nurseries will be providing dinner. Other sponsors make the Newsom Grape Day free for all, and all the sponsors look forward to visiting with attendees.

A popular silent auction will be held and if attendees have something to donate, they can bring it to the event. All proceeds go to the Newsom Scholarship Fund.

The High Plains Winegrowers 2nd Annual Wine and Music Fest event is the following Saturday (May 10) so plan on spending the whole weekend.

Newsom Grape Day

May 9, 2014

Tempranillo Symposium

• 8:00 – 9:00       Registration

• 9:00 – 9:15      Welcome – Neal Newsom
• 9:15 – 10:00    Comparison of Tempranillo growing regions in Spain and TX
  

Dr. Ed Hellman, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Texas Tech

• 10:00 – 10:30 Break & Vineyard Equipment
• 10:30 – 11:30  Deep cold maceration of Tempranillo

Bob Young, Bending Branch Winery

• 11:30 – 11:45  TWGGA legislative update

Gabe Parker, Chair, TWGGA legislative committee

• 11:45 – 12:00 Newsom Scholarships Recipients
• 12:00 – 1:00    Lunch
• 1:00 – 1:45      Effects of canopy management and light levels on Tempranillo fruit composition

Dr. Justin Scheiner, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

• 2:00 – 3:30      Experiences with Tempranillo wine

Rafael Ruiz, Sommelier
Marta Sanchez, Winemaker – Haak Vineyards & Winery
Dan Gatlin, Winemaker – Inwood Estates Winery
Jim Johnson, Winemaker – Alamosa Wine Cellars

The remainder of the day will be spent talking and visiting until it is time for dinner then everybody will go into town and eat at the Newsom’s favorite Mexican restaurant. The restaurant lets people bring their own wine too! People can then return to the Barnery and talk grapes and wine until the cows come home.

Please RSVP to neal@newsomvineyards.com or call 806-456-7885.