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Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, Hayfork Wine Company. In their words:
"At Hayfork Wine, we make wine from grapes grown on our ranch in the Napa Valley, where my family has been farming the same soil for six generations. Our goal is to emphasize the importance of farming in winemaking, as we strongly believe that the hands of the farmer in the field lay the foundation necessary to produce a quality wine. We feel that less is more when it comes to winemaking, and we strive to allow our wines to evolve naturally, with the least amount of manipulation possible."
Keep up with Hayfork on their Facebook page.
SouleMama: Tell us about your background. What path led you to the work you do today?
Haley: Like many small town kids, I grew up and wanted to get as far away as possible from my hometown of St. Helena, CA. After a few years of studying glaciers, rangering for the National Park Service and traveling the world, I found myself working on an organic market farm. It was there one day while blissfully picking lettuce that it came full circle. I realized, like my father and ancestors before me, I too was a farmer. Soon after this epiphany, my husband and I returned to the Napa Valley, and began learning the wine industry ropes. And it wasn't long after, that we embarked on making our own wine from the family grapes.
SouleMama: What's your favorite part of the job? The most challenging?
Haley: I love the physical work involved with winemaking most. I have always been most content in the field, and now I find that same fulfillment in the cellar. Harvest is my busiest time, as I walk the vineyard often, sampling grapes and testing for ripeness; then once we pick, I am busy at the winery with fermentations. I get to wear boots and carharts to work, climb barrel stacks, drive a forklift, and return home stained purple at the end of the day. The most challenging aspect of my job is balancing family and work. As a full time mama of two young ones with a farmer husband working overtime everyday, I am constantly torn between being completely present with my children and finding the time to focus on Hayfork. I feel quite fortunate that I have an engaging career and also get be a stay-at-home mama, but this balancing act is my greatest challenge.
SouleMama: What's the product or offering you are most excited about right now? Tell us about it.
Haley: We recently released our 2009 wines, the 2009 Hayfork Lewelling Ranch Cabernet and 2009 Hayfork Petite Sirah. The Cab is our most balanced wine yet, with aromas of lush ripe berries, velvety tannins, and flavors of raspberry, dark plum, cedar. Our Petite is a simply delicious, inky purple wine, with aromas and flavors of wild blueberries and field-warm strawberries.
For today's giveaway, Hayfork Wine is generously offering the following to TWO winners:
~ One bottle each of our 2009 Hayfork Lewelling Ranch Cabernet and our 2009 Hayfork Petite Sirah
In addition, Hayfork is offering free shipping to SouleMama readers through the month of May. Enter "soulemama" in the comments when placing your order.
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To enter today's giveaway, please leave a comment (one entry per person, please) in today's post. I'll close comments by 8am EST on Monday, and announce the winner(s), chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments closed!
Thank you to Hayfork Wine Company!
The winners are:
Sounds yum... a little taste of the California sunshine would be nice.
Posted by Alison
What a cool winery - thanks for the chance to win and Happy Mother's Day!
Posted by: Chris Aiton
