iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 13h

The heat appears to be melting vital neural circuits, such that I’m regressing to a consideration of cereal and milk as a dinner option.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 13h

When it’s silly hot as it is today I can’t help but imagine I’m trapped in a Robert Service poem.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 13h

Crazy warm throughout the state. So pleased that we were able to harvest everything before this last spell.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 14h

Driving my old Citroen today for old time’s sake. I could have chosen a cooler day. (AC not really working.)

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 15h

Also illegal in Switzerland to plant a monoclonal vineyard. Maybe the thinking guided from a slightly different set of principles. But it seems that some countries think about diversity differently than does the US of A.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

How insane have we become that this is even possible? We are very far down the rabbit hole.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Heading over to the winery shortly to taste the Grenache as it is going dry. Likely will press today or tomorrow. Grenache can exhibit some astringency if it is over-extracted and want to make sure that does not occur.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Andy grows and sells the most extraordinary fruit. I asked him once why he did not grow pome fruit. "I want fruit that is so luscious it bursts with flavor and drips down your chin. Apples are the celery of fruit."

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Reposted by Randall Grahm

Joe Walsh @walshfreedom.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This. It has always been this. A sitting American president did this. And because he did this, he should have been convicted and put behind bars. And the fact that we never held him accountable for these crimes will forever stain this country. And we may never recover from it.👇

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Rampant leafroll virus in Napa Valley in the’60s and early’70s maybe partially responsible for those elegant 12.5% wines of the era.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Approximately 40% of the volume was composed of air-dried whole clusters, a significant source of very refined tannin.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Popelouchum Grenache sampled at 4 Brix. The vivid color is due in large part to a) low pH, b) the magic of stem tannin.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

There are so many structural problems with the wine business these days, even in the fine wine segment. One issue is that our customers are aging out and are rightfully not interested in vins de garde.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Blowout wine dinner last night at Inaka Fusion in SJB. The wines acquitted themselves well I’m pleased to say.

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Reposted by Randall Grahm

𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕖 𝔾𝕦𝕣𝕝 @sundaedivine.lol · 28/09/2026

I miss when government ads just told us not to litter.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

The resident turkeys are not at all happy that we’ve harvested all the grapes.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Tibouren harvested yesterday from Popelouchum. Colored up very unevenly, truth be told, but flavor quite nice. Unfortunately we don’t have enough to bottle on its own but will blend with Cinsault both for red and for pink.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Will shortly bleed our very modest tank of Cinsault/Tibouren. Not breaking any sugar accumulation records this grape. Would be thrilled to ahieve 12.5%.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Down in Paso Robles (again), and while I've often observed the ubiquity of Big Ass trucks in the area, it didn't quite register how many of them were pulling trailers or boats or something. I can't but think of Paso now as the Village de Schleppage.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Come join me in Santa Cruz, Saturday, 10/17, for the world premiere of The Terroirist scff26.eventive.org/schedule/the...

scff26.eventive.org

Santa Cruz Film Festival 2026

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

While ultimately it’s the wine itself and not the numbers one tastes but for the record, this stuff clocked in at 24.3 Brix and 3.35 pH.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

This seems like perhaps there is real awareness occurring. A little late but welcome

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Grenache Noir from Popelouchum just about to head on down the road.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I'm thinking that we will complete our harvest by the end of this week. After tomorrow' pick, the only fruit remaining to harvest is Cinsault, Tibouren, Furmint and some small odds and ends that will get chucked in w/ the Cinsault.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Heading into the home stretch of Harvest 2026. Tomorrow we pick up the Grenache grapes that have been air drying over the weekend and harvest the balance as fresh fruit. Will then combine dried whole cluster and destemmed fresh. All on Yom Kippur.

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Reposted by Randall Grahm

Jon Cooper @joncooper-us.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

The funniest joke ever. 😂

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Reposted by Randall Grahm

Tallgirl6234 @tallgirl6234.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Hilarious but so painful at the same time

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Harvesting 1/2 of the Grenache today to dry and the balance on Monday as fresh. #herewego

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I think I’ve just figured out possibly the coolest feature of grape growing- the possibility of discovering kooky mutations. Pinot “Blanc” in a red vyd à la Gouges. Or pink Chardonnay à la Sylvain Pataille.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I’m afraid I will have to add a little H2O to the must this year to avoid producing super high octane juice. Trying to weigh aesthetics, ethics, economics etc., all informing this decision.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

We’re gearing up to harvest the Grenache. The sugar is heading through the roof but flavors are not yet there and acid still painfully high. Young vines didn’t get much water this season but they will get a drink tomorrow And we will air dry 1/2 the fruit as I just love lignified stems.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Probably should have slightly curbed my enthusiasm. Second press load also quite delicious but unfortunately even higher in Brix (still crazy low pH). It’s time for what we in the biz call EtOH reductase.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Stalking the aisles of Trader Joe’s yesterday I came across an end stack of Pumpkin Spice Chardonnay. If this is not a sign of vinous End Times…..

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Just had a wine epiphany. For some technical reasons we did not air dry the Ruche grapes this year and rather, destemmed them completely. Grapes were in better condition this year and flavors and fragrance lovely. But I realized I was missing the bouquet Garni. The stem rachis is the bouquet garni!

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

There is a great little hotel in SJB walkable, I said walkable to the venue. Hacienda de Leal. Sunday night rates very reasonable.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

A friend gifted me this morning with a very attractive looking bottle of Grenache Rosé from Napa Valley that retails for $150. The bottle! Less than thrilled with the experience. I really believe some days in multiple divergent realities and this pink wine evidently not from my reality/neighborhood

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Join us! Should be a great evening.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Rather thrilled with the flavors and numbers we’re seeing in the Grenache Gris and Blanc. 24 Brix: 3.16 pH. Juice tastes like lemon-drop candy.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Prodigious harvest today. We nabbed the Grenache Gris before the turkeys.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Grenache Gris + Blanc harvested today at Popelouchum

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Totally agrees with my experience. Terpenoid varieties like Muscadelle are fiendishly efficient at virtual homeopathic levels. They are catalysts.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Harvesting in a couple of hours. Sleep a rather distant prospect.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Slightly concerned about the balance of the grapes when we harvest tomorrow. Brix is still high but pH is startlingly low. I’m considering some skin contact to buffer some of the acidity

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Pity this wine (and brand) are going away. Will keep flying the Tibouren flag, however.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Climate change, ie extreme weather, really, y’know, complicates things

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Miraculously able to rustle up a crew for Monday at the last minute. #itson

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

The ability to manage logistics during vintage plays a non-trivial role in the determination of wine quality. This vintage, specifically this weekend is proving a bit challenging in that arena.

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Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Thinking that 5787 should be an excellent vintage.

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