* 2009 grafted.

**Fixed price of $200 per share.

Port Grape “Shares”  for Sale

Available for sale for the first time are shares in the 2011 production of our “port” vineyard consisting of (in expected order of decreasing proportion) touriga nacional, tempranillo, tinto cao, souzao, and tinta amarella.  A share ($200) entitles the holder to 10% of the 2011 production of each varietal from our 2005-planted estate “port” vineyard that we call The Quinta.  The grapes are, in fact, suitable for both dry and dessert style wines.  This is a unique opportunity for persons working on a home winemaking scale to easily access, in one-stop fashion, the blend of relatively obscure varietal grapes that would go into a Portuguese port-style wine.  Such wines are notable for their complexity and ability to age well.

Q&A on Quinta Shares

Q: How much grapes do I get for a share?

A:  Welcome to farming; we cannot guarentee a specific amount!  The estimated total production (given viticultural practices and multiple years of experience) is 2500 lbs.  Thus, the target is 250 lb/share.  If we come up as much as 10% short (eg as little as 2250 lbs), no adjustment will be made to the share price.  If we come up greater than 10% short, the share price will be pro-rated downward.  If we exceed our production targets, shareholders keep the gain at no additional cost.  For example, if total production is 2800 lbs, a share would entitle the holder to receive 280 lbs of grapes for the same fixed share price.

Q: What mix of grapes will I receive for a share?

A:  The vineyard has been planted to yield proportions of grapes suitable for a high-quality port.  Nevertheless, the proportions will vary from year-to-year depending on varietal-specific yield.  For example, in 2011, we are likely to have relatively more touriga nacional than tempranillo or tinto cao due to some early season frost (Most would not regard this as a problem!).  So, the answer is that one share will entitle the shareholder to receive 10% of the production of each varietal, whatever that is.  For example,  If we get 1500 lbs of touriga nacional, 400 lbs of tempranillo, 300 lbs of tinto cao, 150 lbs of souzao, and 100 lbs of tinta amarella, a single share will entitle the holder to receive (separate but on the same day) 150 lbs of touriga nacional, 40 lbs of tempranillo, 30 lbs of tinto cao, 15 lbs of souzao, and 10 lbs of tinta amarella.

Q: How will this work logistically?

A: On a designated weekend harvest day that Shaker Ridge will announce with as much lead time as possible, likely in early October, the entire Quinta will be harvested in the morning, and the total yield of each varietal determined on our certified scale.  This number, divided by ten (there are 10 shares total), will determine the amount of each grape to be distributed for a share.  Shareholders will be invited, beginning mid-day, to pick up their grapes.

Q: Does Shaker Ridge have any track record with these grapes?

A: Yes, and we think a pretty good one.  The vineyard was planted in 2005, and we have been making wine with the grapes since 2007.  Our first attempt at a serious port-style wine (our 2008 “Dorado”) was entered in regional home wine competitions for the first time this year.  It earned a gold medal, Best of Show, at the El Dorado County Fair and a double gold at the Orange County Fair.  Our dry red blend made from the same grapes, same vintage was entered only at the El Dorado County Fair and earned a gold medal.  A homemade touriga nacional varietal wine made from the 2009 vintage also earned a gold medal at the El Dorado County Fair.  A commercial touriga wine made from the 2009 vintage (by Obscurity Cellars of Fair Play) earned a gold medal at the California State Fair, and silver medals at both the El Dorado and Amador County fairs.  We think that our viticultural practices have only improved with experience since these vintages…