Susan’s accommodations above the vineyard.
In August of 2025, Suzanne Farver, proprietor of Panther Ridge Vineyard, invited me to come out for the harvest of her Pinot Noir grapes, destined to become sparkling rosé. She graciously invited me to stay in her renovated artist studio, which sits just steps from her home and offers a magnificent 180-degree view of the vines from its perch on the hill.
I met Suzanne in June 2024 while on vacation in Sonoma and had the chance to taste her wine while sitting in the same beautiful studio apartment where I would be staying. I remember thinking then how wonderful a place it would be to spend a weekend in that
space, and now I was.
Grapes still ripening.
Pruning with Suzanne Farver
Unfortunately, the timing of my visit was off, and the grapes were not quite ready for harvest, so instead, Suzanne put me to work in the vineyard, a task I gladly accepted. She needed to make a crop estimate for her Pinot Noir from the two clonal varieties grown on the property: Calera and 115. The vines were also in need of a bit of pruning of unripe fruit; these berries are small, green, and clearly will never become juicy, robust grapes that can be turned into wine.
Suzanne Farver owner of Panther Ridge Vineyard.
Over three days, we covered the entire seven acres of sloping, winding rows of vines. With clippers in hand, I went down one row of grapes while Suzanne went down two rows over. To estimate the crop, we picked one vine on each side of our respective rows, about halfway down, and counted the number of bunches of grapes on them. I would yell out to Suzanne my bunch count, anywhere from five to fifteen, as I recall, and she recorded it on her clipboard for later calculation.
Susan amongst the vines with clippers at Panther Ridge.
Before and after counting, I walked down my row as if it were a shopping aisle, my head on a swivel, looking for little green berry bunches. At first, I was timid about whacking off fruit from the vine, afraid I would chop off a healthy bunch. But after instruction from Suzanne as to what to look for, I became emboldened and clipped away all green fruit I encountered. Starting at 9:00 AM, the temperature rose as we worked, and after two plus hours, we called it quits.
Blue skies over the vines.
Amongst the Vines
It is hard to put into words the feeling of being immersed in a vineyard. I have walked through many in France, Italy, Portugal, but I was just a visitor, an admirer, a photo-opportunity seeker. This experience was different. I had a reason to be there and was taking part in the winemaking process. I communed with the grapes, intently looking at them, seeing the final stage of ripening, turning from green to purple as they moved towards maturity. I gently held each cluster as I counted them and freed the vines of unripe fruit. As I moved through the rows of vines, I ate grapes of various sizes and hues, as a winemaker would do, and enjoyed the sweet or sour taste of their varied ripeness. It was magical there, between the vines, a truly soul-touching experience.
Sunset with fog rolling into the vineyard.
A Most Memorable Visit to Panther Ridge Vineyard
In the evenings, Suzanne and I shared meals while sampling not-yet-released Panther wines or other “goodies” from her cellar. And we shared knowledge, life stories, and dreams. I learned a tremendous amount about what it takes to own a vineyard, and I am in awe of how Suzanne has taken on this labor of love to grow grapes, make wine, and enter the crowded California wine market. She’s an Iowa farmer at heart, she says, referring to where she grew up, and this is a dream come true. In truth, she is also an accomplished businesswoman, lawyer, musician, artist, wife, mom, and now vineyard owner.
Visits to the winemakers who work with Panther Ridge Vineyard were also part of my educational stay with Suzanne. On two different afternoons, it was a treat to meet Adrian Manspeaker of Joseph Jewell Wines in Forestville (who makes the Pinot Noir) and Garry Brooks of Brooks Note Winery (maker of the Rosé) in Petaluma. Both men indulged me as I asked what felt like “a zillion” questions about making wine. And one thing they both shared was their respect and awe for the quality of the grapes Panther Ridge produces and for the elegance of the wine they become. I agree with Adrian and Garry and look forward to what future vintages bring.
Those Pinot Noir Grapes that I was hoping to see harvested were just two days after I left. But still, the time I spent there amongst the vines was one of the most memorable of my life. I am grateful to Suzanne for this very special experience and her friendship.
Pinot Noir grapes on the vine.
Read Susan’s A Love Letter to Pinot Noir.
