Dispatch from the Ranch: Rooted in the Land. Poured With Love. A Summer Letter From Red Clover

Hello Friends,

Happy Summer Solstice! As we prepare for a few spectacular new developments at Red Clover, I’ve been thinking about land stewardship, interventions, and nature’s poetic capacity for flourishing (if you haven’t been to Red Clover yet, here’s a video I took last night in the fog-cradled valley as the frogs were singing their evening chorus).

My relationship with Red Clover’s land has evolved and iterated as I’ve learned about its nuances and peculiarities—like the year I really started to pay attention to the varieties of our birds from being on the Mississippi Flyway, or the Spring when I began to learn more about invasive plants. This land will be here long after I’m gone and will continue to evolve and adapt. For me, that’s a reminder to hold the reins lightly—to trust in nature’s intelligence and let its beauty unfold without force.

This philosophy shapes how we’ve come to understand and care for the wild apple orchard on our ridge top. The orchard probably started with planted seeds from a tree or two. Then, animals ate the apples, and that spread seeds around the field, and therefore each tree is totally unique (it’s amazing that without human intervention or grafting, each apple seed creates a genetically individual tree).

In 2023, the orchard had special visitors as Elise and Tony of Las Mujeres Winery harvested our apples. Las Mujeres then pressed cider in the tradition of a Basque region dry farmhouse ale, and voilà, we give you the results: the Las Mujeres x Red Clover Cider and Piquette. We’re so proud of this collaboration, and it’s finally ready to drink. Las Mujeres puts so much care into their process of making, and this cider and piquette are like drinking the nectar of Mother Nature. Check out their website to find it retail, or order a glass here at the bar the next time you visit Red Clover.

Speaking of nectar, our Nectar Farm Dinner on July 11th is now SOLD OUT! Thank you all that bought tickets for the Weekend and Dinner. We truly can’t wait!