01-14 January Newsletter

Barberian Wine Club..
Boeger Winery
January 2014
This will be the first of a periodic documentary of the various trucks, tractors, and vehicles that inhabit the WInery, most of
which are vintage and still in use today.
1955 Willys Pickup
by Greg Boeger
This ’55 Willys pickup, also known as a Jeep pickup, has a long and memorable attachment to the Winery dating back to
1958 when Sue Boeger’s father, Dr. Babbin bought a piece of property in near-by Diamond Springs that was the site of a rock
quarry. Along with the property came a rather abused red ’55 Willys pickup that was quickly appropriated by Sue’s brother,
George, and used on a series of adventures, one of which resulted in a wild grass fire caused by sparks from the Jeep’s exhaust.
The fire department couldn’t quite prove conclusively that it caused the fire, so her brother escaped monetary and judiciary
responsibility, but everyone knew what really happened. This, of course, was before I knew Sue well, she being just the little
14 year-old sister of my friend George, and whom we usually ignored. I should also point out that I was not a part of any of
the wild vehicular joy rides that her brother frequently indulged in.
After a couple of years of continued abuse and frequent transmission repairs to the Willys, my father offered to buy it from
Dr. Babbin to use as a work vehicle and deer hunting truck. Dr. Babbin happily parted with the Willys and all its concurrent
expenses, and my father, being a consummate mechanic, quickly overhauled the engine and welded up all the cracks in the
frame and body and put it to use. I was allowed to use the Willys, as well, on my fishing trips to the Sierra or quail hunting at
my aunt’s cattle ranch in Rescue and I soon fell in love with its classic lines and its mountain goat climbing abilities on steep
terrain. At about the same time I would invite Sue to go along, she now being about 17, and suddenly more attractive. I guess
that was the start of my love affair with both Sue and the Willys, although it took another 5 years of courting and college to
consummate in marriage. She just came along as part of the Willys deal, I guess. Perhaps her father thought he could kill two
birds with one stone. Which he did. But I digress.
During our college and early married years, the Willys was used as an escape vehicle, employed on many a backpack ,
fishing, or hiking excursion as a means to get us to trailheads that no one else could reach. Its mountain climbing abilities
were legendary: fording streams, crawling crab-like up boulder strewn roads, and leaping across chasms where the road was
washed out. It got us to where we wanted and it was such a pleasure to see it waiting for us when we hauled ourselves out of a
canyon or across a mountain, dead tired, hot, sweaty, and sore. And it always got us home. Not very fast, but steady and sure;
It was durable and indestructible.
By 1972, having bought our Placerville ranch and starting to develop the land for vineyard, my father offered to donate the
Willys to the Winery, having bought himself a newer 1964 Jeep pickup. And put it to work we did. Pulling tree stumps, hauling
boulders out of newly prepared ground, carrying grape stakes, end posts, fencing, or whatever else needed to be moved. The
Willys worked tirelessly, groaning and lumbering across the hills and canyons of the ranch, until finally, its bed dented and
misshapen from all its cargo, and the old flathead 226 Hurricane Six engine at the end of its life with burnt valves and lost
compression, we put it out to pasture at the far end of the property along with the other relics of equipment that had outlived
their usefulness. (1955 Willys Pickup continued on backside)
Greg Boeger
Justin Boeger
Boeger Winery 1709 Carson Road Placerville, California 95667 530/622-8094 or 800/655-2634 www.boegerwinery.com
1955 Willys Pickup Cont.
But by the early 90’s, having walked by its moldering hulk so many times, pangs
of guilt and fond memories overcame financial prudence and I decided to restore
it to its former glory—maybe former self is a better phrase. Having a good friend
in the 4 wheel drive business, Danny Warden, I took it to his shop for a complete
engine and drive train overhaul. Recognizing that the old flathead six was
inadequate for current use, but not wanting to overpower it or destroy its slow
but sure rock climbing abilities, Danny found a nice rebuilt Chevy 292 overhead
valve six—better breathing and plenty of torque. He then coupled this with a later
model Jeep 4-speed transmission and single-lever transfer case. It all fit in neatly
and to all outward appearances, looked original. This done, I took it back to the
ranch shop for a complete body overhaul and paint job. Having spent my high
school and early college years doing automotive repair and painting under the
tutelage of my uncle who owned a body and fender shop and my father who
rebuilt total wrecks rather than buy new cars, I had no doubt that I could do the
same to the old Willys. I fortunately found an impeccable used pickup bed with
undented fenders that I set to one side and then took off the body and re-welded
all the repairs my father had done 30 years before. Setting it down again on new
body cushions, I straightened, primed and repainted the body and bed with state
-of-the-art Centari acrylic enamel the original color---President Red. A nice
upholstery job by the local upholsterer and the Jeep was completed and ready for
service again.
And so we did put it back in service, but always with a cautious eye on its use.
No more hauling of rocks and boulders to dent the bed, no pruning’s or branches
to scratch the paint, no hauling of long boards or pipe that would crease the roof.
That is to say that for the last 20 years, it’s been seldom used, still parked in the
back lot looking a little forlorn and lonely.
Lonely that is, until we bought the neighboring ranch last year and decided to
prepare it for a new vineyard. Clearing the brush, removing the trees, and ripping
and discing the ground required the use of multiple tractors. I brought out two of
my old D2 Caterpillars, one to push brush and the other to pull the disc, and a
50hp Kubota with a bucket to haul out rocks. Add to that a D6 Caterpillar to push
out the oaks, and a D8 with 4’ shanks to rip the soil loaned to us by a friend. All this
for my son, Justin to use, which he did with enthusiasm. Justin, being one to
minimize inconvenience and excess physical labor, realized that he could use a
fuel truck rather than lugging 5 gallon containers leaking and reeking of diesel
and lifting them overhead to refill the fuel tanks. His solution----buy a 50 gal
diesel fuel tank with an electric pump, hose and nozzle and mount it in the back
of the Willys. Not only could he refuel equipment on the new property, but also
refuel tractors on our other three vineyards miles away.
So back into the shop for a beautification job, buffing out the oxidized, but still
good paint, replacing the funky after-market rims and tires with original rims and
new mud and snow tires. And finally, checking out and replacing all the deteriorated wiring and getting the lights into working order. So it’s back on the
road, enjoying its new life with renewed vigor. As you can see from the photo, it’s
proud to be back in service and can now relate its history to future generations
and perhaps create new memories as well. And if you look closely, it appears to
have a smile on its grille. Or maybe a grin.
Coming Soon
2012 Estate Zinfandel - 550 cases
2012 Merlot - 400 cases
2012 Cabernet Franc - 250 cases
2012 Petite Sirah - 350 cases
2013 White Riesling - 250 cases
2013 Pinot Gris - 850 cases
Featured Wines
2011 Sangiovese
Aromas: Dried cranberry, plum,
cedar, raspberry
Palate: Soft and round throughout,
juicy and lush.
Aging Potential: Until 2016
Blend: 81% Sangiovese, 13% Tannat,
4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Barbera
Cooperage & Aging: 24 months in
neutral oak barrels
Wine Chemistry:
Alcohol 14.2%
R.S. 0.3%
Harvest Dates: Sept. 30- Nov. 8, 2011
Bottling Date: January 18, 2013
Vineyards: 100% Estate
Production: 180 cases
$12/club & $15/retail
2011 Tempranillo
Aromas: Dried cranberry, plum,
cedar, raspberry
Palate: Soft and round throughout,
juicy and lush.
Aging Potential: Until 2016
Blend: 79% Tempranillo, 13%
Graciano, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon
2% Miscellaneous
Cooperage & Aging: 10 months in
100% neutral oak barrels
Wine Chemistry:
Alcohol 13.8%
R.S. 0.3%
Harvest Dates: Sept. 30- Nov. 8, 2011
Bottling Date: January 18, 2013
Production: 567 cases
$12/club & $15/retail
Prop 65 WARNING: Drinking
Distilled Spirits, Beer, Coolers,
Wine and other Alcoholic
Beverages May Increase Cancer
Risks, and, During Pregnancy,
Can Cause Defects.
Boeger Winery 1709 Carson Road Placerville, California 95667 530/622-8094 or 800/655-2634 www.boegerwinery.com