Harvest report: It's just around the corner
The activities at many wineries at this time of year, including Beaulieu Vineyards, are those of getting ready for the harvest, receiving new barrels, and “cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning.” Although some sauvignon blanc has been harvested, nearly all of the grapes are still on the vine.
Most of the correspondents report that August’s weather has been perfect for ripening grapes.
By AVAs (American Viticultural Areas), from north to south, the reports are as follows:
Calistoga AVA (pending)
Paul Smith, OnThEdge Winery: “Future bubblies and a tank or two of SB from here and there perk along. Last week’s brief chill was most welcome as are the nightly fogs and perfect days. Zip-locked berry-bags may show sugar-ripeness but strolls down the row reveal still-taut berries, uneven cluster coloration and not-so-lignified seeds; pH’s low, acids high. Some Zin may crush this week. Light crops expected though early scales speak numbers akin to 2007. And yes, we enter the 2008 vintage with very high hopes for great quality!”
Diamond Mountain
Dawnine Dyer, Dyer Vineyards: “Things are still pretty quiet on Diamond Mountain ... but people are beginning to pay attention. Among the odd white variety in the District (we’re growing mostly cabernet and related varieties up here) is an acre of Gruner Veltliner at vonStrasser that will be in by the time this comes out. I’m getting a handle on crop levels (light), extent of frost damage (some), and will have more to report next week.”
Chiles Valley
Volker Eisele, Eisele Vineyards: “It is that time of year again. Harvest is around the corner. The season started with two big bangs. First, the drought: The rain stopped in late February, making it the driest spring since l977. Then came the worst frost ever experienced. The temperature dropped to 19 degrees in some cold pockets. In any case the quantity will be below normal. How much (so) is anybody’s guess. After harvest it will be very clear. Since the frost, the growing season has been near perfect. Very few heat spikes but lots of nice, even weather. The flower and veraison were earlier than normal and very even. At least we can expect some outstanding quality.”
St. Helena
Remi Cohen, vineyard manager, Merryvale Vineyards: “This past week Napa Valley was bustling with the start of Harvest 2008. August has been very warm and dry, with no major heat spikes yet. Sparkling producers are at the peak of chardonnay and pinot noir harvest. Many wineries harvested a significant amount of sauvignon blanc. With this week’s hot weather forecasted, we can expect to be in high gear after Labor Day.”
Rutherford
Jeffrey Stambor, director of winemaking, Beaulieu Vineyards: “Game on! One of the earlier harvests at Beaulieu began on Aug. 19 with a load of sauvignon blanc from BV#2. The activity at the winery is focused on getting ready — receiving new barrels, tuning up the crush equipment, cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning. Early season sugar samples still show that we are a few weeks from the cabernet harvest but it will be early and probably a little lighter in tonnage. The fruit looks fantastic — loose clusters and small berries.”
Stags Leap District
Elizabeth Vianna, winemaker, Chimney Rock Winery: “All quiet so far in the Stags Leap District this week. Michelle Edwards at Cliff Lede Vineyards tells me merlot is getting close. Elena Franceschi at Silverado Vineyards says that SLD fruit on their property has a month to go. Kevin Morrisey at Stags Leap Winery is not picking fruit in the district as of yet. At Chimney Rock we are just beginning to sample merlot and cabernet sauvignon blocks. The consensus among us is that crops are smaller, and weather quite promising for good quality all around. It is early to say much of anything, of course. Stay tuned.”
Atlas Peak
Jan Krupp, Krupp Brothers Estates, “We have had perfect ripening weather on Atlas Peak for most of the summer. The flavors are great. The cabernet sauvignon crop is small due to frost and uneven weather at bloom. The intensity should be great. Harvest will be beginning in about 10 days with chardonnay, zinfandel, merlot and malbec.”
Carneros
Lee Hudson, Hudson Vineyards: “A year to remember, 2008 the Vintage of Ice and Fire, is slowly starting to release its fruit. Sparkling Wine pinot noir and chardonnay are being harvested throughout Carneros. The crop varies considerably due to spring frost and difficult bloom condition. In places the yield are near normal and in other at historically lows. Overall, we are all expecting the yield to be low to very low and quality to be exceptional. Watchwords for the harvest: ‘Don’t hold your breath’ and ‘Keep your fingers crossed.’”
Wild Horse Valley
John Newmeyer, Heron Lake Vineyard: “This has been a season of fire and ice. In April there was major frost damage in the northern part of our valley. Then in June a huge wildfire blackened 4,000 acres in our northern and eastern areas; thankfully no homes or vineyards were affected. Our grapes went through veraison only a fortnight ago.”