Harvest in the Napa Valley!
Harvest is a special time in the valley. It is the culmination of diligence and oversight of the vines and the evolution of the fruit. This year we were in the vineyard with our friend as his grapes were picked and hauled away to the waiting winery. It was especially sweet since last year his entire crop was lost to smoke taint from the Tubbs Fire. For the vineyard owner, it was a truly remarkable harvest experience.
The process of picking customarily takes place in the cool of the evening. The reason for this is so the process of fermentation does not begin. The cool evening hours provide a measure of assurance that the process does not start without the oversight of the winemaker. There is much to be done before the fermentation begins to bring that lovely bottle of Cabernet to your table.
The most important players in harvest are the crews. They are all well schooled in how to pick the clusters without any harm to the vines. It is done with great speed yet with precision to ensure that the grapes are not damaged as well. Three acres of vines can take a crew of 8 at least 4 hours total to bring in the grapes. Also remarkable, in addition to the speed, was the clear celebratory spirit that night in the vineyard. These folks were happy to be working hard to bring in these Cabernet grapes!
Most winemakers will tell you that the wine you drink is made in the vineyard. Some say as much as 80% of the quality of the wine is predicated on what happens during the growing season. The vineyards are well managed and watched over yet ‘Mother Nature’ has a big hand in how the grapes develop over the season. Factors include number of days of sunlight to spur photosynthesis — were there cloudy or clear skies? Temperature is a big factor — were there a lot of heat spikes with days over 100 degrees or was it more temperate throughout the growing season? Precipitation is a concern — was there precipitation during the season in the way of rain, fog or even frost? All these and many more play into the quality of the grapes and the size of the harvest.
This season in the Napa Valley was a great growing season. 2018 yields were bigger than many years in the past, and the quality looks wonderful. The weather has been kind and moderate temperatures allowed for a lengthy ‘hang time’ which allowed for flavor development and sugar ripeness. This year should produce abundant yields with great flavor development. It should be a great vintage for all!
Enjoy!
