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Harvest Update from Janet Myers - Winemaker - Franciscan Estate and Mount Veeder Winery - 9.20.09
Sunday Sept 20
Chardonnay picking started Friday 9/4, and warmer temps around Labor Day weekend propelled harvest in the following week. About half of the Chard was picked by 9/11. We had a beautiful morning for our Blessing of the Grapes and Harvest Toast, held 9/10 with Father Xavier from the Carmelite Monastery in Oakville. He was amused at the opportunity to perform a blessing at a “Franciscan” winery. We always use our Estate Larsen Chardonnay for the blessing, as vineyard manager Matt Ashby likes to observe that he can use all the help he can get.
Early September is the most complex part of harvest from the perspective of walking vineyards, as Sauvignon blanc is finishing, Chardonnay is in full gear, and all the reds need regular progress checks. As is typical for September, it is a roller coaster of a weather pattern. Saturday 9/12 was overcast and cool, with sprinkles that continued on and off through Sunday. At one point Sunday, the rain was briefly hard enough to be heard drumming the roof of the winery. But nice breezes followed, and the accumulation was ~0.1”, enough to settle the dust and wet the canopy, but grape clusters were fine, barely damp.
The cool spell put the brakes on sugar and flavor accumulation for the most part, reset the clock by about a week. Since then we’ve had a slow flow of grapes, but 25% of the Chardonnay is still hanging in the cool southern vineyards of Napa and Carneros.
The first red came in on Friday 9/18: Malbec from Rosenquist, an auspicious start. Malbec is always early, but this year the block had especially low crop, under 1 ton/acre, so like a runner with a lighter load, made it to the finish line first. We had to recruit the 1 ton fermenter, not normally used, there was so little fruit. But that precious 0.7 tons tastes like blueberry pie, so we are happy for every grape.
First Merlot comes in tomorrow, 9/21, a reserve vineyard from Oak Knoll. Merlot should start rolling in a big way by the end of the week. There is a big heat wave coming, suppose to start today and last til 9/25. This has been the talk of the valley for a week, 100+ temps are predicted for Mon-Thurs, with hot off-shore winds. On this cool, damp 58 degree morning, it is grey with marine layer, I can’t see the sun. It feels more like Mendocino than Marrakesh, but a few hours will be a different story.
Chardonnay picking started Friday 9/4, and warmer temps around Labor Day weekend propelled harvest in the following week. About half of the Chard was picked by 9/11. We had a beautiful morning for our Blessing of the Grapes and Harvest Toast, held 9/10 with Father Xavier from the Carmelite Monastery in Oakville. He was amused at the opportunity to perform a blessing at a “Franciscan” winery. We always use our Estate Larsen Chardonnay for the blessing, as vineyard manager Matt Ashby likes to observe that he can use all the help he can get.
Early September is the most complex part of harvest from the perspective of walking vineyards, as Sauvignon blanc is finishing, Chardonnay is in full gear, and all the reds need regular progress checks. As is typical for September, it is a roller coaster of a weather pattern. Saturday 9/12 was overcast and cool, with sprinkles that continued on and off through Sunday. At one point Sunday, the rain was briefly hard enough to be heard drumming the roof of the winery. But nice breezes followed, and the accumulation was ~0.1”, enough to settle the dust and wet the canopy, but grape clusters were fine, barely damp.
The cool spell put the brakes on sugar and flavor accumulation for the most part, reset the clock by about a week. Since then we’ve had a slow flow of grapes, but 25% of the Chardonnay is still hanging in the cool southern vineyards of Napa and Carneros.
The first red came in on Friday 9/18: Malbec from Rosenquist, an auspicious start. Malbec is always early, but this year the block had especially low crop, under 1 ton/acre, so like a runner with a lighter load, made it to the finish line first. We had to recruit the 1 ton fermenter, not normally used, there was so little fruit. But that precious 0.7 tons tastes like blueberry pie, so we are happy for every grape.
First Merlot comes in tomorrow, 9/21, a reserve vineyard from Oak Knoll. Merlot should start rolling in a big way by the end of the week. There is a big heat wave coming, suppose to start today and last til 9/25. This has been the talk of the valley for a week, 100+ temps are predicted for Mon-Thurs, with hot off-shore winds. On this cool, damp 58 degree morning, it is grey with marine layer, I can’t see the sun. It feels more like Mendocino than Marrakesh, but a few hours will be a different story.
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