Harvest Update

We are now one month into the wine grape harvest in Northern California. In my August 30 post, I said that harvest was running about two weeks late. Now it appears to be running about three weeks later than usual. After some warm weather a week ago, temperatures have dropped.

Grapes for sparkling wine and Sauvignon Blanc are in. Most Pinot Noir for still wine is in. Chardonnay is coming in as I write this. Merlot, Syrah, and Zinfandel are in various stages of harvest. Most, but not all, Cabernet Sauvignon has yet to be harvested. Most Cabernet is probably at least 10 days away from being harvested.

All of this is no problem unless it rains. Wet grapes are susceptible to mold and fungus. Since our rainy season traditionally begins in early November, the later the harvest the bigger the risk of rain-related problems. Yesterday, there were showers in the Central Coast wine regions. One shower, followed by sunshine, is no problem. Continuing rain is.

The total amount of grapes to be harvested this year will be less than last year. However, there is still a glut of wine in tanks and barrels due to last year's record-breaking harvest. As a result, many farmers cannot find buyers for their grapes this year.

This is a great time to visit wine country. If you want to take a private tour of Napa or Sonoma, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.