We are just wrapping up harvest, the 2009 wines are resting in barrels and ready for winter hibernation. In looking back at this year’s harvest, I find it like most harvest’s I’ve worked…a blur. The 10 to 15 hour days just roll by due to the amount of work and activity. As they say, “time flies when you’re having fun.” This year was particularly fun as we moved to a new facility (our seventh in seven years) called Vinify in Santa Rosa. These guys run a first class custom crush facility. In addition to the 17 other brands being made there, we had the services of a group of first rate harvest interns including one from Scotland. The energy and passion that was running through the winery was electrifying. Imagine going to work and everyone there, including yourself, absolutely loves being there and working because the work is so rewarding. That said, it all comes down to the wines. Or in the case of this vintage, it all came down to the weather.
Coming into September, the weather had been textbook for a high quality vintage. Every winemaker and grower I spoke with this summer was excited about the potential for a superb vintage, which given the problems with frost and smoke in 2008, was welcomed with open arms. It was not to be. Mother Nature threw curve balls at us that would make a big league pitcher jealous. The weather in the first week of September was hot and got everyone mobilizing early. That was followed by some rain and a little cool weather. Then more heat. Then more rain in October followed by cloudy, muggy days, which created a perfect environment for mold. Thankfully the rest of October dried out and allowed harvest to finish in good weather.
All in all, this was a vintage for the ages. Against a backdrop of the worst recession in three generations, we had a very good harvest with a bountiful crop. I feel bad for the many growers that couldn’t sell their fruit, there were tons and tons of grapes left unpicked on the vines. But the grapes that did get picked were turned into some great wines. And it is the consumer, you and me, that will reap the benefit in the next couple years. With so many good wines and a weak, but hopefully recovering, economy, prices are going to be reasonable and offer great values for the next few years. It’s a great time to be a wine drinker! -- by Tim
