2010 could be the most challenging vintage of the last 50 years here in Northern California Wine Country.
The grapes and grape growers are struggling. This is the coldest summer in memory. We’ve had late bloom and cold stretches before but nothing as sustainably cold as this.
It’s cold here for August and it was cold here for June and July. Friends of mine here on the Extreme Sonoma Coast have actually turned on their heat the last couple of weeks. The Wall Street Journal published an article on August 7th saying it’s the coldest summer along the West Coast in decades.
Lots of spring rain, late bloom and cold combine to remind us that wine is more than scores. It’s an agricultural crop. Winemakers produce wine from grapes but without cooperation from Mother Nature, we’re screwed!
Harvest is expected two to three weeks late in most parts of Sonoma County which means sparkling wine grapes will begin to get picked at the middle of September at the earliest. Crush for other varietals is predicted to begin in early October in the Russian River, Dry Creek Valley, Carneros, Alexander Valley, Rockpile, Chalk Hill, Sonoma Mountain, and Sonoma Valley. Not true on the Extreme Sonoma Coast.
I’ve been talking with lots of viticulturists, winemakers, and Nick Frey, President of the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission and they’re very concerned about the grapes – worried about it raining before it’s ready to harvest. Lots of rain can really cause rot and mold in the vineyards.
I visited Balistreri Vineyard last week. The vineyard is located between Freestone and Bodega out here on the Extreme Sonoma Coast. One of the coldest vineyards in the U.S. where Pinot Noir is produced, we’re used to late harvests. Sonoma Coast Vineyards has produced a Balistreri Vineyard designate Pinot Noir since 2004.
The grape clusters are teeny and green and exceptionally hard – like little stones. This is one of the larger clusters, a full 3 1/4 inches in length.
The joke has always been…if we get the grapes in before our Thanksgiving turkey is on the table, it’s a good year.
Veraison at Balistreri usually occurs in early to mid-September and harvest 50-70 days later when the flavors have developed and the grape seeds are brown so they have less bitter tannins.
This year, we may be Harvesting with Santa…
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And he was heard to exclaim as he rode out of sight, “Ho! Ho! Pinot!” |
