Thanks to a week of warm (but not hot) days and cool, crisp nights, the harvest pace is picking up. We’d hate to jinx it, but the weather has been PERFECT for developing grape ripeness balanced with acidity, thanks to big swings between daytime and nighttime temperatures. Up and down Napa Valley, first bins of Read the full article…

Just when we thought harvest was going to be early, Mother Nature stepped in and turned down the thermostat. Since late July, a cool weather pattern has slowed ripening by a bit. A few grapes have been picked – including Pinot Noir from south Napa County for sparkling wine, Semillon from Calistoga and Sauvignon Blanc Read the full article…

The first wine grapes of the 2016 vintage were picked on July 28 at Green Island Vineyard in southern Napa County and have made their way from the vineyard to the crush pad to become Mumm Napa sparkling wine. The picking of aromatic white wine grapes, like Sauvignon Blanc, will start in the next week Read the full article…

It’s hard to believe, but winemakers from several parts of the Napa Valley report being done or close to being done picking grapes for the 2015 vintage. Harvest normally continues into late October or even early November for most vintners, but not this year. In some of the cooler hillside areas, a few blocks of Read the full article…

It’s warmed up again since last week’s cooler temperatures and light rain, nudging along an already early and accelerated harvest season. Some Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are still taking on a few more days of sun and warmth, but most red varieties have ripened and are being brought in. A bit unusually, Napa Valley Read the full article…