Jeff Plant, estate winemaker at Round Pond Estate in Rutherford, chats with us about the winter rain (or lack of rain in January), optimal times for pruning, and how to set up the vineyard soil for a promising vintage. Stay tuned for more updates on the 2026 vintage!
Harvest Updates
What Happens After Fermentation? Extended Maceration!
Shafer Vineyards Winemaker Elias Fernandez explains the process of extended maceration, which occurs for several weeks after fermentation. “It’s a way to get the tannin to soften and travel on the palate… we want to get a little bit of the seed extraction into the wine, because really that’s what terroir is.” After extended maceration, Read the full article…
2025 Harvest Press Conference
Napa Valley Vintners and Napa Valley Grapegrowers presented a joint 2025 Harvest Press Conference where industry insiders came together to discuss the trends, challenges and triumphs that shaped the 2025 vintage. The discussion covered characteristics of the vintage, defining weather influences, as well as how shifting market conditions influenced the 2025 harvest across Napa Valley. Read the full article…
A Busy Harvest Day at B Cellars
When we asked B Cellars Associate Winemaker Derek Taylor if harvest was starting to wind down, he said, “No, harvest is just ramping up!” We caught a few moments with Derek and his team during a busy 45-ton day as they moved bins from truck to scale and back to the crush pad, then transferred Read the full article…




