The 2021 vintage will be remembered for low yields with intensely-flavored, small-sized berries and a smooth and uneventful harvest season. The season started off with very little rain, leading to the 2nd year of drought conditions in Napa Valley, Harvest began early with white wine grapes picked on July 30th and red wine grapes beginning on August 31. While concerning in the long term, the drought of 2021 resulted in a more natural load on the vines, requiring less pruning and dropping of fruit. The resulting grapes are packed full of flavor. Winemakers across the valley are excited about the prospects of the 2021s and it is likely the smaller yields per vine and smaller berry size will result in another amazing vintage from Napa Valley.
Read the vintage updates from 2021.
“I’m here to tell you that, after tasting Napa wines thoroughly on a yearly basis since 2004, the 2021 vintage is my favorite of them all… A combination of factors resulted in a vintage whose wines I adore, and that I believe will be among California’s most celebrated in the decades to come.” – Alder Yarrow
“”Napa Valley fans will be thrilled to start exploring the 2021s. The 2021s are aromatic, refined and wonderfully expressive. I found many wines to be truly exceptional both in terms of quality and what seems to be a more finessed approach.” – Vinous
“2021 was the kind of vintage we hope for every year.” – Chris Phelps, Ad Vivum
“My general impression of 2021 is one of good fruit intensity and balance. It seems to be a vintage to pay attention to.” – Linden Wilkie, Fine Wine Experience in Hong Kong
“All in all, 2021 is potentially an exceptional vintage… the wines that have already hit the market are showing this is potentially a vintage for the ages.” KLWines.com
“[The 2021 vintage] appears to be a classic vintage in the making across the board in both red and white” – jamessuckling.com
“2021 is one of the best vintages I’ve tasted in the past 10 years, as its wines show incredible concentration, verve, and elegance, across a wide range of varietals and wine styles. Mother nature favored us with a steady weather pattern during the growing season, across the valley, with ideal ripening conditions for the lower yield vintage. Winemakers weren’t plagued by any external factors affecting picking decisions, and had the ability to let fruit hang well until they felt they could. The wines show incredible range of flavors and complexity – I am particularly impressed with the Cabernet Sauvignon wines.” – Ana Diogo-Draper, Artesa
– Napa’s Greatest Vintage in Decades: Tasting 2021 Napa Cabernet : Vinography
– NAPA VALLEY CABS SHINE IN 2021: Apex Vintage in a ‘Redemption’ Year- jamessuckling.com
– Napa 2021: rich, fresh and a relief – vinfolio.com
– Napa’s “five-star vintage” on decanter.com
– Napa Valley’s 2021s and 2022s – Part 1 on jebdunnuck.com
– Napa Valley’s 2021s and 2022s – Part 2 on jebdunnuck.com
– Napa’s Best Cabernet: Tasting the Superb 2021 Vintage at Premiere Napa Valley – Vinography
– 2021 Napa Valley Vintage Report and New Releases – The Wine Independent
– What You Need To Know About 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon published on New Wine Review, written by Virginie Boone
– How to Get Your Hands on the Most Coveted Wines From Napa Valley’s Stellar Vintage 2021 published on robbreport.com, written by Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen
– Drought hits Napa Valley 2021 harvest but quality shows promise – decanter.com, written by Chris Mercer
– The 2021 Vintage: Brilliance in Napa and Sonoma – klwines.com, written by Ryan Moses
– Napa Valley’s 2021 vintage – by Karen MacNeil
A Look at the Evolution of Napa Valley’s 2021 Vintage by Karen MacNeil
Karen MacNeil discusses the 2021 Napa Valley vintage ahead of Premiere Napa Valley
Premiere Napa Valley Special: Understanding the 2019, 2020 and 2021 Vintages with Karen MacNeil
Napa Valley 2021 Vintage at a Glance This 2021 Napa Valley vintage chart depicts the high and low temperatures for each day of the growing season, as well as yearly rainfall and key stages of the growing season. Temperature fluctuations have a significant effect on grapevines and grape development and therefore influence the character of Read the full article…
In between the 2 big parts of winemaking (the growing of the grapes and the making of the wine) there is the exciting and quick process of harvest. That’s when the grapes are picked and processed. Picking quickly and precisely is a skill for sure, but a pretty self-explanatory step in harvest. But what does Read the full article…
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