The Vintage of a Lifetime
In 2023, Napa Valley experienced one of the longest growing seasons in a decade or more. With consistent, mild weather throughout the season, above-average crop yields, and extended hang time, 2023 is an exceptional, high-quality, memorable vintage.
Winter and spring rains led to full reservoirs and healthy, saturated soils; ideal conditions as grape growers headed into bud break. The mild, warm summer weather (72-75 degrees F) supported healthy canopy growth through bloom and set. Though vineyards faced mildew pressure, clusters remained loose for good air flow. Relatively cool weather throughout the growing season in tandem with an abundance of sunshine allowed grape skins to ripen slowly and develop maximal dark red color components for red wines.
Harvest kicked off around Labor Day weekend (September 2-4, 2023) for white wine grapes; Cabernet Sauvignon harvest started the end of September / early-October; all picks wrapped up by mid-November. Vintners relished the long harvest season, which provided extended hang time to develop flavors.
For red wines, full ripeness of grape skins and seeds provided the building blocks for a tannic backbone which is the source of resilience for a long-lived wine. Winemakers describe the wines as having freshness, purity and elegance overall.
Read the vintage updates from 2023.
“Fruit is showing deep color, complex flavors and aromas and good acidity levels, according to Brain. Yields varied from average-to-heavy in some areas. “I love the complexity of the vintage,” he said. “I think that the sub-AVAs will be quite distinct this year, truly revealing the appellation and soil type.” – Wine Institute
“Looking at the wines, the 2023s show remarkable purity and finesse while at the same time bringing beautiful depth and concentration.” – Jeb Dunnick
“is 2023 the vintage of the century, as the rumours might have it? Overall, the quality in 2023 is very high. After tasting through dozens of barrel samples, it’s clear that 2023 is a vintage where it was likely more challenging to make bad wine than good wine.” – VINFOLIO
“The 2023 vintage is outstanding – and the wines will appeal particularly to those with a classic palate. Given the late and long, cool growing season, many – if not most – of the wines have a distinct Bordelais quality, balancing pure Californian fruit with fresh acidity and elegant, nimble body – with “a sense of weightlessness”. – VINFOLIO
– Napa Valley Vintage Report – Vinfolio
– Cheers! Napa Valley winemakers say 2023 vintage could be best ever – Cornell Barnard, ABC 7 News
– 2023 Napa Valley Vintage: Winemakers Say It’s Superior – Nicole, MacKay, Somm TV
– Napa 2023 might be ‘the vintage of a lifetime’ – Sarah Neish, thedrinksbusiness.com
– California 2023 harvest report – Samantha Cole Johnson, jancisrobinson.com (login required to read article)
– 2023 Growing Season: The Napa Edition – Advanced Viticulture
In the Napa Valley, winemakers are toasting the 2023 vintage as possibly one of the best year’s ever in wine country for both reds and whites. Already there’s lots of anticipation. Grapegrowers say lots of rain and a long growing season has produced some epic grapes. Bells were ringing earlier this season for the 2023 Read the full article…
If you are a winemaker, it helps to be an optimist. After all, like all farmers, your livelihood directly correlates to the whims of Mother Nature. Have a good growing season and the chances are good that your harvest will come out the way you hoped and planned. Have a summer filled with heat spikes Read the full article…
Napa Valley has just wrapped up on a vintage that is being described as legendary, elegant, delicious, dynamic and age-worthy—and it’s all covered in SOMM TV Napa Valley 2023 Vintage Report, streaming now for free viewing! Watch winemakers Renée Ary of Duckhorn Vineyards, Shaina Harding of Gaderian, Matt Crafton of Chateau Montelena Winery and Macario Read the full article…
“Nervous nights are over in Napa Valley. The 2023 vintage looked potentially special for months – if nothing went wrong. Well, now it’s done, and not only did nothing go wrong – winemakers have finally had time to pause for breath, and they realize that ultimately, just about everything went right.” Read W. Blake Read the full article…
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