Harvest 2021

 

Every year we anticipate the harvest, a joyful time of celebration and hard work

Estimations start after the completion of veraison at our Ruxton Vineyard, our warmest sight and always first pick. This year is no different from any other. 

 

 

Harvest started  a little early, August 27th with the Ruxton Pinot 4 days after our golf tournament. Tiny yield, just 3 barrels, equalling about 75 cases. A few days later August 31st we picked a new Pinot that is in the Fort Ross - Seaview AVA, 2 tons of beautiful coastal Pinot. Then a week later Dolcetto ( Sept. 6th ), and then Grenache ( Sept. 10th ). TnT next on Sept. 14th. 2nd round of Dolcetto Sept. 21st.   And then Pinot Noir specifically for Rose' on Sept. 22nd, YAY for Rose'.   As of today all the wines are away for winter except Bohemian Pinot Vineyard is still to be picked. Mat is cheching every few days and estimating picking October 8th. Grapes appear ripe but seeds are still green. The current sunny warm weather will be bringing the ripening to fruition. We have picked this vineyard close to Halloween, so it's nothing new for this to be the last fruit in.   A truly fabulous, low stress harvest. Nicely tiimed to lower crazy long days of the past.    We are thrilled and excited for the 2021 vintage!!!!

Bohemian cluster August 13th showing almost no sign of veraison.

Ruxton with 100% veraison a week before picking August 27th.

The last 2 years of harvest have been like no other. 2020 we experienced horrible forest fires, evacuating a lot of wine country homes, wineries and much more. Many grapes smoked tainted from ash coating grapes weeks before harvesting. We only picked 4 vineyards that were safely declared un tainted.

2021 beginning early but not as early as 2016. Looking like tiny clusters and yields across the county.