Quality California Winegrape Crop This Year

The harvest bins weren’t necessarily bursting this year in California winegrape country, but the quality was repeatedly described by industry veterans as outstanding. (Photo Credit: George Rose, California Wine Institute)

The harvest bins weren’t necessarily bursting this year in California winegrape country, but the quality was repeatedly described by industry veterans as outstanding. (Photo Credit: George Rose, California Wine Institute)

The 2016 California winegrape harvest was early, with a mostly normal yield of exceptional quality fruit throughout the state. A relatively even growing season followed welcome rains that helped to alleviate the drought.

“It’s been a good season — the grapes are in great condition, showcasing spectacular flavors,” said Randy Ullom, Winemaster at Kendall-Jackson Wines, with vineyards in Sonoma County and statewide.

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Cathy Corison, Owner/Winemaker at Corison Winery in Napa Valley was equally pleased: “2016 was early, small and delicious. The entire ripening season enjoyed cooler than average daytime highs and cold nights — perfect for inky, complex wines. Measured in pace, it was also easy on the winemakers.”

The overall state crop was estimated by the California Department of Food and in late summer to be near the historical average of 3.9 million tons.

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“Anticipated El Niño rainfall was less than hoped for (8 inches) in Paso Robles, but still greater than the prior four vintages of drought, and appears to have had a positive effect on yields and quality in our Bordeaux and Rhone varietals in 2016,” said Jeff Meier, Director of Winemaking/President, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines.

“Yield projections for 2016 were slightly below long-term averages, but most varieties are coming in at or above estimates — a welcome outcome for Paso Robles growers. Overall, the vintage of 2016 is delivering high-quality, high-color ‘Merlot’ and ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ from the cooler microclimates and fruit-intensive Rhone varietals.”

In Lodi, Michael David Winery hit the halfway mark at the end of September, said Adam Mettler, Director of Winemaking.

“The harvest pace was steady and extremely level with little peaks of chaos, he said. Small heat spikes followed by fairly moderate weather have pushed sugars up in vineyards where needed and then allowed time for growers and wineries to get fruit off in a timely manner without major fruit breakdown or raisining.

“Fruit looks exceptional so far — probably the cleanest ‘Zinfandel’ crop I have seen in some time,” Mettler said. “The wines are coming out beautifully, and it’s another fantastic harvest in Lodi.”

In Santa Barbara, Frank Ostini, Owner/Winemaker of Hitching Post Wines, reported another early harvest, with much of the ‘Pinot Noir’ and ‘Sauvignon Blanc’ harvested in the last two weeks of August.

“We had a very warm spring and early summer, but July and August brought cool nights and gentle warmth that allowed the medium-sized crop to mature perfectly — small berries in pristine condition,” he said. “We are excited to be making some of our best-ever balanced wines with fine color and intensity.”

The 2016 harvest in Sonoma County looked a lot like the 2015 harvest, said Ryan Decker, Winegrower at Rodney Strong Vineyards. One of the main differences — a welcome one — was the 7- to 10-day break they had between the ‘Pinot’/’Chardonnay’ harvest and the ‘Merlot’/’Cabernet’ harvest.

“This year we had some unseasonably cool temperatures in mid-September that put the brakes on harvest, albeit temporarily, allowing us to free up some tank space,” he said. “The yields are down just a bit from the long-term average, but wine quality looks to be stellar.”

Another high-quality California vintage is great news for wine consumers here in the U.S. and abroad, who continue to drive sales of Golden State wines to record levels, said Wine Institute President and CEO Robert P. (Bobby) Koch.

“With California wine’s economic contribution of $57.6 billion annually to the state economy and $114 billion annually to the U.S. economy,” he said, “it’s also excellent news for our state and nation, which benefit from jobs, tax revenues, hospitality, tourism, and community enhancement.” ●

SIDEBAR: NORTH AND SOUTH NOTES

North: Lake County — Tracey Hawkins, Co-Founder, Hawk and Horse Vineyards
Lake County winegrape growers are proclaiming 2016 an exquisite year for quality. From budbreak through bloom and veraison, the county saw textbook weather patterns. Warm spring days, shifting to a hot, bright summer with cooling coastal breezes in the evenings, is typical of this mountainous region. Harvest was slightly early — not as early as last year’s vintage — but about two weeks earlier than normal. Countywide, growers reported even maturity and ripening. Yields for whites were slightly above average. Yields for red varietals were more variable, with some yields above average and some below.

Southern California/Temecula – Les Linkogle, Owner/Winemaker, Briar Rose Winery
This year’s harvest in the Temecula Valley was unusual, because a heat wave brought extreme temperatures in the triple digits just weeks before harvest. The heat brought intense flavor to the fruit and in some cases a slightly early harvest. Due to the unexpected prolonged heat and good defoliating, many wineries experienced sunburned grapes. Every vineyard was affected to some extent, resulting in a loss of yield that ranged from 30% to 50%. However, the fruit that survived the heat is exceptional in quality. Wines from this appellation and vintage year will be stellar.

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