Harvest Update
By: Peter Brehm

I have been harvesting Sangiacomo Home Ranch Chardonnay since 1986, and it never came in October, I never harvested almost all (still have Caldwell & Silverado Trail) our Cabernet before Chardonnay – weird but true. While sugars have been good, all the acids have been on the (good) high side and pHs very good. The Carneros Chardonnays will be picked Tuesday and Monday of this week with 23+ sugars and great acid, and flavor (hope the predicted showers miss us).

Another interesting mark of the vintage was the quality and quantity of the Carneros and Russian River Pinot Noirs. Great color, large berries and large bunches produced very good wines and large yields per acre. As of today wineries are still fermenting and receiving Pinot Noir. The plight of the Oregon and Columbia Gorge Pinot Noir and Chardonnays, in contrast, are very small berries, very small bunches and very low yields. Phenolic and sugar development is wonderful on this small scale, and the acidity is high, pH quite  low. It will be interesting to taste the small berry with the big berry – it is evident that both will be out of the ordinary fine wines. 

It has been 7 days per week processing – an extremely condensed, convoluted Crush – but of super quality. From the Carneros Pinot Noir to the Columbia Gorge Gewurztraminer, we are seeing great sugar and flavor development, with notable acidity – and no rain so far!!