2017 Wine Grape Harvest Begins In Monterey County
Monterey, CA (PRWEB) August 30, 2017 -- Three weeks after the initial harvest for sparkling wine grapes, the harvest for still wine grapes has begun in Monterey County.
“Growers look forward to this time of the year with great anticipation, “shared Kim Stemler, Executive Director of the Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association. “Following winter rains, the weather has been temperate for the greater part of the year, producing ideal conditions for Pinot Noir from the northern AVA’s and Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grown in the southern AVA’s and Carmel Valley. The 2017 crop looks to be of average to slightly light load, estimated at approximately 170,000 tons.”
A culmination of a years’ worth of efforts, harvest is a time of excitement and sleepless nights. Harvest lights from the vineyards can be seen throughout the Salinas Valley in the predawn hours. Night time harvesting keeps the grapes cool to preserve the sugar levels and conserve energy.
A Gentle Harvest Progression
Harvest for sparkling wines began in early August with Caraccioli Cellars, Scheid Vineyards, and Pessagno Winery. They, along with others, are now beginning harvest for their still wines.
“We began harvesting Sauvignon Blanc last Friday in our San Lucas vineyards, about the average time for the beginning of harvest,” stated Greg Gonzalez, Vineyard Manager for Scheid Vineyards. “The harvest looks positive and we’re seeing good sized clusters.”
Scott Caraccioli of Caraccioli Cellars shared, “The 2017 vintage looks to be a high-quality vintage. There is a heightened expression of fruit coupled with integrated acidity which should lead to wines that drink well in their youth and have the capacity to age.” In addition to the early harvest of fruit for their signature bubbles, Caraccioli just started harvesting fruit for still Rosé.
Harvest began in the dark hours of Monday morning for Valley Farm Management, harvesting their first Pinot Grigio in the Monterey AVA. Jason Smith, President of Valley Farm Management and Smith Family Wines reported, “We anticipate harvesting Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA next week. We’ve had some nice sizing and good cool evenings. And we’re very excited about this year’s vintage.”
Although harvest has begun gently, the pace will pick up in the next two weeks. Andy Mitchell of Hahn Family Wines and Jeff Pomo of Constellation Brands, report that they will begin their harvest either next week or the week after. Harvest will actively continue through the end of October and could extend into early November given a continuation of moderate weather patterns.
Monterey County cultivates 46,000 acres of wine grapes, growing more Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes than any other county in California.
Follow the excitement of Monterey County’s harvest as it unfolds on Instagram and Facebook: MontereyWines and Montereywines.org. Photos from the harvest are available here.
Formed in 1973, the Monterey County Vintners & Growers’ Association (MCVGA) brings together the talents and resources of winegrowers, winemakers, and our extended community to promote and support leadership in the art, science, and business of wine. By standing together, we strengthen the Monterey Wine Country™ brand and bring awareness to the region.
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Kim Stemler, Monterey County Vintners & Growers Assoc, http://montereywines.org, +1 (831) 375-9400, [email protected]
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