An unusually early 2026 Carneros harvest coincides with a milestone for the fourth-generation farming family as Thomson Vineyards moves from growing sparkling-wine grapes to putting its own name on the bottle.
NAPA VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- For nearly nine decades, four generations of the Thomson family have measured the years in vineyard seasons: pruning in winter, budbreak in spring and, traditionally, sparkling wine harvest around the first week of September.
In 2026, both the calendar and the family's role in California sparkling wine are changing.
After 88 years primarily growing winegrapes for other producers, Thomson Vineyards is producing its first commercial sparkling wine, a sparkling Riesling grown, made and labeled by Thomson Vineyards at Gloria Ferrer through its custom-crush program.
The project brings together fourth-generation grower Jennifer R. Thomson and winemaker Kyle Altomare, whose professional relationship spans more than 15 years and multiple varieties and wine programs.
A Harvest Nearly a Month Ahead of History
Thomson Vineyards' cool-climate Carneros site has long supplied fruit for California sparkling wine, with much of its harvest traditionally occurring around the first week of September, when acidity remains high and flavors bright.
In 2026, harvest arrived nearly a month earlier.
"This is normally the week when the majority of our grapes are harvested for sparkling wine," Thomson said. "Instead, this year we were making harvest decisions a month ago. When your family has farmed the same region for nearly 90 years, you have a long agricultural memory. Seasons like 2026 remind you that every vintage is different and that the relationship between vineyard and winemaker matters enormously."
A Grower-Winemaker Relationship Spanning More Than 15 Years
Although the Thomson sparkling wine is new, the professional relationship behind it is not.
Thomson and Altomare have worked together across multiple seasons and wine programs, including Pinot Noir for Westwood Winery, Chardonnay and Merlot for Artesa Winery, and now Riesling for Thomson's own sparkling wine.
"Making wine with someone who already understands your farming changes the conversation," Thomson said. "Kyle and I don't have to begin with an introduction to one another. We've worked together with different varieties, vintages and wine programs for more than 15 years. This time, we're bringing that shared experience to a wine that belongs to Thomson."
"Working with growers who put their heart and soul into their craft is truly one of the great pleasures of winemaking. After walking the Riesling block at Thomson Vineyard it was immediately clear that we were standing in a special place. We're honored that Jennifer entrusted Gloria Ferrer with producing the vineyard's first sparkling wine, and we're thrilled to play a small part in writing the next chapter of Thomson Vineyard's history," Altomare said.
Putting the Vineyard Back at the Center
For Thomson, producing wine under the family name also creates an opportunity to tell more of the vineyard's story.
"Some of the most interesting stories in sparkling wine begin long before the grapes arrive at a winery," Thomson said. "California has extraordinary sparkling-wine vineyards and farming families behind them. There is an opportunity to put those growers and individual sites more prominently into the story."
"Champagne has taught consumers to care about villages, growers and individual sites. Carneros has vineyards and multigenerational farming families with equally compelling stories. We should be telling them."
From 1938 to 2028
Founded in 1938, Thomson Vineyards will mark its 90th anniversary in 2028. The sparkling Riesling is something new for the family, but Thomson sees it as an extension of its agricultural history rather than a departure from it.
"We are growers first," Thomson said. "Making this wine doesn't change that. It gives us another way to communicate what we've spent generations learning in the vineyard."
After 88 years of growing grapes that have become other people's wines, Thomson Vineyards is preparing to put its own name on the bottle.
About Thomson Vineyards
Founded in 1938, Thomson Vineyards is a fourth-generation family winegrape farming operation in the Carneros region of Napa Valley. For nearly 90 years, the Thomson family has supplied winegrapes to premium California wineries and sparkling wine producers. Today, Jennifer R. Thomson leads the family operation while expanding how Thomson communicates the value of vineyard, place and generations of agricultural knowledge.
Media Contact
Jennifer R. Thomson, President / Fourth-Generation Grower, Thomson Vineyards, 1 707-227-8745, [email protected], https://thomsonvineyards.com/
SOURCE Thomson Vineyards
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