Temecula Valley Harvest Report: Fast & Furious Harvest Yields High-Quality Fruit & Positive Outlook for 2013 Wines
Temecula, CA (PRWEB) November 20, 2013 -- Full Release: http://www.temeculawines.org/media/press-releases.php?press_id=31
“The 2013 harvest was literally perfect,” states longtime winemaker, Les Linkgole of Briar Rose Winery. This means consumers can look forward to enjoying high-quality red, white, rosé and sparkling wines resulting from this nearly flawless vintage.
Picking in Temecula Valley began in early August and the majority of harvest activities wrapped up by mid-October. Nick Palumbo, President of the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association and grower/winemaker for Palumbo Family Vineyards and Winery explains, “We had an early bud break in spring which led to an early harvest.”
Yields varied across the valley, but the average tracked closely to the 2012 vintage. JD Harkey, Director of vineyard management company Drake Enterprises, indicated, “Yields were really good on early varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc and others.” Harkey reporting particularly large crops from Rhone and Italian varietals like Mourvedre, Syrah, Barbera, Montepulciano and Tempranillo.
Excellent fruit quality was on everyone’s lips as harvest wrapped up. Craig Larson, head winemaker for Callaway Vineyard & Winery, called it Callaway’s best vintage for the past five years, noting, “high quality grapes; complex, beautiful fresh fruit aromatics and structured barrel-age-worthy wines.”
South Coast Winery winemaker Javier Flores reporting a year-over-year improvement in fruit quality and production techniques, saying, “Our vineyards are maturing beautifully and producing better quality fruit… we continue to fine-tune our vinification techniques to more perfectly compliment the fruit we are given.”
Several growers mentioned Cabernet Sauvignon as a 2013 harvest standout; Syrah, Tempranillo, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Sangiovese were also among the year’s best performing grape varieties. Outstanding whites included Viognier, Chardonnay and Roussanne.
Like the rest of California, winemaker Tim Kramer of Leoness noted the year’s biggest challenge was the condensed harvest period: “Coordinating picking and finding space for everything was somewhat of a challenge.”
With most fruit safely picked, crushed and already undergoing the fermentation process, Temecula Valley vintners look forward to an easing of the season’s pressures and some down time over the holidays. Wine lovers are invited to join them in celebrating the holidays in Temecula Valley wine country; a list of winery holiday events is available by browsing the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association blog at http://www.temeculawines.org/blog/.
About the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association
Comprising 35 wineries and more than 60 winegrowers, the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association is a nonprofit, regional organization dedicated to increasing awareness of the quality wines and wine grapes grown in the Temecula Valley and South Coast Appellations. Known as Southern California's wine country, the Temecula Valley is located in Riverside County just one hour from San Diego, Orange County and Palm Springs and an hour and a half from Los Angeles.
Media Contact:
Sienna Spencer-Markles
McCue Marketing Communications
sienna(at)mccuecommunications(dot)com | 213-985-1011
Sienna Spencer-Markles, McCue Marketing Communications, http://mccuecommunications.com/, +1 (213) 985-1011, [email protected]
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