US; Napa harvest: Widespread rot fails to dampen spirits
US; Napa harvest: Widespread rot fails to dampen spirits
Oct 26, 2011 6
(Decanter) - Wine producers in Napa are counting the cost of the bizarre weather patterns this year. Many crops have been hit by the double whammy of heavy June rains, six times the average rainfall, which damaged flowers and led to coulure or shatter – the failure of the grapes to develop after flowering.
There was also rain at the beginning of October which caused conditions one winemaker described as ‘a petrie dish’ for rot.
Some growers however are extremely positive. Warren Winiarski, founder and former owner of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, picked his Chardonnay before the early October rains and so avoided botrytis.
Winiarski, who remains owner of the Arcadia Vineyard after selling Stag’s Leap three years ago, said the Chardonnay would be moderate in alcohol, with ‘very fresh contoured acids’.
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