California: Coastal Wine Harvest is Early and Booming

(Wines&Vines) - Following what they are calling a “phenomenal growing season,” most wine grape growers in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA just south of San Francisco are “totally jazzed about this year’s vintage,” according to Mary Lindsay, co-owner of 300-case Muns Vineyard in Los Gatos, Calif., and president of the Viticulture Association of the Santa Cruz Mountains (VASCM).

In her exclusive report for Wines & Vines this week, Lindsay said that many vineyards have been able to produce to capacity; wineries have had access to as much local fruit as they wish, and fruit quality is “superb.”

According to Tony Craig, owner of Los Gatos’ 1,400-case Sonnet Wine Cellars and winemaker at 7,500-case Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards in Saratoga, Calif., “This is the year we have all been waiting for—finally.”

The sentiment echoed throughout the region.

Muns Vineyard co-owner Ed Muns called it the best growing season in the vineyard’s 11 harvests on the Loma Prieta ridge top. Muns credited a long growing season with even conditions that allowed unimpeded fruit development.

“For Pinot Noir especially, the weather was ideal, with consistent mild temperatures and no rain between bud break to harvest,” Muns said. With no unexpected heat spikes or low temperatures, vines developed to maximum potential.

The season started early, and vines charged through to harvest without stopping. Nathan Kandler, winemaker at 15,000-case Thomas Fogarty Winery in Woodside, Calif., likened the growing season to an 800-meter race, calling it “a near full sprint for much longer than you like."

Vineyards around the region reported early bud break; dry, consistent weather conditions promoted early flowering, fruit-set and ripening, and harvest came early, “one of the earliest in history” at Fogarty, Kandler said.