Sonoma County Winegrape Harvest Continues on Smooth, Steady Course

Harvest Nearing Half-way in World’s Leading Certified Sustainable Wine Region

Following 9 months of near-perfect growing conditions, the good weather has continued during September in Sonoma County making for a steady harvest throughout the region.  

“Slow and steady has been the mantra throughout Sonoma County this harvest season,” said Karissa Kruse, president of Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW).  She added, “The weather outlook appears to be much of the same which is good news for winemakers, winegrowers and our agricultural workers.  The heat spikes have been minimal throughout the year and the last one in late September really seemed to help the ripening process of all varieties still on the vine.”  The cooler weather over the past week has helped in letting the fruit stay on the vine.

Reports continue to indicate this year’s crop will likely be known for being “very good” to “outstanding” quality with typical or average yields.

In September, SCW announced that Sonoma County now has a record-breaking 99%  of its local vineyards certified sustainable.  It was also announced that SCW will continue to build on its sustainability leadership as an exclusive participant in the California Land Stewardship Institute’s Climate Adaptation Certification Program which is the first program of its kind available in the world for agriculture.

The Climate Adaptation Certification program is a customized farm plan that will track the impact of climate-friendly farming practices and develop recommendations that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The certification program will focus on proven scientific concepts that growers can implement without compromising their farming practices.  It will limit nitrous oxide emissions and focus on carbon sequestration to improve the health of the soil and the farm. The program meets both the State of California’s climate goals and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Healthy Soil goals.

Here is some additional insight from various regions in Sonoma County:

Russian River Valley

The harvest has been smooth and steady so far with all grapes ripening at a good rate.  Location is key to the size of the yields with the far west area of the Russian River Valley seeing harvest a little light compared to recent years while warmer areas of the AVA are seeing crop yields at average or slightly above average rates.

Alexander Valley

Fruit quality looks very good as the harvest season is about a week to ten days later than recent years.  Yields have been average to above average for Cabernet Sauvignon, average for Pinot Noir, above average for Merlot and a little above average for Sauvignon Blanc.  Recent rains were pretty minimal with no damage to the grapes and barely enough to wet down the dust.

Bennett Valley

Harvest is about half-way complete in Bennett Valley.  Like elsewhere in Sonoma County, the harvest has been relatively smooth with no panic situations.  Quality appears to be very good with yields down from last year and more consistent with past years.  With the cooler weather, some growers envision harvest possibly pushing into early November.

2019 Winegrape Harvest Begins in Sonoma County

SANTA ROSA, Calif.  (August 16, 2019) – Following a record rainfall this past winter and a cool spring, the summer growing season has been near-perfect for Sonoma County winegrapes.  Now grape growers and winemakers throughout Sonoma County are in constant contact coordinating their schedules as the 2019 harvest began overnight.

Among the first grapes of the season harvested in Sonoma County were picked this morning just after midnight at Sasaki Vineyards in Schellville.  The Pinot Noir grapes will be going to Gloria Ferrer for their sparkling wine program.  This year’s harvest start is only one day later than the 2018 vintage, despite predictions that it would begin a week to ten days later than last year. In Sonoma Valley, vintners, growers and members of the community will gather today at the Mission San Francisco Solano on the Sonoma Plaza to officially ring the harvest bell to signal the beginning of the harvest season in Sonoma Valley.

“This is the most exciting time of the year as the guessing and anticipation are over and ‘go time’ has arrived.   The action is picking up and we are all looking forward to harvesting our grapes,” said Karissa Kruse, president of Sonoma County Winegrowers.  She added, “Every report we are receiving from throughout Sonoma County indicate ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’ quality. Ideally, this weather pattern holds for a smooth harvest but, during this time of year, you have to be prepared for anything Mother Nature throws at you.”

Early reports from the vineyards also indicate that the recent hotter temperatures are providing the right amount of stress to occur at the right time.  The cool spring appears to have originally slowed down some of the fruit growth and held back the degree day accumulation slightly pushing back harvest in many areas compared to recent seasons.

The harvest begins just as Sonoma County Winegrape Growers close in on its goal of reaching 100% sustainability this year.  This summer, wine consumers can now purchase the first wines bearing the new Sonoma County sustainably grown logos.  Sonoma County’s Francis Ford Coppola Winery is releasing some of their Director’s Cut wines with the new Sonoma County sustainably grown labels.  This follows the recent release of sustainable wines from Cline Cellar’s and Ferrari-Carano which also bear the new sustainability label.  The label went through extensive consumer testing and proprietary research to measure effectiveness. After several revisions, the brand was finalized.  Brand guidelines were developed and adopted before the TTB-approved label was made available to qualified Sonoma County growers and winemakers.

Here are some of the first 2019 harvest reports from the front lines of some of our AVAs:

Dutcher Crossing, Dry Creek Valley:

Dutcher Crossing Winery picked 4 tons of Chardonnay for sparkling wine on their Dry Creek Road estate in the early morning hours on Tuesday, August 13^th.

Gloria Ferrer, Carneros:

Harvest kicked off today in the early morning hours. At their 12-acre vineyard property off San Luis Road in Schellville, winegrower Janet Sasaki predicted crews would pick around 61 tons, which is similar to their total tonnage last year. They are picking Pinot Noir for Gloria Ferrer sparkling wines. Janet Sasaki has been selling her grapes to Gloria Ferrer for 18 years.

Iron Horse, Green Valley of Russian River Valley:

Joy Sterling is expecting that they will kick off harvest on Tuesday, August 20^th but they are keeping a close eye on the heat to see if they need to move that date up. They will be picking Pinot Noir from their estate.  According to Sterling, “This year we are particularly excited about kicking off harvest as this vintage represents the 40^th anniversary of the opening of Iron Horse winery and my father’s 90^th birthday.”

SANTA ROSA, Calif.  (August 16, 2019) – Following a record rainfall this past winter and a cool spring, the summer growing season has been near-perfect for Sonoma County winegrapes.  Now grape growers and winemakers throughout Sonoma County are in constant contact coordinating their schedules as the 2019 harvest began overnight.

Among the first grapes of the season harvested in Sonoma County were picked this morning just after midnight at Sasaki Vineyards in Schellville.  The Pinot Noir grapes will be going to Gloria Ferrer for their sparkling wine program.  This year’s harvest start is only one day later than the 2018 vintage, despite predictions that it would begin a week to ten days later than last year. In Sonoma Valley, vintners, growers and members of the community will gather today at the Mission San Francisco Solano on the Sonoma Plaza to officially ring the harvest bell to signal the beginning of the harvest season in Sonoma Valley.

“This is the most exciting time of the year as the guessing and anticipation are over and ‘go time’ has arrived.   The action is picking up and we are all looking forward to harvesting our grapes,” said Karissa Kruse, president of Sonoma County Winegrowers.  She added, “Every report we are receiving from throughout Sonoma County indicate ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’ quality. Ideally, this weather pattern holds for a smooth harvest but, during this time of year, you have to be prepared for anything Mother Nature throws at you.”

Early reports from the vineyards also indicate that the recent hotter temperatures are providing the right amount of stress to occur at the right time.  The cool spring appears to have originally slowed down some of the fruit growth and held back the degree day accumulation slightly pushing back harvest in many areas compared to recent seasons.

The harvest begins just as Sonoma County Winegrape Growers close in on its goal of reaching 100% sustainability this year.  This summer, wine consumers can now purchase the first wines bearing the new Sonoma County sustainably grown logos.  Sonoma County’s Francis Ford Coppola Winery is releasing some of their Director’s Cut wines with the new Sonoma County sustainably grown labels.  This follows the recent release of sustainable wines from Cline Cellar’s and Ferrari-Carano which also bear the new sustainability label.  The label went through extensive consumer testing and proprietary research to measure effectiveness. After several revisions, the brand was finalized.  Brand guidelines were developed and adopted before the TTB-approved label was made available to qualified Sonoma County growers and winemakers.

Here are some of the first 2019 harvest reports from the front lines of some of our AVAs:

Dutcher Crossing, Dry Creek Valley:

Dutcher Crossing Winery picked 4 tons of Chardonnay for sparkling wine on their Dry Creek Road estate in the early morning hours on Tuesday, August 13^th.

Gloria Ferrer, Carneros:

Harvest kicked off today in the early morning hours. At their 12-acre vineyard property off San Luis Road in Schellville, winegrower Janet Sasaki predicted crews would pick around 61 tons, which is similar to their total tonnage last year. They are picking Pinot Noir for Gloria Ferrer sparkling wines. Janet Sasaki has been selling her grapes to Gloria Ferrer for 18 years.

Iron Horse, Green Valley of Russian River Valley:

Joy Sterling is expecting that they will kick off harvest on Tuesday, August 20^th but they are keeping a close eye on the heat to see if they need to move that date up. They will be picking Pinot Noir from their estate.  According to Sterling, “This year we are particularly excited about kicking off harvest as this vintage represents the 40^th anniversary of the opening of Iron Horse winery and my father’s 90^th birthday.”

Sonoma County Winegrowers Share Early Outlook on 2019 Harvest Crop Expected

As It Nears 100% Sustainability, Local Wines Bearing New Logo Will Hit the Market

As Sonoma County Winegrape Growers close in on its goal of reaching 100% sustainability this year, there is an awful lot to celebrate.

Foremost, despite record rainfall amounts, early reports indicate the fruit set was good throughout Sonoma County though harvest will be running two to three weeks later than last year.  Next, Sonoma County Winegrowers is closing in on its sustainability goal.  And, just in time to celebrate, wine consumers can begin purchasing the first wines bearing the new Sonoma County sustainably grown logos.

“Mother Nature again showed us this winter she can be large and in charge,” said Karissa Kruse, president of Sonoma County Winegrowers.  She added, “After last year’s big crop, it now looks like we will experience average yields, but it is still too early to be sure.”

The grapes appear to be taking their time to develop and ripen following a cool, wet spring.  Late rains brought some initial worry about the impact on bloom, but early reports indicate the crop is in good shape though harvest is likely to be pushed back later.

Sonoma County’s commitment to sustainability marks another huge milestone this summer as  the Francis Ford Coppola Winery is releasing some of their Director’s Cut wines with the new Sonoma County sustainably grown labels.  This follows the recent release of sustainable wines from Cline Cellar’s and Ferrari-Carano which also bear the new sustainability label.  The label went through extensive consumer testing and proprietary research to measure effectiveness. After several revisions, the brand was finalized.  Brand guidelines were developed and adopted before the TTB-approved label was made available to qualified Sonoma County growers and winemakers.

“This is such an exciting time for our growers, for lovers of Sonoma County wines and for our community,” said Kruse.  She added, “As we near becoming the nation’s first 100% sustainable wine region, consumers now have a chance to show their support for sustainability and purchase Sonoma County sustainable grown wine.  It is pretty amazing to think how far we have come in just the last five years!”

Here is an early look at the various regions in Sonoma County:

Russian River Valley:

Despite floods throughout the Russian River Valley, quality looks to be good.  Though still too early to fully assess, it does appear that the size of the crop will be close to average.  The late spring and early summer temperatures have warmed but have not been overly hot.  Harvest is expected to be delayed at least two weeks than last year and it is expected to last until Thanksgiving.

Sonoma Valley:

Rain, rain, rain was the common theme in Sonoma Valley.  While it is still too early to determine crop size, one current challenge is large canopy growth and vine vigor which has resulted in crews having to re-sucker the vines in some places.  Harvest may not begin until after Labor Day.

Dry Creek Valley:

The cold spring delayed development in the Dry Creek Valley.  On average, the bud break for Chardonnay was about two weeks later than last year and the bud break for reds was about a week behind 2018.  All signs indicate a late August start of harvest in Dry Creek Valley.  

Alexander Valley:

Much the same as elsewhere in the County: late rains, condensed growing season and late bud break.  Heat has yet to be a problem.  Harvest likely not to start until September 1. 

Throughout Sonoma County:

Fortunately, most everywhere the record rains came right when the flowers showed up and not later which has helped minimize any shatter issues.  Given the wet spring and cool weather during bloom, the fruit set is varied but looks good throughout the County with average numbers of clusters per vine.

Read the 2019 Sonoma County Harvest Update (Part 2).

The Sonoma County Winegrowers has announced its new board leadership team for fiscal year 2019-2020.  Glenn Proctor, a board member since 2013 and local grape grower, has been named board chairman.  Joining him on the board leadership team will be local grape farmers, Mark Sanchietti, as vice chairman, and Marissa Ledbetter-Foster, as treasurer.

“Our new board leadership is taking over at a very exciting time for Sonoma County and our organization,” said Karissa Kruse, president of Sonoma County Winegrowers.  She added, “These three individuals truly reflect Sonoma County winegrowing.  They are strong champions for sustainability, they are true community leaders and they all hail from multi-generational farming families in the region.”

The new board leadership team:

• Proctor is a partner in Ciatti Brokerage Company and owner of Puccioni Vineyards where he farms Zinfandel and Petite Syrah. He comes from a multi-generational Sonoma County farming family and has been on the Sonoma County Winegrowers’ board of directors since 2013.   Glenn will serve as chairman of the board.
• Sanchietti is a fourth-generation Sonoma County farmer. He has served on the Sonoma County Winegrowers’ board of directors since 2014.  Mark and his wife, Jenny, founded Sanchietti Farming and grow Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes in western Sonoma.   The Sanchietti family recently received the Farm Family of the Year Award at the Sonoma County Farm Bureau’s Love of the Land event.  He will serve as the board’s vice chairman.
• Ledbetter-Foster began working for the family’s business, Vino Farms in May of 2006. The company is recognized for its dedication to employees, sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices and community involvement.  She has been on the Sonoma County Winegrowers board of directors since 2015.  She will serve as the board’s treasurer.

“I appreciate all of the work Joe Dutton has done for the Sonoma County Winegrowers over the last two years and I look forward to working closely with the Winegrowers staff and board members,” said Proctor.  He added, “Mark, Marissa and I are fortunate to begin our terms at such a remarkable time for the organization and I am very excited to continue our progress moving forward.”