An early morning at Hirsch Vineyards during harvest.
What started as a worrisome record-breaking hot summer has cooled enough and given the Golden State an excellent crop.
North Coast:
Starting in Northern California, on Sonoma’s far western coast, is Hirsch Vineyards, a Pinot Noir-focused site perched atop California’s coastal mountain range in view of the Pacific Ocean. Winemaker Jasmine Hirsch said of the ongoing harvest: ‘We had a sweltering July, followed by a mild August. Sunny and warm, but not hot. The vineyards set a good crop this year, which has allowed the fruit to ripen slowly and evenly. This is a dream situation for winemakers and farmers alike.’
Similar high-quality sentiments were expressed from warmer areas of Northern California, where east of Sonoma in the Napa Valley, renowned Cabernet winemaker Cathy Corison said: ‘Weather was perfect for flowering, so there’s a bountiful crop that ripened very evenly. The result is balanced, delicious wines.’
This is a promising start for California’s most famed terroir.
Just south of Napa is the Carneros AVA, known for cool climate varietals like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and sparkling wines of the same grown next to San Pablo Bay. Domaine Carneros CEO and winemaker Remi Cohen said of the vintage: ‘Moderate summer temperatures with occasional short periods of heat were perfect conditions to ripen a slightly above-average crop. Our grapes are grown on our six estate vineyards in the Carneros region, and their regional focus and proximity, coupled with the narrow window for preserving acidity in
