2011 was Challenging Year for Petite Sirah:El Portal Vineyard, CALAVERAS COUNTY, Harvest Report

Mark Skenfield, Viticulturist with Vinescapes Vineyard Management, sends this Harvest Report from one of the vineyards under his management, the El Portal vineyard in Murphys.  Grapes from this vineyard are used to produce the wines for Newsome-Harlow Winery of Murphys in Calaveras County, CA

The El Portal vineyard in Murphys, Calaveras County, has 3 separate blocks of Petite Sirah planted specifically for Newsome-Harlow Winery.  The vineyard is organically farmed by Mark Skenfield of Vinescapes Vineyard Management with meticulous attention to all viticultural practices.  Through pruning designed for low yields, careful selection of shoots, agressive fruit thinning and specialized fertilization, El Portal produces pristine, intensely colored Petite Sirah ear-marked for a premium bottle of wine.


Varieties like Petite Sirah, which love warm weather for ripening, had a challenging year this year.  2011 started out cool and didn't reach typical summer temperatures as often as previous years.  This caused increased issues for disease, irregular fruit set and ripening and stretched the harvest season much later than growers like.  Vineyard managers had to earn their pay this year.

The grapes that were lucky enough to come off the vine early in the harvest, looked less stressed than normal and developed complexity without reaching excessive sugar levels.  Later ripening varieties, like Petite Sirah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel had to ride out some heavy rains and some extended hang-time before being harvested.  Sometimes the looming potential for rot forced the wineries hand to bring the fruit in a little earlier than they normally would like.  Other times, the berries didn't look as pristine as they normally would.  Sugar levels in these varieties didn't reach the heights they normally achieve, but the fruit came in with mature characteristics - minimal "green" qualities with lots of complexity. 


Ultimately, the fact that grapes were often picked with lower than typical sugar levels actually can benefit wines by holding the alcohols levels down and helping fermentations complete efficiently.  If vineyard managers were diligent and tended carefully to the challenges presented from the 2011 growing season, winemakers still had quality fruit to work with to create solid, albeit uncharacteristic foothill wines. 

More about Newsome-Harlow, from their website:

Scott and Melanie Klann created their own label, Newsome-Harlow, in 2000 with a couple of partners and a small batch of wines crafted from premium Calaveras County grapes. Scott's original partner and life long friend, Mark Skenfield, was one of those who started the winery. The name Newsome Harlow is the combination of the maiden names of Scott and his original partner, Mark Skenfield, a long time Calaveras resident and vineyard manager.

Their first vintage — a mere 150 cases — was sold exclusively to those on the winery’s mailing list. Ten years later, Newsome-Harlow is recognized as having some of the best wines in Calaveras, and produces 3,200 cases of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc and five signature Zinfandels that sell out each year.

Yields lower but good brix and balance: CALAVERAS COUNTY HARVEST REPORT from IRONSTONE VINEYARDS

This report from Ironstone Vineyards, Calaveras County:

At Ironstone Vineyards, last week we picked our Syrah.  The grapes came in very late for us and were down about 20% from normal yields, but the good news is that they came in at 24.6 brix and had a beautiful balance.  Director of Winemaking, Steve Millier stated that the grapes looked “awesome”. 

Ironstone Winemaker, Steve Millier checking out

the Reserve Chardonnay before harvest.

We also harvested our Cabernet Franc, which came in at 24.6 brix as well and had really nice fruit and intense color, so we expect to repeat the quality we have been seeing in our Reserve Cabernet Franc wines! 

This week, we are picking our Merlot, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and we will finish with Petite Verdot and Malbec.  This year, we had quite a few new vineyards to harvest and were very happy with the quality level of fruit that came from them.  It goes to show the importance of topography and how incredible the Sierra Foothills is for high quality wine grapes! 

At Ironstone in Murphys, we harvested Tempranillo, Petite Sirah, Verdelho, Viognier, Muscat Canelli, Chardonnay, Symphony, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot and Malbec-that is great diversity!

Floral notes in Muscat from Calaveras County: Harvest report from Ironstone Vineyards

Steve Millier, winemaker at Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys/Calaveras County sends these notes:

On October 11, we picked our Sierra Foothills (Calaveras County) Muscat Canelli.  The grapes are tested at 26.8 brix and show distinctive floral notes.  The 2011 vintage Muscat Canelli when bottled will be our second release of the Ironstone Reserve Muscat Canelli.  These are limited release wines that are exceptional, exciting and just enjoyable!

The rain on October 10 has slowed production, but we anticipate continuing to pick our Estate vineyards.  After the Muscat Canelli, we will move back to another Chardonnay vineyard followed by Tempranillo.

~See previous Ironstone and other Calaveras County Harvest reports at
http://mountainhighwines.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20Harvest%20Report%20from%20Calaveras%20County

Sierra Foothills Harvest Reports- Calaveras, Placer, Amador

CALAVERAS COUNTY

Ironstone Winery, Murphys, has this update:



Steve Millier, Ironstone's winemaker

 Last week, Steve Millier, Ironstone's winemaker, was photographed checking the Chardonnay that will go into our Ironstone Reserve Chardonnay program.  

On Monday October 3rd, Ironstone brought in our Sierra Foothills Estate Grown Viognier.  The Viognier came in at 25 brix will go into our Reserve program.  The flavors were wonderful and we are very pleased with the grapes. 

Tuesday, Oct 4th, we picked our Sierra Foothills Estate Grown Chardonnay.  Going into press the Chardonnay was at 24.2 brix and was showing intense flavors.  This was a relief to get these grapes in before the midweek rain, which caused us a delay in harvest.  We had possibly an inch of rain, but the soils in Murphys tend to dry quickly.

We picked our Muscat Canelli on October 7 & 8.

PLACER COUNTY

Charlie Green of Green Family Winery, Auburn (Placer County), informed me that on September 20th, he picked 45 tons of Pinot at brix of 23.7 & TA of .67 average.

NOTE:  Green Family Winery is the oldest producing winery in Placer County, with vineyards averaging 18 years old. 

AMADOR COUNTY

Scott Harvey sent this note:

We finished the Bowman vineyard on September 28th.  We were expecting 40 tons and ended up with only 24 tons.  So, it seems that the Zinfandel in Amador county was also greatly affected, like the Napa Valley floor, by the poor set due to the cold spring.  Quality is way above average, great zinfandel flavors. 

I think this will be a vintage where the wines definitely talk to you.  Much like the great 1991 vintage in Amador County.

October 5, we harvested Zinfandel from both the Manby and Norton vineyards in the Shenandoah Valley of Amador county.

Harvest Report: "Fantastic Wine Grape Crop" says Tanner Vineyards (Calaveras County)

Nanette Tanner of Tanner Vineyards, Vallecito, Calaveras County (Sierra Foothills wine region) provides this report:

"Calaveras County whites have begun their wine journey (with reds some weeks behind) to the crush pads throughout the Sierra Foothills and beyond. Mother' nature has taken her time and done her job quite well this year, nurturing the vines and grapes, and giving them a growing season this year that looks more like classic Napa than classic Sierra Foothill weather. But as the saying goes, it ain't over till the fat lady sings! The proof of the pudding this year, will be in the reds. We are singing that familiar tune: Rain Rain go Away!.... and don't come back until harvest is over!

From Alicante Bouchet to Zinfandel, Calaveras County, with all of its micro-climates, hidden valleys, varying soil profiles and elevations, is known for her ability to produce myriad varieties of wine grapes. So far it looks like Mother nature, the fickle matriarch that she is, is rewarding farmers with a fantastic wine grape crop albeit light... if that proverbial last lap to fruition can be reached. On September 17th Tanner Vineyards harvested Viognier, the first white varietal of the 2011 season: a season that growers Dick and Ron Tanner believe could be stellar.

Scientific data is important for record keeping and guidance, but the bottom line when you pick is flavor. Early in the season, brothers Dick and Ron took pediole samples. In one way, these samples act as their 'crystal ball' for farming. Depending on test results, they supplement or cut back where needed, drop fruit etc.. as the season progresses they adjust the canopy by hand with wires designed precisely for this purpose. Opening up the canopy is an expensive viticulture practice - it has to be done in stages and more importantly it has to be done by hand. By hand = by dollars. We baby our grapes up here.

Opening up the canopy allows sunlight and air to get in, where it wouldn't be able to otherwise.  Getting light and air to where it is needed means getting these elements to where they can make a dramatic difference in the final analysis..producing a better wine.

Fast forward to the last 6 weeks of the season...

Walking through the family's vineyard, tasting grapes, brothers Dick and Ron Tanner have begun the task of checking each varietal weekly now, nine in all, and evaluate each one's ripeness by color, skin health, sweetness, flavor, the color darkening (or browning if you will) of the grape's seeds. The overall flavor profile is being carefully tracked- pre-harvest brix and acids are monitored; which is why wine quality predictions for the 2011 year are coming in with very high marks. Keeping our fingers crossed and praying for warm weather!"

ABOUT TANNER VINEYARDS (from their wine club brochure):

 Tanner Vineyards, the story behind the generations…

Tanner siblings Richard, Ronald and Judy, following the footsteps of their great grandfather Angelo Sciaccaluga, planted their vineyard in the spring of 1998. Grandpa Angelo brought his wine making skills to the Mother Lode in the 1860’s. Settling in the small gold rush town of Vallecito, he was the first winemaker in Calaveras County to pay an official  ‘alcohol  tax’.

Fast forward to 2004 when the first Tanner Vineyards label was born. In naming their first vintage, the siblings honored their mother, Jacqueline Rose Tanner with Mélange de Mère;  French for ‘mother’s blend’. This special blend is made from Cabernet Sauvignon,  Syrah and Petit Verdot. Over time the family has added more plant ings with varietals that thrive in the rocky and volcanic soils of their family vineyards. To date they have produced 11 estate grown wines:  Viognier, Vermentino Viognier, Doux Rose, Barbera. Mouvèdre, Syrah, Mélange de Mère, Petit Verdot, Petit Sirah, Cabernet, and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tanner Vineyards
Tasting Room - 202 Main Street, Murphys, CA 95247
(209)728-8229 ph & fax
Business Address - PO Box 21, Vallecito, CA 95251
tannervineyards@att.net -  http://www.tannervineyards.com/
Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday!
Closed Tuesday & Wednesday except by appointment.

Frog's Tooth Vineyards (Calaveras County) Harvest Report: "good fruit, lower yields"

Gary Grant,  winemaker at Frog’s Tooth Vineyards, Farmington (Calaveras County, in the Sierra Foothills region of California)  reports good quality fruit to date, lower yields, and harvest “a bit late”:

"Harvest seems to be running slightly behind again this year.  Our first harvest of the year was our estate Sauvignon Blanc on 8/28.  Weather effected crop yields and the Sauvignon Blanc was down by about one-third. Fruit quality was excellent. Acids and pH were in line and the flavors were outstanding.

Torrontes

We have also pressed 6 tons of Torrontes from Silvaspoon Vineyards in Alta Mesa on 9/13.  The overall quality of the fruit was good.  According Ron Silva, the yield this year was also down from previous years.

2.27 tons of Semillon from Chatom Vineyards was pressed on 9/20.  Fruit quality and flavors were very good.  TA was down and an acid addition was required.

Next up was our estate Viognier on 9/22.  Crop yield was disappointing, weather related issues being the culprit, but the remaining fruit was very nice. 

On 9/28, we pressed Sauvignon Blanc from Chatom Vineyards.  Once again, fruit quality was excellent. High yield of juice (180+ gallons/ton). 

Grenache

Our first red fruit, our estate Grenache and estate Petite Sirah, we are harvesting this week and watching the rain forecasts closely."

About Frog’s Tooth Vineyards, from their website (www.frogstooth.com)

"Our Story...
Once upon a time, not so long ago, in a valley known more for cattle ranching than vineyards, our story begins. 

It was the Winter of 1999 when Frog's Tooth Vineyards began its life as a tadpole with the purchase of 67 acres of land in the Salt Springs Valley of Calaveras County.

It slowly grew through infancy until the Spring of 2003 when it began its transition to adolecence with the planting of approximately 10 acres of premium wine grapes.

Frog's Tooth Vineyards entered young froghood in 2005 when we crushed fruit for what would become our first vintage wine. Our transition continued with the opening of our Tasting Room in Murphys, California in the Fall of 2007 followed by the completion of our winery building at the end of 2008. "

Frog's Tooth Vineyards Tasting Room is now open daily at 380 Main Street in Murphy's, right off Main Street, behind Murphy’s Grill.

Kautz Family Vineyards (Calaveras County) & Bowman Zinfandel Vineyard & Sobon (Amador County) - Harvest Reports

CALAVERAS UPDATE

Steve Millier, Director of Winemaking at Kautz Family Vineyards, which includes Ironstone Vineyards and Leaping Horse Vineyards (Murphys/Calaveras County) sends this report:

We picked Verdelho last Monday (September 19) from Hay Station Ranch.  The grapes looked fantastic with outstanding sugar + acid balance. 

Friday, September 23, we picked the 85+ year old Zinfandel from Larry Nies.  This is an old vine Zinfandel vineyard that backs up to the Mokelumne River along Hwy 12 (across the street from the Rous Estate vineyards) in Lodi.  This vineyard is noted for its intense cherry focused fruit.

TWO AMADOR UPDATES:

Leon Sobon sends us this report from Sobon Estate Winery, Plymouth/Amador County:

We picked our first grapes Thursday September 22- the Sauvignon blanc and the Viognier.  Three weeks later than normal!!!   The quality seems to be excellent, partly because of the small crop, 40 % of normal, and partly because of the long hang time.  The cool, wet spring during bloom has affected most of our varieties.  The reds are a week or two away.

Scott Harvey sends this report: 

Scott at Riesling Harvest

We’ll start with the Amador harvest  on Tuesday with the Bowman Zinfandel Vineyard.  It is the first Zin vineyard we bring in every year.  Will be bringing in approx.. 40 tons.  We produce both wines from Amador County and Napa Valley for Scott Harvey Wines .  
Amador and the 2,000 foot mountain areas around Napa such as Atlas Peak both bud out three weeks later than the Napa Valley Floor.

Seems like the valley floor of Napa has been much more affected by the late cold spring.  The earlier bud break really hit the Napa Valley floor while the later bud break in Amador and the hills around Napa were not as affected.  A Sauvignon Blanc vineyard we get grapes from in Napa that normally produces 40 tons, this year only produced 15 tons.  We harvested Riesling from the Rutherford Bench last Monday and it came in at normal tonnages, although a month later than normal. 

Roland Rosario Cellars (Copperopolis/Calaveras County) Harvest Report

Martha Rueca-Gustafsson, winemaker at Roland Rosario Cellars, Copperopolis/Calaveras County, sends us this report:

Roland Rosario vineyards,
Copperopolis-Calaveras County

"Our 3 1/2 acre vineyard in Copperopolis, CA yielded its first fruit of the season on Sept. 5th.  .38 tons of Roussanne and Viognier field blend came in at 23.9 brix, 3.55 PH, .73 TA

The remaining 3 acres divided in equal portions of Mazuelo clone Carignane and 2 clonal selections of Zinfandel will not be due for for harvest yet another 2- 3 weeks. Weekend brix readings on Sept 17, 2011 were in the 21s, just under 22s. We just pulled down our bird netting this past weekend.

After months of getting family and friends to help us with weekend green dropping, cluster thinning, and cane tucking, we see the light at the end of the tunnel!

p.s., I'm still fermenting in the cold room at Winterhawk Winery in Fairfield, where I work a "day job" as the Enologist/Assistant Winemaker. The best perk about working here is that I can personally oversee the Roland Rosario Cellars fermentations right here, everyday."

Ironstone Winery (Murphys/Calaveras County) - HARVEST REPORT

Ironstone Winery's Steve Millier, Director of Winemaking, reports from Murphys in Calaveras County: 

"We had our first day of crush on Tuesday, September 13th.  We crushed our “Rous Vineyard” Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel which came in at 25.5 brix and was absolutely beautiful.  This is a very special wine for us, as it is a single vineyard designate in our Reserve range.  The vineyard was planted in 1909, so as you can imagine it comes in intense with very low yields!


We anticipate picking our Murphys Verdelho early next week. 

Overall, the quality of all of our grapes look outstanding this year.  Unfortunately, the yields are either short or very short depending upon the variety!"