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.