What's Happening this Spring
In the vineyard...a welcome but often sleepless time for growers
Vineyard crews have completed pruning and retying vines to trellis and the growing season is officially underway with the advent of budbreak. This is the stage when vine buds crack open and small green shoots emerge, and it means the start of the new crop. Vines start showing thick clusters of new leaves.

From now until the first of June, vineyard managers valley-wide will have sleepless nights, especially if those nights are clear, as they are monitoring temperatures in the vineyard keeping a lookout for frost. These young buds are particularly susceptible to frost damage and the damage can devastate the crop. Residents living near low-lying vineyards and those planted to early-budding varieties like Chardonnay will be keenly aware of when the temperatures drop to freezing, as they cannot miss hearing the wind machines power up to circulate air and protect the tender growth from frost damage. Another method of frost protection is overhead irrigation, which will create a layer of ice over the new growth, shielding it from the drying forces of frost. Rarely, except on a succession of extremely cold nights, will we see the use of vineyard heaters burning in the vine rows.

As the season continues, vines will bloom with tiny flowers and set fruit to a tiny framework of what will become grape clusters. As this occurs, the evolving fruit is incredibly susceptible not only to frost, but heavy rains or hail that can knock the undeveloped fruit off the vine and damage the crop. Spring is a critical time for the life of the vine. Soon the vineyard crews will begin to thin the shoots and any excessive leaf canopy and may remove tiny new shoots called "suckers" so the most vital vegetation is left, allowing the vines to focus on producing fruit, not greenery.

In the winery...a time for road trips and blending sessions
White wines are often released this time of year and many wineries are holding their spring release parties. Blending trials for many red varieties and some whites begin in the winery, and small lots of wine are evaluated to see what makes it into the final blend. Winery sales and marketing staff, often with winemakers in tow, are busy traveling to a variety of consumer, wine trade and distributor events nationwide to show these new releases and generate excitement and interest in the wines. This means more sales orders from distributors, accounts (like restaurants and retailers) and consumers alike.


An insider's look
Stephen Corley of Monticello Vineyards in Napa, and an NVV Board member, shares his insight into the flurry of activity happening in Napa Valley's wineries and vineyards right now:
"For us at Monticello Vineyards, spring has sprung! While my brother Kevin Corley, our winegrower, and his vineyard team are working on the 2007 wines, our brother Chris and his winery team are putting the final touches on our wines to be bottled this spring and released later this year or early next year. Concurrently with finalizing those wines, Chris is also making our initial evaluation and blends of the 2006 wines just harvested. As for me, I hit the road to share our wines far and wide with restaurants, consumers and wine shops (28,235 miles traveled since January 1), so I let our tasting room staff entertain the visitors that come to our little slice of paradise here in the Napa Valley."

News & Views
Napa County's "Road Map" Needs Your Direction
You may have heard by now that Napa County is in the process of updating the General Plan. What is the General Plan? Simply put, it's the road map for Napa County and all future planning decisions. Our county's plan has not been updated in over 20 years, and while the old plan has served our community well, it's time to bring it into this century! The plan contains eight elements, including Agriculture Preservation and Land Use; Housing; Community Character; and Recreation and Open Space.

A diverse, 21-member steering committee has been meeting since July 2005 to tackle the comprehensive update. But now, our community is being asked to weigh in on this important document. The NVV has a task force of dedicated members who are reviewing the plan and all the changes, and who will help prepare the NVV's official comments. Read the whole plan, or just parts that interest you, and submit your comments before the June 18 deadline. Visit www.napacountygeneralplan.com.

Napa Valley Vintners Work to Protect Napa's Name through
Joint Declaration to Protect Wine Place & Origin
The second phase of the Joint Declaration to Protect Wine Place & Origin was signed in Washington, DC on March 21. The original signers of the agreement, Napa Valley, Oregon, Washington state, Walla Walla Valley, Champagne, Porto and Sherry (Jerez), welcomed the regions of Sonoma County and Paso Robles (US), Western Australia and Victoria (AU), Tokaj (Hungary) and Chianti Classico (Italy) to the group working together to protect wine place names around the world. The original signing of the Declaration took place in July 2005 in Napa. With the original seven regions and six new additions, the group has nearly doubled in size. After a press conference, the regions hosted a tasting in the Canon Caucus Room in the Capitol for key members of Congress, the administration and foreign delegations.

Though this Declaration is about these regions coming together to educate consumers, trade, policymakers and influencers, the momentum for place protection is gathering. For example, Napa's successful conclusion of the Bronco case; the Sonoma name-protection bill signed into law in CA last year; and Paso Robles seeking legislation for conjunctive labeling modeled after the 1989 Napa law. For more information on this initiative and to sign the petition, go to www.protectplace.com.

On the European stage, Napa Valley will soon be officially recognized with Geographic Indication (GI) in wine labeling status, thereby protecting the Napa name in the EU. This will be the first time a wine region outside a member state of the EU will be protected, a landmark decision in Europe. An official announcement will come from the EU in the next few weeks.

NVV Continues to Lobby for Napa Protection While In DC
Past and present members of the NVV Board of Directors who were in town for the second Joint Declaration also met with key members of the Congressional Wine Caucus, the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), the Department of Treasury, the US Trade Representative (USTR), the Chinese Embassy and the EU Mission on Napa name protection issues in the U.S. and abroad.

Napa Green Is Growing
Sustainable farming, erosion control and healthy streams are the cornerstones of our Napa Green Land certification program, now in its third year in Napa County. This landmark certification program is leading the industry in excellent agricultural practices.

Spring means green and with that, new things are happening with the Napa Green Land and Napa Green Winery certification programs. Approximately 18,000 acres are enrolled in the Napa Green Land program and more than 7,800 acres have been certified by third-party regulatory agencies. Napa Green Land protects and restores our Napa River watershed through practices that are carefully outlined in plans that are customized to each enrolled property.

As a natural complement to Napa Green Land, the NVV is developing Napa Green Winery, a Napa-specific set of sustainable and green business practices for wineries. The NVV is working closely with the Napa County Department of Environmental Management as a third-party certifier and using existing green business models to create a comprehensive program. Several local wineries will be testing the program this fall and be on their way to certification. Stay tuned!


Don't Miss
Afternoon in the Vineyards
Saturday, May 12
2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Vineyards throughout Napa County are open to our neighbors for an afternoon of casual camaraderie. Meet local vintners and growers and learn interesting facts about Napa County vineyards, farming practices, winemaking and more. Find out about the power of solar energy, how sheep help make great wine, the secrets to biodynamic practices and more. Visit any or all of the sites and come as you are; there is no need to RSVP. Click here for a flier with more information.
" Grgich Hills Estate vineyard, South Kelly Road (American Canyon)
" Trefethen Vineyards (1160 Oak Knoll Avenue, Napa)
" William Hill Estate (1761 Atlas Peak Road, Napa)
" Starmont Winery (1451 Stanley Lane, Napa).
" Ehlers Estate (3222 Ehlers Lane, St. Helena)
" Frog's Leap (8815 Conn Creek Road, Rutherford)
" Rocca Family Vineyards (at Silverado Trail and Yountville Cross Rd.)

Afternoon in the Vineyards is brought to you by the Napa Valley Vintners and Napa Valley Grapegrowers.

Auction Napa Valley - The American Classic
June 7-10, 2007
Led this year by the Joseph Phelps Vineyards Family, this world-famous wine auction is the granddaddy of charity wine auctions, now in its 27th year, is the "must-attend" event in the Valley. Visitors from around the world gather each June to enjoy our community's renowned hospitality while purchasing incredible lots of wine provided by member wineries to raise needed funds for our county's healthcare, affordable housing and youth service non-profits.

Over 700 Napa Neighbor half-price tickets to the Friday event sold out within four days of going on sale. "All-American Day Packages" are still a terrific way to join the festivities while raising money for our own local beneficiaries. Day packages include invitations to Auction Eve Kick-off Parties; Taste Napa Valley at Auction Napa Valley's food and wine extravaganza, including the Barrel Tasting & Auction and online E-Auction, all held at Trinchero Family Estates in St Helena; private parties held at wineries on Saturday; and the farewell reception on Sunday. Day package tickets are still available at $1000 per person at www.napavintners.com.

Remember, what's raised in Napa Valley, stays in Napa Valley
Auction Napa Valley, a signature program of the Napa Valley Vintners, has given almost $70 million to support Napa County non-profits since its inception.

Forty-five Napa County non-profit programs received
funding from 2006 Auction Napa Valley proceeds.


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Next issue: summer 2007

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