Napa Valley Vintners Community Newsletter

in the vineyard…anticipation as harvest approaches
Vines in July are full of generous clusters of tight, green, marble-sized berries. The grapes are just beginning a key period called veraison (ver-ay-zhun) when young green grapes begin to mature and soften to either turn golden or inky purple in color depending on the variety. As July turns into August, and veraison comes closer to completion, fruit is thinned on the vine so that only the best is left to fully mature. At this point harvest predictions begin to take shape. It is still up to Mother Nature in every way as the fruit nears picking, there are myriad possibilities to consider from fog, rain or heat spells that will affect the coming harvest.

Growers whose fruit will be picked for sparkling wine production are predicting slightly earlier than normal, beginning in early to mid – August as a possible start date. Cover crops on the vineyard floors, if not already dormant, are mowed to allow movement of air to help control the temperature of the vines. Vineyard crews are continuing manage the vines’ leaf canopy, finding the right balance between greenery and fruit. Vines are carefully trellised to give the grapes a good balance between receiving the right amount of sunlight on the clusters and maintaining the protection the foliage provides. This is fine tuned to the point that if harvest time becomes foggy, more leaves will be thinned to provide the needed sunlight to build the sugars that along with well-developed acids will produce well-structured grapes which means complex, balanced wines – signature to Napa’s renowned reputation.

Additionally, vintners and growers are monitoring the size of grape clusters and estimating their future weight in order to determine crop load (amount of fruit per acre). As the summer heats up, g rowers are monitoring vine stress, which simply means ensuring that they’re getting enough water. When vines don’t get the right amount of moisture, fruit maturation begins to slow or shut down altogether. Typically in September, white varieties are being picked along the valley floor and the remaining fruit, mostly red varieties, continues to mature in our moderately warm temperatures. During most years white varieties are harvested first and the reds come in later but some years have seen red and white varieties being picked at virtually the same time. Each year provides a challenge to the grower. Harvest crews are up before dawn harvesting during the coolest hours. During these night hours Napa Valley vineyards are lit up like UFO landings, with lighting rigs set up on tractors to move with the picking crews. Harvesting during the chilly predawn hours helps to bring grapes in at their peak – a cool grape is less likely to crush during transit, holding in juice and avoiding maceration or broken skin contact too soon. Sugar levels are increased by rising heat while cooler temperatures may slow this process. Cool temperatures contribute to the development of acid, which is why the classic diurnal temperatures – warm days and cool nights is the recipe for success in Napa Valley!

in the winery- ready to receive the first fruit of the vintage

The summer months keep winemakers busy in the winery as well, preparing barrels, making enhancements to crush pads and other maintenance projects. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are the primary grapes being harvested on the valley floor in August and into September. This is fruit that goes into the production of sparkling wine. Since sparklers are fermented twice, winemakers are looking for grapes with lower sugars and higher acids. Wine makers producing early -ripening varieties for still wines may be picking white varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and then Chardonnay. This is a time of long, intensive hours for vineyard crews, winemakers and crush workers. Try calling a winemaker at this time of year and you’re going to get voice mail. Leave a message and expect a call back in about a month. That’s how long the main crush of crush is expected to last. Driving past wineries in the cool hours at the end of the day, the air is full of the perfumy scent of new wine and freshly pressed grapes.

An Insider’s View
Pat Stotesbery of Ladera Vineyards in Angwin and NVV Board member, shares his insight on the activity surrounding harvest (and waiting anxiously for harvest) in Napa Valley’s wineries and vineyards.

"The activity around Ladera is involves watching veraison; the second bottling of the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon; and preparing for the approaching harvest. Aided by near perfect conditions, purple is the coming color, with Malbec well on its way. We expect to pick Sauvignon Blanc before the end of August with everything else much earlier than the last two years. We are leaf thinning here and there and dropping some fruit but for the most part everything is in wonderful balance. It would be terrific to, unlike the last couple years, have our annual harvest party near the end of harvest instead of near the start."

Napa Valley Receives Special Geographic Status from European Union
Napa Valley was officially recognized with Geographic Indication (GI) in wine labeling status, thereby protecting the Napa name in the European Union (EU). This is the first time a wine region outside a member state of the EU will be protected, a landmark decision in Europe and in wine place protection. The words "Napa Valley" are designated as geographic indicators to protect this well-established, highly recognizable name synonymous with quality winemaking from infringement. This is also the first product of any type from the U.S. recognized with a GI status. There is considerable momentum building globally behind the "location matters" movement and updates can be found at www.protectplace.com.

Vintners Joseph Phelps (center) and Bob Trinchero (right) teamed up to pledge $225,000 for the Fund a Need, and will have their names etched on the permanent wine glass trophy Bob wields - as will underbidder Joy Craft who pledged $200,000 to Fund a Need.

The Napa Valley Vintners' ( NVV) Auction Napa Valley (ANV) charity wine auction raised more than $9.8 million for health care, youth services and affordable housing non-profits during the annual four-day event in June. Perhaps the most moving bidding came when John Shafer of Shafer Vineyards took to the stage to encourage bidders to raise their paddles in an ANV-first "fund a need." Here with no prize to be won other than supporting children's medical care at Clinic Ole, bidders raised their paddles to get in on the giving, beginning with those in for $1000, then those in for $5000 and so on, finally paying their top bid placed. The highest bids of the round came from perennial top-bidder Joy Craft of Woodside, CA who gave $200,000 and from the Trinchero Family and Joseph Phelps Family who jointly gave $225,000. When the lot closed, it had raised $764,000 from 68 bidders.

The spectacular Taste Napa Valley on Friday was held for the third year at Trinchero Family Estates in St. Helena. Tickets were once again offered to Napa County residents at the special Napa Neighbor 50% discount and the event sold out in just four days.

Auction Napa Valley volunteers whoop it up for a great cause: raising millions for local health, youth and affordable housing charities.

Said Bill Phelps, whose family chaired the '07 event; "With over 800 volunteers, the Auction is a well-run, collaborative effort that showcases the best our community can be, with neighbor helping neighbor, to raise funds for scores of charity organizations." Funds from the Auction will be distributed in the fall, but over the event’s history nearly $70 million has already been given to more than fifty non-profit organizations. Plans are already underway for Auction Napa Valley June 5-8, 2008, which will be chaired by the Heitz Wine Cellars Family.

About ANV
Established by a thoughtful group of Napa Valley vintners in 1981, ANV is the granddaddy of charity wine auctions in America, having given nearly $70 million dollars over its first 26 years for healthcare, youth service and low-income housing charities in Napa County. Funds from the 2007 event will be distributed in the fall. NVV is proud of our member's contributions, raising desperately needed funds through ANV and for being the inspiration and backbone of all other charity wine auctions across the U.S.

September is California Wine Month
Governor Arnold Schwarzzenegger has once again proclaimed September 2007 as California Wine Month, celebrating our agricultural heritage in the production of outstanding wines. Check out www.californiawineevents.com for what’s happening in Napa Valley and in around California’s other wine regions in September.

Celebrate the Harvest around the Valley
Watch our local publications as our wineries announce upcoming Napa Valley harvest celebrations. These events are a terrific way to spend an afternoon tasting great wine and freshly pressed juice and learn more about our Valley’s history and wine industry…

NVV Auction Napa Valley Check Presentation Ceremony
November 2nd—location to be announced
Celebrate with local non-profit organizations and community leaders as proceeds from Auction Napa Valley 2007 are awarded to a variety of Napa County organizations.

Please feel free to forward this newsletter. A free subscription form and more about NVV activities and wine industry news and topics of interest can be found at www.napavintners.com.