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Harvest Activity in the Napa Valley

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Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Sauvignon

Harvest Activity in the Napa Valley – Cab is left

It is the first day of Fall in Napa Valley wine country. The over 100-degree weather on the Labor Day Weekend hastened the harvest of many vineyards. Despite the intense heat, there are plenty of grapes still to be harvested in the Napa Valley. Since those hot days, the weather has shifted to cooler than average temperatures, slowing down the harvest. It is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon left to be harvested, but I did also spot some Cabernet Franc and Syrah on the vine. I shot this photo near the Flora Springs Winery in the St. Helena AVA on Zinfandel Lane. The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes look gorgeous and ready to be picked. If you want to catch the harvest in the Napa Valley, time is getting short. This coming weekend might be the last hurrah. Head towards the northern end of the Valley. Look in the early morning hours of the day to spot the rush of harvester furiously working to get the grapes off the vine.

Petit Verdot with Cabernet Sauvignon

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Petit Verdot

A touch of Petit Verdot with Cabernet Sauvignon

For our Wine Country Photo of the Day, I chose this vineyard shot of a row of Petit Verdot next to a row of Cabernet Sauvignon. Petit Verdot is one of the five Bordeaux varieties, along with Cab Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec. The vineyard belongs to Revana Family Vineyards in St. Helena. There are only a few rows of Petit Verdot on the Revana Estate vineyards.  Most vintners use Petit Verdot to add when making a Cabernet Sauvignon wine. It may add color, spice, tannins, and intensity to the wine. Petit Verdot is used in only small amounts.

St. Helena Wine Country Information

Early Cabernet Sauvignon

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early cabernet sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon in early July in the Napa Valley

Early Cabernet Sauvignon in the Napa Valley

This is a great look at the early Cabernet Sauvignon. In this growing stage the grape clusters are full and very green. During the latter parts of July these grape vines will undergo veraison. Veraison is the onset of ripening. The grapes will slowly change from the green color to a deep vibrant purple. Veraison is an exciting time for vintners of Cabernet Sauvignon. It means that harvest time is approaching and should be here in six-to-eight weeks. This photo was taken at the Robert Mondavi Winery in their To Kalon Vineyards. This vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon is used for the highest quality Cabernet Sauvignon wines made by Robert Mondavi Winery. During early July, the Napa Valley vineyards are spectacular as the vines grow full and display their beautiful grape clusters. It is a great time to travel to the Napa Valley

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Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Bud Break 2016

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bud break 2016

Bud Break in St. Helena in the Napa Valley – Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Bud Break 2016

Drive along Highway 29 or the Silverado Trail from Napa to Calistoga and you can witness the dawn of a new cycle in the life of the vines. Cabernet Sauvignon is in the midst of bud break. Most of the vines have been pruned and dressed for this wonderful event in nature. Grape growers unite in the joy of celebrating a new year in the making of fine Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The recent rains have also given the growers more to celebrate.  The question still remains:  What will mother nature provide the grower and winemaker this year from bud break to harvest?

More about the Napa Valley wine country

What’s your style of Cabernet Sauvignon?

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Pick early or late? That is a question of Cabernet Sauvignon style.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Hang Time

As you can easily see from this photo (August 26, 2015), these Cabernet Sauvignon clusters are hanging on the vine. When they should be picked is the question for vintners that is so important and affects the style of Cabernet Sauvignon. A restrained, food-friendly Cabernet Sauvignon will be picked earlier in the harvest season. The longer the hang time, the more alcohol and more robust wine. Growers use a device called a refractometer to measure sugar levels in the grape. Less sugar results in less alcohol and more acidity. The longer the Cabernet Sauvignon hangs on the vine, the higher the sugar levels. The brix reading for early Cabernet Sauvignon is 23-24. For later Cabernet Sauvignon, the brix reading is 25-26. Another factor is tasting the grape and chewing the seeds. Growers like fewer “green” flavors in the grapes and must wait for those to disappear. With a longer hang time for Cabernet Sauvignon, the weather becomes a factor. Jim Young, the owner of Young Inglewood Vineyards in St. Helena, told me that in 2011 he benefitted from electing to pick Cabernet Sauvignon at lower sugar levels about two weeks before most of the Napa Valley. Those who waited for the sugar levels to climb experienced a significant rainfall and lost crop. What’s your style of Cabernet Sauvignon?. Do you like the big and robust Cabernet Sauvignon that Robert Parker likes? Do you like a gentler Cabernet Sauvignon like wine writer Jon Bonne is suggesting in his book The New California Wine?

Harvesting Cabernet Sauvignon on a rainy morning

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harvest cabernet

On York Lane in St. Helena, harvesting Cabernet Sauvignon

Harvesting Cabernet Sauvignon on a rainy morning

On this September morning a light rain fell throughout the Napa Valley. It did not stop the harvest of this Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard near York Lane in St. Helena. A crew of ten workers roamed the rows of vineyards working swiftly and efficiently. I spoke with the crew chief, Carlos, and he told me that the light rain would not have any effect on the grapes. Carlos said the crew would work until mid morning and would finished harvesting half the vineyard. The second half of the vineyard will be picked on Friday. The vineyards belong to Dr.Madaiah Revana a cardiologist who practices in Houston, Texas. Additional information can be found on the Revana Family Vineyards Website.

Beautiful orchestration of the harvest on York Lane in St. Helena

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in September

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Cabernet september napa

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon on September 1, 2014 in St. Helena

About Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in September

I have shot this grape cluster from the same vineyard at the beginning of June, mid July, August, and now September. Will it still be hanging in October? Hang time is an important factor especially in the big, brawny Cabernet Sauvignon wines that Robert Parker seems to like in his wine rating assessments. The longer the hang time, the more intense the flavors become in the berry. The longer the hang time, the more sugar in the berry. The result is a big-flavored Cabernet Sauvignon with high alcohol content. This grape cluster is from the Revana Family Vineyard in the St. Helena AVA. The vineyard rows at Revana are close to one another. This causes the grape roots to grow deeper in search of  nutrients and water. The grape clusters have also been thinned. With fewer grape clusters, the more flavors in each berry. The yields from this vineyard will be rather small, meaning that the average ton yield per acre will be very low in comparison to other vineyards. The result will be high-end and expensive Napa Valley Cabernet from the St. Helena AVA.

This year the harvest is ahead by about two weeks. Cabernet in the Napa Valley is usually one of the last grape varieties to be harvested. In late August the weather cooled unexpectedly, so perhaps this harvest may be in a normal pattern. My guess is that these grape vines will be harvested towards the end of this month. We shall see.

Here are links to the photos of this same vineyard and vine taken in June, July, and in August.

The Revana Family Vineyards is owned by Houston cardiologist Dr. Madaiah Revana. The consulting winemaker is Thomas Rivers Brown. Visitors can taste wines at the Revana Family Vineyards by appointment only and the fee is $55 per person. Nearby wineries are St. Clement Vineyards, Ballentine Vineyards, and Charles Krug winery.

Napa Valley Cabernet in June

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Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon on June 11, 2014 - Revana Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon on June 11, 2014 – Revana Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet in June

This photo of Napa Valley Cabernet was taken on June 11, 2014, in the St. Helena AVA. The photo shows the current development of Cabernet Sauvignon on the Valley floor. The leaves and berries look very healthy and Napa Valley Cabernet appears to be in line for a great harvest year. This vineyard is owned by the Revana Family Vineyards in St. Helena. Revana Family Vineyards is a small family-owned winery that specializes in high-end Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard is sustainably farmed. On this day the vineyard was in morning fog with the sun breaking through around 10:30 a.m. The afternoon was warm and a cooling breeze swept the vineyard in the late afternoon and early evening.

Important Napa Valley resources

Napa Valley Wine Trails
St. Helena Lodging
St. Helena Restaurants
Winery Finder and Trip Planner – Napa Valley

Napa Valley Cabernet Under Attack

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Three factors to ponder for the makers of fine Napa Valley Cabernet: First, the criticism by many wine critics on the high alcoholic content of Cabernet Sauvignon. This ball has been rolling along for a couple of years but it seems to have been gaining steam in recent weeks. The latest comes from wine writer Dan Berger’s “The Collapse of Cabernet,” his article appearing in the St. Helena Star last week. James Laube also addresses the issue in the latest Wine Spectator. Next, is the economy, still? All signs once again are pointing to a dismal year for wines priced above $20 and most Napa Valley Cabernets are well above that price point. The third factor and one I don’t think has been mentioned much is how the American diet is beginning to change. The American diet, especially among the fine-wine drinking crowd is shifting. What is in are soups, salads, fish, more grains, more vegetables and fruits. What’s out are eating lots of red meat, creamy sauces, etc. Not altogether out, but the creed is to cut down. Healthy meals are more easily paired with white wines, rosés, and lighter reds such as Pinot Noir. If this trend is true, will that translate into less Cabernet sales?

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