September is Harvest Month in Wine Country

September 1, 2016 by Joe Becerra

grape harvest in california wine country.

Grape harvest in full swing in California wine country

September is harvest month in wine country

The 2016 Grape Harvest, also know as The Crush, is on, but the best is yet to come. With temperatures lower than normal the past week, the grape clusters are slowly maturing. That is what the vineyard growers like. A lengthy “hang time” means the grapes mature slowly, allowing the grape flavors to intensify. Most of the red grapes will be harvested throughout the month of September. Several of the growers have indicated that 2016 will be a much better harvest in quality and quantity than last year’s harvest. The yields will not be huge, like 2013 or 2014, but enough to keep all the vintners on the happy side. Harvest of the grapes takes place in the early morning hours when temperatures are very cool. High temperatures are unhealthy for the grape-picking crew. The grapes also need to be picked when they are cool. The Napa Valley Register had a wonderful synopsis of the harvest status with various regions of the Napa Valley. Take a look at the report.

Other “Crush” information

Quick video – harvest activities

What is the Crush

September 10, 2015 by Joe Becerra

The crush begins with picking the grapes

The Crush

The Crush is on in the Napa Valley, Sonoma, and all around the Northern Hemisphere of wine country. It is the most exciting time in the wine country. So, what is the Crush? The Crush begins when the grapes are picked by an amazing group of field workers. They move swiftly and skillfully, cutting the grape clusters from the vines and dropping the grapes into their baskets. From there the baskets are dumped into larger bins, usually half-ton plastic bins. When the larger bins are full, they are quickly delivered to the wine cellar. In the wine cellar they can be sorted, de-stemmed, and sent to the crusher. For red wines, the skins and the grape juice stay together. The grapes are placed into fermenting tanks. Fementation takes place when the yeast cells begin to feast on the sugar component of the grape juice. Fermentation gives off two by-products, CO2 and alcohol. When the yeast has consumed all the sugar, fermentation ends. The juice is pumped from the fermenting tanks into oak barrels for aging. At this point, the Crush is complete and it is time to age and nurture the wine. Late August, September and October is when most of the Crush takes place in the wine country in all of California, Washington, and Oregon.

Crush Tips

Napa Valley Harvest Party 2014

August 20, 2014 by Joe Becerra

The next several weeks will be the Napa Valley harvest party

About Napa Valley Harvest Party 2014

This is the most exciting time of the year in the Napa Valley. It’s the Napa Valley harvest party 2014. For the next several weeks, the “Crush” will take place. Vineyards are everywhere in the Napa Valley, as far and as wide as the eye can see. That is why the Napa Valley is ideal for catching the “Crush.” Wine country travelers will be able to see field workers hustling through the vineyards to fill their baskets with grapes. Trucks will be transporting 1/2 ton-grape bins to wineries for sorting and crushing. Fermenting tanks will be filled with grape juice. The smell of wine will be in the air. Harvest has already begun in the Napa Valley and will continue well into October. The last grapes to be harvested are Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

This Napa Valley welcome sign is one of the most photographed spots in the Napa Valley. This photo was shot in the morning and the sun was casting a shadow of the words “Napa Valley” on the soil behind the sign. In the background are vines ready to be harvested. The mountain peak behind the sign is Mount St. Johns in the Mayacamus Mountain Range.

Addition Information on the Napa Valley Harvest Party

Calistoga’s new logo

August 2, 2013 by Joe Becerra

Napa Valley News

Calistoga’s new logo and slogan

We just learned that the Napa Valley Tourism Improvement District Committee and the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce have collaborated on adapting a brand new logo and slogan for Calistoga. What do think about this?

I am not worried in the least that Calistoga is going to change. The logo and motto may be new, but Calistoga remains very much like it was the first time we visited in the mid 1960’s. We like Calistoga the way it is now. We travel up and down the Valley, but most often we hang out in Calistoga for these reasons. Primarily, it is more laid back, less chic and swanky than the rest of the Napa Valley. Lodging and restaurants are overall less expensive. Although the logo is very fancy and the motto “Make Napa Valley Yours” is inviting, I’m almost sure that Calistoga will remain the same good old-fashioned town, and be a constant reminder of what the Napa Valley was like before it became a popular wine country destination. I sure hope so!

Here is a very short video showing you our favorite spots in Calistoga.

Napa Valley Harvest Begins

Can you believe that the very first grapes are being harvested as of August 1st? These are Pinot Noir grapes used for sparkling wines. The winery harvesting is Mumm Napa and others are sure to follow soon. Word has it that, as of the beginning of August, the grapes are ripening one week to 10 days earlier than the norm. If warm weather continues, this could be one of the earliest harvests on record. Get your cameras ready and head to the Napa Valley and witness one of the most spectacular moments in the year of the grape.

Pinot Noir for sparkling wine

Family Winemakers’ Tasting at Fort Mason offering 20% discount

This is one of my favorites of the large wine tasting events open to the public. You get a chance to meet many winemakers and wine owners, and the event seems to be more civilized than some of the other ones that we attend. Patrons seem to be more serious about discovering new wines and less about seeing how fast and hard they can toss down a taste of wine. The cost of the tickets varies but if you put in the access code “wine10,” you will get a 20% discount off the ticket price. The event takes place August 17th-18th at the Fort Mason Center. Check the Family Winemakers’ Website for ticket information.

Meritage Resort Update

The Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa has just opened a brand new deck in its hillside vineyards. The deck and pre-function area are designed for events of up to 200 ranging from destination weddings to corporate/group wine receptions without ever having to leave the resort. Check it out at the Meritage Resort Website