Jeff’s Letter from November 2024

The 2024 harvest concluded just over a week ago. We started on August 22 and finished 56 days later; October 17. We crushed 246 tons from twenty-seven different grape varieties. As I get older, what constitutes a successful harvest has changed. When I was young, it was all about the wine. With time, I have come to appreciate and depend upon the stellar climate we are blessed with here in California. The grapes ripen, and the wines always turn out just fine. Instead, the criteria has come to focus on safety. Did we make it through harvest without any accidents? Yes! Everyone is healthy and injury-free. We are all a few pounds lighter than when we started, but for some of us, that is a welcome bonus. It was also terrific that the equipment didn’t miss a beat and we experienced no significant breakdowns. And of course, the crew pulled together and exhibited some real teamwork. 2024 was a very successful harvest.

The warm summer temperatures are probably responsible for the early harvest. The lighter crops in most locations surely contributed to the hastened ripening. I was very concerned about the triple-digit temperatures in July and August, but the vines held up beautifully. The foliage was lush and vibrant right up to harvest. Two years of plentiful winter rainfall and a fully recharged soil reservoir kept the vines happy.

Our November Wine Club releases are a nice transition from warm to cool weather. We have two softer reds, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc for lighter autumn faire, and two stellar Zinfandels to help take the edge off the evenings that don’t hold onto the days heat for very long after the sun goes down. Don’t discount the general release wine in November, the 2022 Graciano is a big hearty red.

– Jeff