Weather  
Today

After four days in the mid to upper 70s, it has cooled slightly with an unsettled front moving in, bringing rain.

A Rainy Interlude Monday

Not a gully-washer, we've had enough rain to keep us from picking the vineyards, probably less than an half-inch.

Forecasts give us anywhere from a two-day to 10-day dry spell afterwards.

Harvest  2000  October 9, 2000

Interlude.

Pinot Noir Sorting in the Fermentation Hall

Eighteen-hour days of rapid harvesting and processing in the winery have finally given way to a rainy day. Pickers didn't seem unhappy huddled around this morning in their slickers, being told we'd take today off.

We've harvested just short of 100 tons of fruit, bringing in all Pinot noir from Stoller and Corral Creek Vineyards and 30 tons of Ridgecrest Pinot.

Only the old vine 5- and 7-acre tracts at Ridgecrest remain. Since they have extensive, deep root systems and fruit that is firm and not fragile, as it becomes when on the verge of perfect ripeness, we are looking forward to another week or so of ripening before picking.

	Still to pick: --Pinot gris from Ridgecrest and Corral Creek (all of Stoller is in and pressed) --Chardonnay from all three vineyards (we've brought in half the Stoller fruit) --and minor amounts of Riesling and Gamay noir, to harvest late per usual. Pinot blanc has been harvested.
"We have HOW MUCH fruit to come-in yet tonight?!"

Quite a contrast from Sunday--seeing balloons in the sky and shorts on the winery workers, to Monday--gray and dripping skies and slickers over layers of T-shirts on the cellar crew.
	Sunday's Clear Morning, Balloons Over Newberg and Corral Creek

Harry