Weather  
Today

A warm and dry growing season so far, we are expecting a flurry of rain beginning Friday. Not unusual and not necessarily unwanted, it could be immeasurable or 1.5 inches by next week, depending on whether the Jetstream drops southward enough.

So far this month we have seen 1.78 inches rain (mainly in one day) at Stoller Vineyards, compared to the regional average of 1.55 inches over the last 100 years.

Unsettled weather from Thursday night through Tuesday leaves initial harvesting up in the air. Very young blocks or sparkling base fruit have been brought in by other wineries like DDO, Archery Summit and Argyle.

Worrying about rain has begun valley-wide, so this must be Harvest!

"Based on weather so far, status of the fruit and, especially, the year--we expect this to be the best vintage of the century!"

Harvest  2000  September 27, 2000

The Waiting Game. Welcome to Harvest 2000! We are primed and eager to pick fruit.

Phillip Zull, Austrian Intern

We have weathered the heavy preparation--major bottling of 1999 3 Vineyard and Stoller Pinot noirs (Ridgecrest and Rion remain in barrel for a couple more months) and cleaning everything that doesn't move.

We welcome a new harvest crew that includes two Kiwis, Michelle and Merie from Martinborough Vineyards and Dry River Wines Limited, and an Austrian, Phillip, from his parents' vineyards and winery. Michael, who came from New Zealand for crush last year, has stayed through as cellarmaster for the year. He gives us three Chehalem harvest veterans.

Cheryl, Michael and Phillip Sampling at Corral Creek

Michael, Cheryl and Harry are buzzing like bees in all three vineyards as ripening inches along and flavors gradually improve. Numbers indicate high sugars, acids that still need to drop and pHs that are commensurately low at this point. We expect to bicker on when to begin, not wanting to embrace rain if we have flavors and numbers close, but ideally waiting for an optimal balance. We could be bringing in fruit by Friday, or after whatever rain we get, early next week.

It looks as if harvest may be more compressed than normal, with the traditionally earliest vineyard, Stoller, lagging and Ridgecrest looking early. Adequate time to turn fermentors to accept a second load of grapes is in question. We are looking at speedy fabrication of a couple fermentors.

As usual, early year perspective shows lots of uncertainty and more questions than answers. Like life.

Harry