Almost Full!

A New Fermentation Tank is off-loaded, destined for expanded Stoller Vineyards Brand fruit

All but three of our Pinot noir fermentors are full. There is no stopping picking except when we temporarily run out of picking bins, with both Stoller Vineyards and Corral Creek Vineyards being picked at the same time.

Entering October, Harvest is 43% complete, very early to be this far along, with the prior five vintages averaging only 8% complete at the same time. Heat summations to this point on average are 1979 units, whereas this year we have accumulated 2212 heat units. And the resultant sugars show it, with averages at 26+ brix for Pinot noir.

Chilling Tunnel has been critical for early-picked fruit this year

Early-picked lots are moving rapidly through fermentation due to lower acids and warmer temperatures, a godsend considering the readiness of Ridgecrest fruit later this week or early next week. Normal two week spreads between Stoller and Ridgecrest pickings have been condensed this year to one week to ten days, taxing fermentor space.

Pinot gris and Chardonnay are being pressed in parallel, with some early picked lots coming in to bracket optimal ripeness and acid balance. The same is the case for Riesling, part of which will be harvested beginning tomorrow.

Fruit health is excellent, ripeness is full and the harvest crew is still jovial. So, life is good.

Regards,

Harry