Let the 2012 Harvest Begin!
Hi Everyone,
I’ve been out on the road non-stop the last week or so, taking samples and tasting grapes as fast as I can.
Checking on zinfandel at the Todd Brothers Ranch
I can hardly remember a year with such great ripening weather, or so many vineyards with such a perfect crop of grapes. Really reminds me of years like 1991, 1997, 2001, etc. for years with large crops of wonderful fruit.
The weather is beautifully warm and we hope it will stay just like this, not too hot, not too cold.
The grapes are moving steadily to ripeness–in fact, I tasted the Todd Brothers Ranch fruit on Tuesday and they didn’t taste quite ready, but by the following Friday they were approaching perfection. Huge change in flavors. I immediately scheduled the picking for Monday the 17th and Wednesday the 19th. The first grapes into the winery, and we’re probably picking 8 tons of Petite Sirah and 24 tons of Zinfandel for us. Big year!
Zinfandel, ready to pick!
I’ll be in the vineyards constantly the next few weeks, to schedule the pickings which look like they will happen steadily throughout September and the first week or two of October.
Come on by the winery and see all the fun. You can even taste some grapes before you taste through the lineup of wines in the tasting room.
See you soon!
Mike
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