Posted in Growing Season, NVG News on Oct 24, 2018
by Dan Clark
The occasion was the annual harvest press conference of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers and the location was Arkenstone Estate near the community of Angwin on Howell Mountain. Jennifer Putnam, Executive Director of the trade organization, moderated a grower panel featuring Sam Kaplan, Winemaker and Vineyard Manager of the hosting Arkenstone, Kelly Macleod of Hudson Vineyards and Pete Richmond, whose Silverado Farming Company manages over 600 vineyard acres for several high-end Napa County wineries.
By and large, growers are a more candid lot than the promoters of the wines their efforts produce. They reveal real life vineyard challenges not covered in the “warm days, cool nights” language of a wine bottle’s back label. During their October 23rd presentation, however, all three growers described this year’s conditions as ideal and suggested that 2018 would likely please winemakers, as well as growers.
Click here to read the complete article in Taste of California.
Posted in Growing Season, NVG News on Oct 24, 2018
by Kerana Todorov
The 2019 harvest in the Napa Valley has been seamless, with neither frost or heat spikes during the growing season.
Sugars are lower than the last couple of years with bright acids, Sam Kaplan, winemaker and vineyard manager at Arkenstone Estate said on Tuesday during the annual Napa Valley Grapegrowers’ Harvest press conference. The harvest at Arkenstone on Mount Howell ended Friday.
The whites in barrel are bone dry at this point and very expressive, Kaplan said. “The Cabernets that are fermenting have great color, great tannin, great fruit extraction,” he added. “So we’re really optimistic.”
“We’re going to have really expressive fruit, great, rich ripe wines, but not over the top,” Kaplan said. “They’re fun.”
Posted in Growing Season, NVG News on Oct 24, 2018
by Henry Lutz
Pete Richmond remembers vintages by how difficult they were.
On the heels of a growing season in 2017 that forced Napa grape growers like him to grapple with excess rain, an intense late-season heat spike, a hail storm and ultimately a scourge of devastating wildfires, for Richmond, the 2018 growing season will likely be lost among the more challenging years.
“This will be a vintage that I don’t remember,” Richmond said. “It’s been seamless. And that’s not because of us. It’s just because of the forces of nature … It hasn’t challenged us as growers.”
Click here to read the complete article in the Napa Valley Register.
Posted in NVG News, Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation, Press Releases on Sep 04, 2018
NAPA, CA (September 4, 2018) – On Saturday, August 25, 2018, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) celebrated the 11th annual Harvest STOMP with a sold-out crowd of 575 guests and raised a record-breaking $2.04 million net. Proceeds directly support NVG’s ongoing efforts to preserve and promote Napa Valley’s world-class vineyards, and the professional development and educational opportunities of Napa Valley farmworkers. This year’s event was hosted by Frog’s Leap proprietors Tori and John Williams and their family at Galleron Vineyard, an organically farmed site in the heart of Rutherford.
“2018 Harvest STOMP was a night to remember and the results are outstanding. Collectively, we showed our support for Napa Valley’s vineyards and its professionals, along with a commitment to ag preservation. Living and farming in Napa Valley is a gift; these funds raised help preserve it for future generations,” said John Williams.
Posted in Growing Season, NVG News on Aug 15, 2018
by Lucy Shaw
According to Napa Valley Grapegrowers, the 2018 growing season was “picture-perfect” and the famous winemaking region is gearing up for a “landmark harvest”.
The growing season started after the February rains. Mild spring weather made for an extended bloom and at set the conditions were perfect, with sunshine, mild temperatures and no winds.
The fruit continued to ripen during the summer months and from June to early August temperatures were steady and warm with no heat spikes, creating “ideal” conditions for the final stretch before picking.
Click here to read the complete article in The Drink Business.