Harvest has finally gotten underway on Spring Mountain. Matt Gardner at Keenan has finished their Chardonnay and is ‘chipping away’ at some Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Andy Schweiger has started with some Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and next may be Merlot. Nancy Walker at School House will start with their
Originally published in the St. Helena Star When was your winery founded? “1999.” Why did you choose to be in the Spring Mountain District American Viticultural Area (AVA)? “Our passion for mountain Cabernet led my family to look towards Spring Mountain. We’re convinced that mountain terroir imparts a unique depth
While there is some activity happening on Spring Mountain, harvest really hasn’t started. Ron Rosenbrand at Spring Mountain Vineyard has picked half his Sauvignon Blanc. Smith-Madrone picked some Chardonnay last Friday and we’re hoping to restart again this week, weather permitting. Contrast this with two years ago (2021) this week,
Originally published in the St. Helena Star When was your winery founded? “Barnett Vineyards was founded in August 1983. We are happy to celebrate 40 years on Spring Mountain.” Why did you choose to be in the Spring Mountain District American Viticultural Area (AVA)? “Lucky to say we decided to
With the exception of Matt Gardner at Keenan picking Chardonnay, it’s all quiet on Spring Mountain. Last week many of us were hoping we’d be harvesting by last Friday, Sept. 15, but Mother Nature had other ideas. While the cool weather is wonderful for most of us, our grapes want
We’re pretty much into a Goldilocks weather pattern where it’s not too hot and it’s not too cool — it’s just right. And with this weather, harvest may start soon on Spring Mountain. Matt Gardner at Keenan, Michaela Kelly at Stony Hill, Nancy Walker at School House and Smith-Madrone are
The 2023 vintage seems to be joining many of the past vintages for being another strange year. There are few if any blocks on Spring Mountain that have finished veraison, let alone mature enough to even think about harvesting. Spring Mountain Vineyard is still waiting for their Sauvignon Blanc to
We’re inching ever forward with harvest. Veraison is advancing as it should, with clusters having fuller deep red color, and the berries are beginning to soften. However we are still far from completing veraison. While the Cabernet Franc is starting to show some light pink color, our attention has been
The consensus of Matt Gardner at Keenan, Ron Rosenbrand at Spring Mountain Vineyard, Andy Schweiger at Schweiger Vineyards, and myself is that harvest will start about three weeks later than normal. We’re all looking at starting about the end of the second week in September. There’s no veraison in the
Originally published in the St. Helena Star When was your winery founded? “1983.” Why did you choose to be in the Spring Mountain District American Viticultural Area (AVA)? “We were told about the property through the family’s relationship with the Duckhorns.” Who is owner? Who is winemaker? Who is vineyard