The rain scrubbed away all that dust, and with moderate temperatures it’s a Chamber of Commerce picture-perfect harvest. Everyone on Spring Mountain will be harvesting their reds this week. The waiting is over. As Wes Steffens at 7 & 8 said, ‘It’s game on this week.’ Ron Rosenbrand at Spring
Most on Spring Mountain waited out the heat spell and are just now starting to harvest their reds. Frank Schaeffer at York Creek Vineyards says, ‘The fruit looks great.’ Matt Sherwin says, ‘The fruit is maturing nicely.’ Matt will also wait another week or so before starting his reds. Frank
The 2022 harvest is starting out very similar to the 2021 harvest with Bergman Family Winery, Keenan, Schweiger, Smith-Madrone and Spring Mountain Vineyards and Stony Hill all finishing their whites by Sept. 2. The Schweigers will also have finished their Pinot Noir. Unfortunately, nature has thrown some curve balls at
Stu Smith’s last 2021 harvest report for the Spring Mountain District for The St. Helena Star: Just three wineries are still harvesting on the mountain and none seem to be in any hurry to finish. Matt Sherwin reports that they’re about two-thirds done, but are holding out for some warmer
Wes Steffens at 7&8 is still picking some small blocks of Cabernet and will probably finish later this week. He’s really pleased with the quality. Nancy Walker from Schoolhouse reports that they’re finished and while the crop was much lighter, she is grateful the quality is so wonderful. Ron Rosenbrand
Given Spring Mountain’s varied soils, exposures and elevation differences it shouldn’t be surprising that harvest dates are just as varied. Harvest is wrapping up for many, or even most wineries on Spring Mountain, but some have yet to begin. Sherwin has yet to start; Marston Vineyards will start this week and
The Spring Mountain District continues its individualism with the 2021 vintage. Frank Schaefer at York Creek Vineyards says ‘it’s looking great’ with a bumper crop, especially with their Zinfandel and Petite Sirah ‘much higher than the 2019 vintage.’ Yet many of us with Merlot and/or Cabernet Sauvignon are harvesting much
Keenan, Schweiger, Spring Mountain Vineyard and Smith-Madrone all finished their Chardonnay last week and the fruit was a stunningly beautiful green color with good maturity and excellent chemistry. There’s been a scattering of reds harvested with Schweiger having harvested small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. Both Keenan and
Stu Smith’s harvest report for the District for the week of September 24: “Unlike last week where everyone was harvesting one varietal or another, this week is decidedly quieter with many wineries waiting for more fruit development. Several of us are picking Cabernet Sauvignon this week but with this cooler
Stu Smith’s harvest report for the Spring Mountain District this week: Spring Mountain District wineries often remind me of Thoreau’s ‘If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.’ Ron Rosenbrand of Spring Mountain Vineyard will finish Sauvignon Blanc this