Harvest Report – 18 September 2025

At Smith-Madrone the whites are in, as has been reported. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are just being patient little soldiers waiting to be brought into the action. The sugars are pretty stable, as is the weather; we’ve only had a few little heat spikes. The grapes are just enjoying lovely late summer weather and don’t seem to be in a hurry to get riper, so it’s a chance to get non-vineyard work done while we’re waiting for Mother Nature to do her thing. On the other hand, Andy Schweiger at Schweiger Vineyards reports that he’s finished with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and he has brought in a small lot of early ripening Merlot. The wines have great acid structure and flavors.

Written by Stuart Smith, Smith-Madrone Winery, published in Napa Valley Register