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 Chardonnay and will wait until next week to harvest their Pinot Noir. Ron Rosenbrand at Spring Mountain Vineyard has been picking Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and is waiting to finish the white grapes. Smith-Madrone has finished all their white grapes and like everyone else will be waiting to see what this weather warm-up will do. The little rain was wonderful and washed all the vines clean of the summer’s dust. The chemistry of the grapes is fabulous with good sugars, low pHs and high acidities.
Written by Stuart Smith, Smith-Madrone Winery, published in Napa Valley Register