LAKE COUNTY — The harvest is underway early this year for winegrapes due to several factors including a mild winter that led to an early bud break and temperatures that allowed the grapes around the county to mature early. Sugar levels indicate the grapes are ripe for the picking, and some of the 20 local wineries and numerous other growers have already started picking white wine grapes, according to local viticulturalists.
For this year”s crop Lake County winegrowers agree an excellent 2007 vintage is on the way. Earlier in the season there were indications of a large crop, but with a warm spring and mild summer weather the individual berries are smaller and the clusters looser, factors that allow air to circulate and prevent mildew, and account for a higher quality crop. Smaller grapes translate into less water and more concentrated flavors, growers say.
“It has been an ideal growing season,” said John Roumiguiere co-owner of Roumiguiere Vineyards. “The quality looks good, there has been no mildew and the sugars in the Sauvignon Blanc are as high as I have seen them this early in the year,” he said.
On average, the winegrape harvest in Lake County is two weeks ahead of 2006. Some growers have already started picking white varietals this year, with reds soon to follow in two to three weeks. The Lake County Winegrape Growers predict the 2007 crop could produce a record $40 million harvest locally.
“That number is up about 10 or 15 percent, which is not atypical considering the growth in the county. The crop is at least as good as last year, and Lake County Sauvignon Blanc is getting higher prices than the past few years,” said Rick Gunier, manager of Shannon Ridge Winery. “We”ve started picking mostly Sauvignon Blanc as well as Chardonnay. We”re picking at night with mechanical harvesters.”
Mechanical harvesters require four workers to operate, harvesting the same amount as what 40 pickers could do by hand. Gunier says about 80 percent of Shannon Ridge”s crop is harvested mechanically.
Kevin Robinson, manager and partner of Brassfield Estate, says their grapes are primarily harvested by hand, and that pickers were readily available this year.
“It can be difficult to find pickers when Napa needs them at the same time, but this year they opted to wait to see if the flavor will develop. Be that as it may, our flavors are already there, and as a result we”ll finish sooner,” said Robinson.
Shannon Gunier, Executive Director of the Lake County Winegrape Growers, has been active in the local grape growing community for many years. The reason most grapes are harvested at night has to do with preserving quality, she says. “They can pick all night and take the grapes to the winery when it”s still cool in the morning. The grapes start to cling and if it”s hot they tend to get mushy and ferment,” said Gunier.
Lake County wine is world class, with the awards to prove it, growers say. And the fact that the county is off the beaten path does not deter local agritourism from flourishing.
“Heck yeah people will want to come visit,” said Robinson, who added that Brassfield Estate is working on building a destination winery with a hotel, caves, and bottling room, along with a demonstration kitchen geared to teach the public about wine, food, and viticulture.
“It”s a very exciting time for wine in Lake County,” said Loretta Byrne, COO of Tulip Hill Winery. “We”ve just organized the Lake County Winery Association which is a non-profit group to promote wine growing. Also, the Lake County Wine Adventure this summer had the most people ever ? and 18 of the wineries are pouring wine at the Taste of Lakeport this year.”
“Every decade there seems to be that one year that everyone remembers. I think 2007 is going to be that year. It”s a beautiful looking and well-balanced fruit,” said Byrne.
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