A handful of Napa growers met last week to prognosticate on how this upcoming harvest is shaping up. After an unexpectedly monstrous 2005, the expectations for 2006 are for an even, moderate and potentially exceptional year. This is almost across the board - from Carneros to Calistoga.

The meeting took place at Hudson Vineyards in Carneros, where host Lee Hudson spoke on behalf of the Carneros AVA, saying he experienced one of the earliest bud breaks in his vineyard that he could remember, but that the vines caught up and he expects to harvest only 8-10 days behind average.

Hudson sells predominantly chardonnay, syrah and merlot grapes to such sought-after producers as Lewis, Arietta, Kongsgaard, Ramey, Kistler and Neyers. 

For the Oak Knoll AVA, Jim Verhey from Silverado Winegrowers spoke to "one of the fastest veraisons" and good balance and uniformity, expecting that he'll start picking sauvignon blanc grapes the first week of September. He's waiting to see how the timing shakes out for the reds. 

Mary Hall, vineyard manager for Harlan Estate, located about 300-650 feet elevation above Oakville , said she thinks she won't start picking cabernet sauvignon until early October, probably late September for merlot.

Another vineyard guy from Oakville, Mike Wolf, who also farms a lot of acreage in Rutherford , said that except for a lack of springtime this year, the growing season has been relatively easy and that "the quality should be exceptional." 

David Beckstoffer, president of Beckstoffer Vineyards' significant holdings throughout the Napa Valley (and even up into Lake County), didn't want to hedge his bets, but offered that so far, he's seen smaller berry clusters, theorizing that the heat wave in June may have shut down the vines for several weeks, and we might therefore see more intense flavors and concentration from this year's crop. 

Eric Titus of Titus Vineyards, speaking for the St. Helena area, agreed that he's seen smaller clusters and berry size, and all in all expects to farm about 4 tons/acre, a 20-25 percent decrease from last year's monster loads, what should end up, "a lighter, higher-quality crop." 

Same for the hillsides, which Pete Richmond of Silverado Farming Co. says can expect about 2.5 tons/acre. He looks after about 230 acres in 30 different locations, including Atlas Peak , Spring Mountain and Mount Veeder . Ron Wicker on Howell Mountain , added that he's looking forward to a phenomenal year.  We shall see. Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake County will give a joint preview of the upcoming harvest on September 12.

quelle: WINE BUSINESS Daily News

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